Step 2: The corners
To finish the first layer of the cube we now need to solve the corners of the bottom layer.
Again you can also watch the video from Arnaud on the right.
The corners are already a bit easier, there is an easy plan for it which always works when performed well.
First
You look on the top layer, we actually call this the U-layer. A half turn on teh U-layer would be U2, just like a half turn on the right side was an R2 turn.Now you look for the corner piece in the U-layer with a white sticker on it. Those are the pieces that belong in the bottom layer.
After you spotted one you have to check where it has to go to. This is a fairly easy inbetween step. Look at the colours for example white red and blue. This would mean that the corner should be between the blue and red centres.
Now twist the U face so that the corner is inbetween the right centres.
Now
It is time that the corner is going down to the bottom layer.For this you will need to learn your first algorithm. An algorithm is nothing more than a couple of moves in a row that you will have to memorize.
This particular algorithm is called the 'sexy move', because it is very easy and can be done extremely fast after some practise.
The algorithm is: RUR'U' R meaning to turn the right side not a half turn but just 1 turn. This is in the clockwise direction, you can always see which way this is by looking straight at the particular face.
Then there is the U turn, meaning to turn the U-layer (top layer) one time clockwise.
Then R' also called R-minus, is as you might have guessed an R move but anti-clockwise. Of course if you would do R and then R' on a solved cube the result would be... nothing :) and the last U' is of course the U-layer one twist anti-clockwise. Again if you would do a U and then a U' on a solved cube totally nothing happens.
Finally
We are actually going to solve the corners now. You have spotted your corner you will solve by now, and you've put it on the correct place on the U layer. Now you simply have to do the sexy move to solve it. Important is that you repeat the sexy move untill the corner is solved. Sometimes it can take up to 5 times doing the sexy move before the corner will be solved!Again repeat the steps of spotting moving the U face and performing a lot of sexy moves.
Here is an applet that solves all corners out of a random position once, unfortunatly I could not make it so that it only shows the corners, the edges of the 2nd layer will be solved too. I hope this can again be adjusted in the future. For now I suggest you only focus on the corner in the applet.
Click on the applet and press paly to see it solve
Click