How to solve a 3×3 with Roux

A block-building speed method: two 1x2x3 blocks, corners, then the last six edges with only M and U. About 48 moves on average, few cube rotations. Practise each step in Cube Lab.

Before you start

If you cannot yet solve a 3×3, use the beginner method first. Roux is a different recipe from CFOP — layers are not the point; left and right blocks are.

Hold the first block on the left and the last layer on top (this guide uses orange left, white down, yellow up). Algorithms assume a face is Front — do not turn the cube in your hands mid-algorithm.

M is the slice between L and R, turning the same way as L. M' is the other way, M2 is 180°. Lowercase r means wide R (R plus M'). In Cube Lab: Moves → M, or the M key (Shift = M′). Full tables: cube notation reference.

2-look CMLL, not full Roux. Full CMLL is 42 cases. Here you orient with Sune, then permute with one cycle, so you only need a handful of algorithms. LSE is split into three short looks.

Roux overview

Four stages: First Block · Second Block · CMLL · LSE. Fewer moves than CFOP, fewer cube rotations.

FB (left 1x2x3) → SB (right 1x2x3) → CMLL (corners of the last layer) → LSE (last six edges with M and U).

1 · First Block (FB)

A 1x2x3 on the left in about 7–8 moves. Intuition, not a memorised path.

Pair a corner and edge into a square, then expand to the full left block. The top row of L and the whole M slice stay free — those pieces are for later.

During inspection, hunt for a pair that is already made. Colour neutrality (white or yellow on the bottom) finds those pairs faster.

2 · Second Block (SB)

The matching 1x2x3 on the right, without breaking First Block.

Favour R, r (Rw), U. Avoid L and Lw — they smash the left block. Skip M while a Second Block piece still sits in the M slice.

Build a corner–edge pair on top (often FR / FU), then insert. Keyhole: turn U to set up the insert without ripping a pair you already placed on the right.

3 · CMLL — last-layer corners

Solve all four U corners. Ignore M-slice edges — they can scramble.

Unlike CFOP OLL, CMLL does not care about edges, so the algorithms stay short. Full CMLL is 42 cases in seven groups (O, H, Pi, U, T, S, As, L). Start with 2-look.

Look 1 — orient: Sune until every U corner has yellow on top. Put an unoriented corner at front-left and repeat.

Look 2 — permute: cycle three corners with A-perm. If one corner is already correct, work from it. If none is, apply once and look again.

It will look scrambled in between. The blocks may break during Sune and then come back. Do not stop mid-algorithm. Edges staying wrong is expected — that is LSE.

4 · LSE ① — edge orientation (4a)

Orient the last six edges with only M and U. Yellow or white should sit on U/D.

LSE (Last Six Edges) is Roux’s signature step. Read how many edges are “bad” (wrong orientation). Common shapes: arrow, line, L, dot. The arrow case is the one you will see most.

Keep the cube still. M is the middle slice — Moves → M, or press M (Shift = M′).

4 · LSE ② — UL and UR (4b)

Place the UL and UR edges so they match the left and right centres.

Bring those two edges into the M slice with M and U, then drop them with M2 (or a short M/U cycle). AUF (a U turn) to line the sides up.

Later, EOLR combines 4a and 4b into one look. You do not need that yet.

4 · LSE ③ — M slice

Solve the last four M-slice edges. The cube is solved.

Opposite edges swap with a single M2. A 4-cycle uses a short M/U sequence. Finish with an AUF if the top needs a U turn.

This is why Roux feels fast at the end: high TPS, no cube rotations, tiny patterns instead of 21 PLLs.

Practice path

• First Block only until inspection finds a left pair within a few seconds.
• Add Second Block without touching L / Lw / M while a right piece sits in the slice.
• Drill 2-look CMLL (Sune then A-perm), then LSE 4a → 4b → 4c in order.
• Timed full Roux solves only after each stage is comfortable untimed.

Stuck?

If the left block is a mess, you likely used L, Lw, or M while a Second Block piece was still in the slice. Undo to the last stage that still looks like the diagram, then retry that step in the trainer.

If M demos do nothing, you are not on 3×3 — Roux is a 3×3 track. Open the trainer with the links above.

Need the first-solve recipe instead? How to solve a 3×3 (beginner). Prefer layers and lookahead? CFOP / 4-look. Physical cube colours do not match? Scan all six faces in Cube Lab — that opens beginner steps or Fast solve, not Roux.

After this page

When 2-look CMLL feels easy: learn full CMLL (42), then EOLR to merge LSE 4a and 4b. Colour neutrality (x2 / y) makes First Block faster. Roux is often the better one-handed method because of the M-slice finish.