Rubik's Cube Step 3

[Tammy116]

I keep on trying step 3, but whenever I try the left or right algorithms, I can't seem to get my yellow cubie to where it's supposed to be, which is beside the center red cubie ad the centre yellow cubie.

[chessandpoker]

It looks like you'll be using the "Left" algorithm on your cube, so let's have a look and follow the Yellow-Red cubie until it arrives in the target location. There are 8 moves in this alg:

1. Bottom Row to the Right - While we still have the Yellow center on the front, the bottom row has moved to the right, along with our Yellow-Red cubie.

2. Left Column Down - Doesn't move our target cubie, but is a necessary preparatory move.

3. Bottom Row to the Left - Now our Yellow-Red cubie is back where it started, but the cube is now set up a bit differently.

4. Left Column Up - Another preparation for the next move.

5. Bottom Row to the Left - Now we move our target cubie to the left again, preparing for its final placement.

6. Front Face to the Left - This move occasionally throws people off. The front face is the face we're looking at throughout the entire algorithm. Here, we move it to the left. To understand the faces a bit better, let's look at the previous five moves. The bottom row moves (1, 3 and 5) can be viewed as moving the bottom face (all nine cubies making up the bottom layer). The left column moves (2 and 4) can be viewed as moving the left face (all nine cubies making up the left layer). So when we move the front face to the left, we move all nine cubies making up the front face to the left (counter-clockwise).

7. Bottom Row to the Right - Now we reconnect the Yellow-Red cubie with it's center again, and prepare for the final move of the algorithm which will place it into its proper location.

8. Front Face to the Right - Once again, we move the front face, this time to the right (clockwise). Now the Yellow-Red cubie is nicely tucked into its spot. Woot

Welcome to the forums, and let me know if I can be of any further help...and have fun solving the cube!