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RUBIK'S CUBE NOTATION
The official WCA moves for the 3x3x3 Rubik's Cube. Learn the correct notation for the Rubik's cube today.
The WCA 3x3 notation is the official notation set out by the World Cubing Association and is the correct notation for all official WCA scrambles. In the images below the part of the puzzle that is greyed out is the part of the puzzle which does not move. The pieces in colour are the pieces that we will rotate.
Please Note: All images used in this guide are generic pictures of 3x3 Speed Cubes and may not be genuine Rubik's brand cubes. All images are for illustrational and educational purposes only
Single Layer Turns
When You see an UPPERCASE 'F' you should move the front layer in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
When You see an UPPERCASE 'B' you should move the back layer in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
When You see an UPPERCASE 'U' you should move the upper layer in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
When You see an UPPERCASE 'D' you should move the bottom layer in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
When You see an UPPERCASE 'R' you should move the right hand layer in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
When You see an UPPERCASE 'L' you should move the left hand layer in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
Center 'Slice' Turns
When You see an UPPERCASE 'M' you should move the slice shown above in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
When You see an UPPERCASE 'S' you should move the slice shown above in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
When You see an UPPERCASE 'E' you should move the slice shown above in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
Dual Layer Turns (Official WCA)
The following list of wide layer moves are the WCA official notation. However, you will find many websites and other people use a slightly different notation. This will be shown further down the page under the "Unofficial WCA" heading.
When You see an UPPERCASE 'F' you should move the front layer in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
When You see an UPPERCASE 'B' you should move the back layer in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
When You see an UPPERCASE 'U' you should move the upper layer in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
When You see an UPPERCASE 'D' you should move the bottom layer in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
When You see an UPPERCASE 'R' you should move the right hand layer in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
When You see an UPPERCASE 'L' you should move the left hand layer in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
Dual Layer Turns (Unofficial WCA)
The following list of wide layer moves are NOT the official WCA notations. However, many people prefer using lowercase letters to denote these types of turns. On a search for different algorithms you may see either 'F' or 'Fw' etc... As long as you know both of the notations you cant go wrong.
When You see an LOWERCASE 'f' you should move the 2 front layers (as shown in the image) in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
When You see an LOWERCASE 'b' you should move the 2 back layers (as shown in the image) in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
When You see an LOWERCASE 'u' you should move the 2 upper layers (as shown in the image) in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
When You see an LOWERCASE 'd' you should move the 2 bottom layers (as shown in the image) in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
When You see an LOWERCASE 'r' you should move the 2 right hand layers (as shown in the image) in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
When You see an LOWERCASE 'l' you should move the 2 left hand layers (as shown in the image) in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
F
F'
R
R'
L
L'
U
U'
D
