Rubik's Cube

III. Solve the Middle Edges


Chances are, you have edges on the bottom layer that need to be moved up to the equator. Rotate the bottom layer to set the edge piece in the starting position. Before doing any moves, you must make sure that the patterns are just like the diagrams below. The colors may be different, but the pattern must be the same. Notice how the edge piece (on the bottom, in the starting position) looks like it's mismatched with the front side.

~~~~Move Up:~~~~

        

B2 M- B- R-
B+ M+ B- R+

        

B2 M- B+ L-
B- M+ B+ L+

It may be scary at first. When solving the middle edges, the top side gets scrambled temporaily; but after the 8 moves are over with the top side is intact again.


A middle-edge piece could already be in the equator, but in the wrong spot. Use the sequence below to knock it down to the bottom layer. You can move it back to its proper place later, by using one the sequences above.

~~~~Knock Down:~~~~

    

M- B- R- B+
M+ B- R+

In case you haven't noticed, this sequence looks very similar to one of the "move-up" sequences. In reality, all you are doing is moving up an edge from the bottom, which in turn knocks down the target edge from the equator.

Hint: Use the "Knock-Down" sequence only as a LAST RESORT. Almost all the time, that edge can be knocked down to the bottom layer later anyway, when you are merely doing a "Move-Up" sequence with another middle-edge piece.


A middle-edge piece could already be in the equator and at the right spot, but inverted. Use this move to flip it around:

~~~~Invert:~~~~

    

M- B- R- B+
M+ B- R+ B-
M- B- R- B+
M+ B- R+

The bad news is, at 15 moves that this sequence is very long. The good news is that you don't have to memorize it! This sequence is actually a combination of the "knock-down" sequence, followed by one of the "move-up" sequences. So if you don't want to memorize this, knock down the edge from the equator (by using the "knock-down" sequence), and then turn the bottom layer until that edge appears on the bottom-front. After that, move the edge up using the proper "move-up" sequence.


A Shortcut for ONLY the Experts:

I know this is an odd-ball move, but I couldn't resist adding it. It swaps the two middle-edges on the front side:

F2 B2 F2 B2 F2

If you are a amateur, then IGNORE the shortcut. You can try that some other day once you have mastered the Cube.

You do NOT need to use the shortcut. The other moves (MOVE UP, KNOCK DOWN and INVERT) are enough to solve each middle edge. After arranging all 4 middle edges, continue to solve the Bottom Corners.


@ Notation @ Top Edges @ Top Corners
@ Middle Edges @ Bottom Corners @ Bottom Edges

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