A fun memorable algorithm to teach my 5yo nephew how to tackle a 3 sided rubik’s cube.

Step 1: Make a Daisy

  1. Start by creating a white plus sign (the petals) on the yellow face (center).
  2. Align each white petal’s adjacent color with its matching middle-row center color.
  3. Once matched, rotate the petal 180° to move it to the bottom face.
    • Repeat this process for all petals until you form a white cross on the bottom face.

Step 2: Fill in the White Corners (“Chase the White Dogs”)

  1. Find any white corner pieces on the bottom layer (the “dogs”).
  2. Rotate the bottom layer to position a white corner directly below its matching color. For example, a white/green corner should be under the green side.
  3. Bring the corner into the white face by rotating the side it’s under downward, “scooping” the corner piece into place.
    • Repeat until the entire white face is completed, and the bottom row edges align with their center colors.

Step 3: Solve the Middle Row

  1. Looking at the bottom and sides (white layer is top), find middle cells on the bottom layer that don’t contain any yellow (e.g., an orange/blue edge).
  2. Move the middle cell (e.g. orange/blue) by rotating the bottom axis, until its side face color matches (e.g. a cell with an orange side and blue bottom should sit below the mostly orange sided-side).
  3. Determine the target direction the piece needs to move (e.g. for an orange/blue if the mostly blue sided-side is on the left, then the target direction is left): either left or right
  4. Follow this sequence to place it:
    • Turn the bottom layer away from the target direction.
    • Looking at the bottom layer head on, rotate the bottom layer towards the target direction.
    • Looking at the bottom layer head on, rotate the target direction (e.g. left) column downward.
    • Looking at the bottom layer head on, rotate the middle (sandwich) layer toward the target direction.
    • Looking at the bottom layer head on, rotate the target direction (e.g. left) column upward.
    • Restore the white top face as needed.
    • Repeat until all middle-row edges are in place.

Step 4: The Yellow Cross

Use the FUR-RUF sequence:

  1. Rotate the Front face clockwise
  2. Rotate the Up face clockwise
  3. Rotate the Right face clockwise
  4. Rotate the Right face counter-clockwise
  5. Rotate the Up face counter-clockwise
  6. Rotate the Front face counter-clockwise

Repeat this pattern until you form a yellow cross on the top face.

Step 5: The Yellow Face (“Feed the Yellow Fish”)

Look for a “yellow fish” pattern on the top face (a yellow triangle or “arrow”).

Perform this sequence:

  1. Rotate the Right face clockwise
  2. Rotate the Top face clockwise
  3. Rotate the Right face counter-clockwise
  4. Rotate the Top face clockwise
  5. Rotate the Right face clockwise
  6. Rotate the Top face clockwise twice (i.e. flip)
  7. Rotate the Right face counter-clockwise

In a nutshell: clock, clock, counter, clock, clock, flip, counter

Step 6: Top Corners

  1. Rotating only the top (yellow) axis, find two adjacent corners with matching side colors. Position them so they face the correct side.
  2. Use this sequence to adjust the corners:
    • Rotate the Right face counter-clockwise
    • Rotate the Front face clockwise
    • Rotate the Right face counter-clockwise
    • Rotate the Back face flip (double rotate)
    • Rotate the Right face clockwise
    • Rotate the Front face counter-clockwise
    • Rotate the Right face counter-clockwise
    • Rotate the Back face flip (double rotate)
    • Rotate the Right face flip (double rotate)

Repeat as needed until all corners align with their sides.

Step 7: Top Middles

At this stage the top surface should be solid yellow, with its underside corners all matching the color of its corresponding wall. All that is left is to sort out the top middle cells, with this sequence:

  1. Rotate the Right face flip (double rotate)
  2. Rotate the Top face clockwise (x3)
  3. Rotate the Right face clockwise (x3)
  4. Rotate the Top face clockwise (x3)
  5. Rotate the Right face counter-clockwise (x5)
  6. Rotate the Top face counter-clockwise (x5)
  7. Rotate the Right face counter-clockwise (x5)
  8. Rotate the Top face counter-clockwise (x5)
  9. Rotate the Right face counter-clockwise (x5)
  10. Rotate the Top face clockwise
  11. Rotate the Right face counter-clockwise

In a nutshell: flip, clock1, clock2, clock3, counter1, counter2, counter3, counter4, counter5, clock, counter

Rinse and repeat.