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3x3 blindfolded

M2/OP beginner method

3x3 blindfolded (3BLD) means memorising where the pieces are (edges and corners), then solving them with your eyes closed. A solve has two phases: memo, then execution.

The first step is learning to read the cube with a letter scheme: one letter for every sticker. That makes the cycles to solve much easier to remember.

Orientation: always hold the cube white on top and green in front, during memo and execution. The letters and every algorithm on this page are given in that orientation.

EDGES
ADBCEHFGILJKMPNOQTRSUXVW
EDGES: top, left and front facesADBCILJKEHFGEDGES: bottom, right and back facesMPNOUXVWQTRS
CORNERS
ABDCEFHGIJLKMNPOQRTSUVXW
CORNERS: top, left and front facesABDCIJLKEFHGCORNERS: bottom, right and back facesMNPOUVXWQRTS

To memorise more easily, use letter pairs (one letter per piece to solve). They turn your memo into words, which you can then link into a (preferably funny) story.

See the letter pairs page

For the execution, you move one piece at a time without disturbing the rest of the cube.
For that you use an algorithm you should already know, the Y PLL, plus a few more algorithms to learn.

For the edges:
Just M2: turn the middle slice twice.
U is the buffer and A the swap piece. Use setup moves to bring each piece you want to solve to the A spot.

For the corners:
The Y perm swaps pieces A and P.
A is the buffer and P the swap piece. Use setup moves to bring each piece you want to solve to the P spot.

Y Perm 3D
Partial Y Perm (corner swap)F R U' R' U' R U R' F' R U R' U' R' F R F'

Sometimes you get parity:
If your memo has an odd number of letters, you have parity.
Then do the parity algorithm at the end of the edge execution.

Tip: memorise in letter pairs (RA BP LO); if a single letter is left at the end, you have parity (RA BP LO M).

Parity algorithm (either one)

  1. M2 U' M U2 M U' M' U2 M' U2
  2. D' L2 D M2 D' L2 D

Edge setup moves

pieces to swap (buffer B with D)

A:
no setup
B:
R U R' U'
C:
special case (see below)
D:
L' U' L U
E:
B L' B'
F:
B L2 B'
G:
B L B'
H:
L B L' B'
I:
special case (see below)
J:
U R U'
K:
buffer
L:
U' L' U
M:
B' R B
N:
R' B' R B
O:
B' R' B
P:
B' R2 B
Q:
special case (see below)
R:
U' L U
S:
special case (see below)
T:
U R' U'
U:
buffer
V:
U R2 U'
W:
special case (see below)
X:
U' L2 U

Special cases

  • A: M2
  • Q: U B' R U' B (M2) B' U R' B U'
  • C: U2 M' U2 M'
  • I: D M' U R2 U' M U R2 U' D' M2
  • W: M U2 M U2
  • S: M2' D U R2 U' M' U R2 U' M D'

Opposites

C and W are inverses
I and S are inverses

When you memorise in letter pairs and get C M, use the normal C algorithm. If you get M C, with C as the second letter, do the inverse instead, so W.
Same for the other special cases.

Corner setup moves

pieces to swap (buffer A with P)

A:
buffer
B:
R D'
C:
F
D:
F R'
E:
buffer
F:
F2
G:
D2 R
H:
D2
I:
F' D
J:
F2 D
K:
D R
L:
D
M:
R
N:
R2
O:
R
P:
no setup
Q:
R' F
R:
buffer
S:
D R
T:
D
U:
F'
V:
D' F'
W:
D2 F'
X:
D F'

Ready for the next step and very motivated? Go further and learn the 3-style method. It takes a lot of algorithms, but it will make you faster.

Discover the 3-style method