Learn · Level 1 · step 5 of 8
The yellow cross
Six moves, up to three times, and a yellow plus appears. The last layer begins.
Look at the top face and ignore the corners completely; only the four yellow edges matter now. You will see one of three pictures: a lone yellow centre (a dot), two yellow edges forming an L, or two forming a line.
One six-move algorithm handles all three: F R U R' U' F'. Hold the cube so an L sits in the top-left, or a line runs horizontally, and play it. The dot becomes an L, the L becomes a line, the line becomes a cross. At worst you perform it three times, re-angling between goes.
Do not worry if the yellow edges' side colours don't match the centres yet. That is the next step's job.
Every algorithm on this page is checked by simulation before publishing: the position shown plus the moves shown must produce a solved cube. Players: press play, or step through one turn at a time.