Move language
Notation describes which layer turns, in which direction and how far. Automatic reading frees attention for finger tricks, recognition and the next step of the solve.
Direct answer
The letters R, L, U, D, F and B name the right, left, up, down, front and back faces. A bare letter turns that face clockwise as viewed directly; a prime mark means counter-clockwise; 2 means a half turn. Lowercase or w marks wide moves, M/E/S mark slices and x/y/z rotate the whole cube.
Complete guide
Clockwise for R means looking directly at the right face, while clockwise for B means looking at the back. This face-relative rule prevents trying to interpret every letter from one fixed front view.
Prime marks reverse a quarter turn, and 2 is direction-independent for a half turn. Parentheses and repetition can group triggers, while spaces separate moves for readable algorithms.
Practice the six face letters first, then primes and doubles. Add wide moves such as r or Rw, M-slice turns and x, y, z rotations only when the basic language is automatic.
Read short sequences aloud, execute slowly and use an interactive 3D player to verify the final state. Reverse the sequence by reading moves backward and inverting each turn.
A notation drill is successful when you can begin each move immediately without mentally naming clockwise or counter-clockwise. Accuracy should remain perfect before reading speed increases.
When an algorithm fails, compare tokens one at a time and check apostrophes, lowercase wide moves and rotations. Many “memory” errors are actually notation-reading errors.
Do not define clockwise from the front for every face. Distinguish lowercase r from uppercase R, M from whole-cube x and an apostrophe from a typographic decoration.
Use notation inside Sune or T-perm and connect each move to a finger action. The finger-trick guide turns the written sequence into repeatable execution.
Quick answers
Turn the right face 90 degrees counter-clockwise while looking directly at the right face.
Either direction reaches the same half-turn state.
Turn the right two layers together; Rw is another common spelling.
Rotate the entire cube around the vertical axis as if performing a U-style rotation.
Practice with feedback
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