You can solve the 3x3 now, but each solve still takes a few minutes, and your hands keep letting go, turning the whole cube and grabbing it again. Rubik's Cube finger tricks are a way of turning each face with your fingertips instead of your whole hand, so both hands hardly ever leave the cube. This is the first step if you want to turn the cube faster, and you don't need a single new algorithm for it.
Find your case fast
Look at your cube from above and tap the picture that matches it to see how to solve it. Grey cells are stickers you can ignore.
This post has an animation for every move: two hands holding the cube, the layer really turning, and a red arrow showing the direction. Watch the picture, copy it on your real cube, then practise with the algorithms you already know from the EasyRubic guide. Every move sequence in this post has been tested on the EasyRubic cube simulator.
What are finger tricks?
According to the SpeedSolving Wiki, finger tricks are ways of using your fingers to make turns faster. The goal has two parts: cut down how often you have to regrip (let go with one hand to move your fingers into place for the next moves), and let two moves overlap, which means the next move starts before the last one has fully finished (SpeedSolving Wiki). J Perm sums up the same idea: for a fast algorithm, every single move has to be fast, and you can't waste time changing your grip (J Perm).
Almost every finger trick on the 3x3 is one of three kinds:
- Wrist turn: your whole hand holds a face and your wrist rotates to turn it. The SpeedSolving Wiki calls this the most natural way, and it is the most common way to do R and L.
- Flick (push): one finger curls in to push a layer away, for example the right index finger doing U.
- Pull: one finger stretches out to pull a layer towards you. The wiki notes that pulling is usually slower than pushing, so it is mostly used when the other hand is busy.
If you are not used to the letters R, U, U' and F yet, check the Rubik's Cube notation page or the post Rubik's Cube notation for beginners first.
How to hold the cube: the "home" grip
Before trying each move, get comfortable with a "home" grip, the position you always come back to after every algorithm:
- Both thumbs rest on the front face, around layer 2 and layer 1.
- The other fingers of each hand wrap around the back and the sides.
- Both index fingers sit lightly on the two back corners of the top face, ready to flick.
- Hold just tight enough that the cube doesn't fall. Gripping too hard is the number one reason moves jerk and lock up.
!Two hands holding a Rubik's Cube mid-solve: both thumbs at the front, the other fingers supporting the back, close to the home grip Photo: [Explodingcreepsr / Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_speedcube_midway_through_being_solved.jpg), CC BY-SA 4.0
In the photo, both thumbs are on the front of the cube and the other fingers are at the back, with no finger pressing on the top face. J Perm suggests starting and finishing every last-layer algorithm with both thumbs on the front, so it is easy to move on to the next step (J Perm). All the animations below start from this grip.
Four moves.
One at a time.
Tap each symbol and follow one piece. This is an exercise in watching the movement.
Which finger turns which move
Below is the most common way for right-handed people; left-handed people can mirror it. Ruwix and the SpeedSolving Wiki both say everyone should experiment and find the grip that feels most comfortable, so don't treat this as a strict rule.
How to read the pictures: the cube always has white on top, green facing you and red on the side; the red arrow shows the turning direction. To keep things easy to see, the pictures only use those three colours: the opposite faces are painted the same colour (white bottom, green back, red on the other side), so the colours after a turn won't exactly match your real cube. The pictures for the left-hand moves (U', L, L') are drawn as a mirror image, seen from the left. Each picture does one move and then starts again.
U: right index finger flick
This is the finger trick you will use most. Put your right index finger on the back of the top layer, close to the right corner. Flick your fingertip quickly round to the right: the top face turns clockwise when seen from above, and the front row moves to the left. Only your index finger touches the top face; the other fingers hold the bottom two layers still (Ruwix).
How to tell you're doing it right: after each flick, your right index finger goes back to the back right corner without your hand leaving the cube.
U': left index finger flick
This is the mirror image of U: put your left index finger on the back left corner of the top face and flick round to the left. The front row moves to the right. When your left hand is busy, you can do U' by pulling your right index finger back instead, as the SpeedSolving Wiki describes in its "pull" section (SpeedSolving Wiki).
!In the middle of a U perm: one fingertip sits on the top layer to flick it, while the other hand holds the bottom two layers Photo: [Explodingcreepsr / Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_speedcube_midway_through_a_U4_style_U_perm_(2).jpg), CC BY-SA 4.0
The real photo above was taken in the middle of an algorithm made only of top-layer flicks: only a fingertip touches the top layer. If your thumb or palm also rests on the top layer, the top face gets held back and the U move locks up.
R and R': right wrist turn
For R, your whole right hand wraps around the right face: thumb on the front, the other fingers on the back. Turn your wrist away from you: the front of the right face goes up, and your whole hand turns with it. R' is the same motion the other way, wrist turning towards you, so the front of the right face goes down (Ruwix). R2 is the same motion, turned twice as far.
Quick tip: after R, your right hand is already in the right place for R'. That's why sequences like R ... R' run so fast.
L: left wrist turn
Ruwix describes L simply as doing R with the other hand (Ruwix). Watch the direction: L makes the front of the left face go down, which is the opposite of R when you look from the front.
F and F': index finger or thumb
Cubers commenting on the Ruwix page mention two common ways: flick the front face with your thumb, or use your index finger to flick the front face just like you flick the top face, only this face is pointing at you (Ruwix).
The easiest way for beginners: for F, bring your right index finger down to the top right corner of the front face and flick downwards, so the front face turns clockwise. For F', put your right thumb on the bottom right corner of the front face and push up.
D and D': ring finger
Ruwix thinks D is the hardest move to practise. Hold the middle and top layers with your thumb and first two fingers, keep your ring finger behind the bottom face, then use your ring finger to flick the bottom face in the direction you need (Ruwix). This way you can do D without flipping the whole cube over.
- D: your left ring finger pulls the back left corner of the bottom face round the left side towards you.
- D': your right ring finger pulls the back right corner round the right side towards you.
Your ring finger is behind the cube, so the picture doesn't show it, only the bottom face turning. If it's hard to picture, watch J Perm's hands do this move in the video at the end of the post.
M: left ring finger pushes the middle slice
In the layer-by-layer method and basic CFOP, you hardly ever use M. Some cubers think you never need M on a 3x3, while others find M easy and fast, just one push with the left ring finger (Ruwix). You can leave M for later, when you get to the Roux method or last-layer algorithms that use M.
M is the middle slice, between the left face and the right face, and it turns the same way as L. Put your left ring finger on the back of the middle slice and push up: the back goes up and the front of the middle slice goes down.
The picture below shows the cube before and after an M move. In its label it is written as 2L, meaning "the second layer from the left face", which is exactly the middle slice. The centres are always coloured, so you can see straight away that the centres of the middle slice move too.
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
B: turn the whole cube
The B move very rarely comes up. Ruwix suggests turning the whole cube so the back face is on top, then turning it like the top face (Ruwix). For beginners, that's enough.
Drill 1: R U R' U'
The four-move sequence R U R' U' is nicknamed the "sexy move" in the cubing community. The SpeedSolving Wiki calls it the algorithm most closely linked with finger tricks (SpeedSolving Wiki). You have already met it in the guide: it sits in the middle of the yellow cross algorithm F R U R' U' F' in step 4.
The animation below puts the four finger tricks above together into one sequence; the move being turned is highlighted in red on the label:
To keep the picture easy to follow, it only shows the right hand moving; in real life the U' is flicked by the left index finger, as in the list below.
- R: turn your right wrist up.
- U: flick with your right index finger.
- R': turn your right wrist back.
- U': flick with your left index finger.
After four moves, both hands are back in the starting grip, so you can repeat straight away. Do R U R' U' six times in a row and a solved cube goes back to how it was. We checked this on the simulator, so it's a handy way to test yourself: if the cube isn't back to solved after six times, you got at least one move wrong.
The picture below: one R U R' U' on a solved cube. The right and top layers are coloured, because only those two layers move.
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
And here it is inside the yellow cross algorithm from step 4 (yellow face on top):
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
Practise in order: slow and steady first, then gradually faster. The goal is to do it six times in a row without regripping once. What the EasyRubic team has found: the first change isn't on the timer, it's that your hands hardly have to let go of the cube during an algorithm any more. Your solve times only start to drop clearly once that habit is solid.
Drill 2: Sune
Sune is the yellow face algorithm from step 5 of the guide:
R U R' U R U2 R'
The picture below holds the yellow face on top, just like in the guide. Only the yellow layer is coloured, because Sune only changes the yellow layer and the bottom two layers stay the same.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
It only uses three motions you have just practised: the right wrist (R, R'), the right index finger (U) and two flicks for U2. Here's how:
- R: right wrist.
- U: flick with your right index finger.
- R': right wrist back.
- U: flick with your right index finger again.
- R: right wrist.
- U2: flick twice with your right index finger, or flick with your right index finger and then your left index finger. Fast cubers flick with two fingers one after the other in a single motion, called a double flick (Ruwix).
- R': right wrist back.
Just like drill 1, doing Sune six times in a row brings a solved cube back to how it was (checked on the simulator). If you want to practise for a long time without having to solve the cube again, this is how.
Drill 3: second and third layer algorithms you already know
You don't need anything new: the algorithms from the guide are the best finger trick practice there is, because they mostly use R, U and F. The SpeedSolving Wiki notes that fast algorithms usually use mainly these three faces, sometimes called "RUF" algorithms (SpeedSolving Wiki).
- Inserting a second layer edge to the right, step 3: U R U' R' U' F' U F. The first half is the right wrist and both index fingers, the second half practises F and F'.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
- Moving the yellow edges into place, step 7: R U' R U R U R U' R' U' R2. This algorithm only has R and U, so it's great for practising really light U flicks. Do it three times in a row and a solved cube goes back to how it was (checked on the simulator).
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
Ruwix adds one more simple way to practise: take a scramble and try to do it as fast as you can, so your hands get used to switching between grips (Ruwix). You can get scrambles from the 3x3 timer page.
Summary of the practice algorithms (the picture for each one is in drills 1, 2 and 3 above):
| Drill | Algorithm | Fingers it works | Times in a row to return the cube to solved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sexy move | R U R' U' | Right wrist, both index fingers | 6 |
| Sune (step 5) | R U R' U R U2 R' | Right wrist, right index finger | 6 |
| Yellow cross (step 4) | F R U R' U' F' | Adds F and F' | |
| Second layer edge to the right (step 3) | U R U' R' U' F' U F | Both index fingers, F and F' | |
| Yellow edges into place (step 7) | R U' R U R U R U' R' U' R2 | Light U flicks, R2 | 3 |
Common mistakes when practising finger tricks
- Gripping the cube too tight. Your fingers can't flick lightly and faces lock up halfway. Relax your hands until the cube only just doesn't fall.
- Turning the whole cube in the middle of an algorithm. Every whole-cube turn means another regrip. If you catch yourself doing it, look at the animation for that move again and find a finger that can do it on the spot.
- Thumb resting on the top face. The top face gets held back and U doesn't turn all the way. Keep your thumbs on the front face.
- Going fast before going right. Doing it fast with the wrong motion only makes the bad habit harder to fix. Slow, steady, then fast.
- Not going back to the "home" grip. After every algorithm, bring both thumbs back to the front face. The next step will start much more easily.
Does the cube make a difference?
Yes. Ruwix writes that the cube you are holding decides a lot about how fast you can solve with it (Ruwix). The SpeedSolving Wiki explains one reason: finger tricks need moves to overlap, so corner cutting (a face can still turn when the face next to it isn't fully lined up) is seen as an important quality of a good cube (SpeedSolving Wiki).
A cube that is too stiff or keeps locking up will make you think you're doing the finger tricks wrong, when the problem is the cube. If you are using an old, stiff cube, have a look at the post Which Rubik's Cube to buy as a beginner.
When should you start using finger tricks?
As soon as you can solve the 3x3 without looking at the guide. Before that, your head is still busy remembering the next step, so there's no room left to pay attention to your hands.
A suggested path:
- Solve the whole cube with the 3x3 guide or the post How to solve a 3x3 Rubik's Cube for beginners.
- Practise the "home" grip, then each animation above: U, U', R, R' first, F and D after.
- Do drill 1 for a few minutes every day.
- Move on to Sune and the algorithms from the guide, using finger tricks in every solve.
- Time yourself with the timer page to see your progress, and once you're comfortable, find out about a faster method in the post What is CFOP.
Ruwix makes it clear: this is a skill you can only get good at through practice (Ruwix). Don't expect to be fast in the first few days. When you first change your grip, you'll often be a bit slower for a while before you speed up.
Video
The animations show which finger does what, and a video shows the real speed and rhythm of the hands. The video below from J Perm goes through the important finger tricks, from basic to advanced, each with an example. You can slow it down and follow along.
With the EasyRubic app, you can scan your real cube with the camera and see each move on a 3D cube, then practise that exact sequence with finger tricks.
Download EasyRubic and try the R U R' U' drill today.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What are finger tricks?
They are a way of turning each face of the cube with your fingertips (index finger, thumb, ring finger) instead of your whole hand, so you don't have to let go and regrip the cube, and the moves flow smoothly into each other. R and L are still usually done with the wrist.
Do beginners need finger tricks?
Not to solve the cube. But once you can solve it and want to get faster, finger tricks are the first thing worth getting the hang of, because they don't need any new algorithms.
Which algorithm should I practise finger tricks with first?
Start with R U R' U', because both hands come back to the right grip after each go, and six in a row returns the cube to how it was. After that, practise Sune and the second and third layer algorithms from the guide.
How do left-handed people do finger tricks?
You can mirror the instructions in this post, for example using your left wrist for the main moves. All the sources say everyone should find the grip that feels most comfortable, so no way is compulsory.
Why does my cube still lock up after practising finger tricks?
Usually because you're gripping too hard, your thumb is resting on the top face, or the cube is stiff and bad at corner cutting. Relax your hands first. If it still locks up, it may be time to switch to a better cube.
Cover photo: Noémi Bruzák / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5