Scratch

So you want to learn how to solve a Rubiks Cube? I am putting together this guide to help you!

Okay, first of all, before anyone does any solving, you have to learn some cube notation. Don't worry, it's all very simple 

So you know the rubiks cube has six sides, right? Well, in notation, each side has a name. Let's say you're holding a cube in front of you with the red side facing you and the white side on bottom. The side in front is known as the FRONT, or F side. The white side on bottom is known as the DOWN, or D side. The yellow side on top is known as the UP, or U side. The orange side in back is known as the BACK, or B side. the green side on the right would be known as the RIGHT, or R side. Finally, the blue side on the left would be the LEFT, or L side. Now, keep in mind, it changes as you move the cube around, so just remember it like this:

F is side facing you
D is the side on bottom
U is the side on top
B is the side opposite the F side
R is the side to thew right of the F side
L is the side to the left of the F side

The are more for larger cubes, but this is all we need to solve the 3x3

Now, a combination of moves used to help solve the cube is called an ALGORTITHM. Algorithms in cube solving consist of letters representing sides (see above) and symbols and numbers to show what we do with those sides. for example, consider this algorithm below:

U2, B*, R, D, L2, F*

Daunting? Don't worry! Let's break this down and look at the different parts:

U2 - The "2" to the right of a letter means turn that side 180 degrees, or two times. In this case, you would turn the up side 180 degrees

B* - Here, the "*" to the right of the letter means turn that side counter clockwise once. So this part means turn the B side counter clockwise once

R - A letter by itself means turn that side clockwise once. So here you would turn the right side once clockwise

D - turn the down face (another word for side that I'll be using from now on) clockwise

L2 - turn the left face 180 degrees

F* - turn the front face counter clockwise

Want to test yourself? Try this algorithm (hopefully you have the cube either solved by someone else or straight from it's package):

U2, D2, R2, L2, F2, B2

You should get a checkerboard pattern out of this. If not, reread the section on algorithms.

Finally, before solving, a couple more things you should know. First, you should know about how the different pieces of the cube are named. There are the centers, which are fixed, and don't move. They are what you base the sides on. Next, there are the edges, which have two colors on them, and form a cross when they are put with their respecting centers. Finally, we have the corner pieces, which you should understand why they are named that, so I won't explain. Now, our second order of buisness. Contrary to popular belief, a cube isn't solved by sides, but by LAYERS. There are three layers on a cube. There is the first, second, and third layer For example, if the white face was on bottom, the white face that you turn would be the bottom layer, the yellow face that you turn would be the top layer, and the middle layer is sandwiched beneath.

I'll post the actual tutorial tomorrow, I have to go to bed now.