Step 3: The second layer

To finish the second layer of the cube we only need to solve the 4 edges.

Again you can also watch the video from Arnaud on the right.

This step begins like the previous step. You search for an edge on the U-layer, make sure there is no yellow on it since they would belong on the U-layer of the cube and not in the second layer. Of course you will not see any edges with white on it since they are still in the cross on the bottom.

Once you have spotted it, adjust it again so that the side sticker matches with a centre, just like you did on the cross before doing a half turn to solve it. This would be like the picture. You see that you always hold the edge on the right side.

The next thing you do is to check which way it has to go to. At the picture you see that the edge has to go to the front because it has a blue sticker on it and the front centre is also blue. If it was a green sticker it would belong to the back since the centre on the back is green (green and blue are always opposite to eachother, just like white/yellow and orange/red centres).

So now you know which way it has to go to, to the front or to the back. You can actually solve the edge with one move, an R' (to the front) and a R (to the back). Of course this would mess up the rest, it's still usefull to known which way it has to go to which I will explain now

If you can solve it with a clockwise turn, you will have to do first 5 moves in the clockwise direction starting with an R move. After each R move you do a U move (note that this is also in the clockwise direction), this is your second turn. Repeat doing an R and then a U untill you have done 5 moves.
After you have done these moves you have to do 5 moves in the opposite direction starting with a U move. So if you just did clockwise turns, you will now have to do anti-clockwise turns. So your first 2 moves then will be U'R', repeat again untill you've done 5.

Repeat this of course for all the 4 edges. If you end up with no edges in the U layer anymore but an edge twisted in the middle layer. Then put any of the edges on the U layer there. This will force the piece to come out to the U layer itself. After that you can solve it normally.

Here are some applets

that show you how to solve some edges too. I also included one of the flipped cases.

Erik's flying colours

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Also check

Step 3: The second layer

Here are some applets