How to Solve the Square-1 | Tutorial

Hope this tutorial helps out anyone who couldn't solve their Square-1s! Click show more to see a bunch of important stuff:

Buy the QiYi Square-1 here (and save 5% with the discount code "DGCubes" without the quotes):
Or buy it at these places (I don't have a discount code at these):

Timestamps:
Introduction: 0:00
Hardware: 0:33
Method overview: 1:03
Notation: 1:48
Cubeshape: 3:50
Corner orientation: 5:50
Edge orientation: 7:17
Corner permutation: 8:45
Edge permutation: 11:03
Parity: 14:08

Algorithms:
Cubeshape: / (-2, -4) / (-1, -2) / (-3, -3) /
Edge orientation: (1, 0) / (0, -3) / (0, -3) / (-1, -1) / (1, 4) / (0, 3) /
Corner permutation: / (3, -3) / (-3, 0) / (0, 3) / (0, -3) / (0, 3) /
Edge permutation: (-2, 0) / (3, 0) / (-1, -1) / (-2, 1) /
Parity: / (-3, 0) / (0, 3) / (0, -3) / (0, 3) / (2, 0) / (0, 2) / (-2, 0) / (4, 0) / (0, -2) / (0, 2) / (-1, 4) / (0, -3) / (0, 3)
Swap layers: / (6, 6) /
Equator flip: / (6, 0) / (6, 0) / (6, 0)

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: How do I solve it if two unsolved edges are across from each other?

Q: What if I have 3 edges unsolved?
A: Exactly the same as what I showed in the video; just instead of reducing both layers from 3 unsolved to 2 unsolved, reduce one from 3 to 2, and the other from 0 to 2. Then, you have 2 pairs of unsolved edges, and can do the algorithm normally to solve the rest.

Q: How do I solve *insert case here* edge permutation case? You didn't show it in the video!
A: There are 99 EP cases, so there's no way I should show them all. Just use the technique I showed in the video to reduce the cube to either a solved cube or the parity case. You're going to need to use some intuition and puzzle-solving skills for this step, so don't worry if you don't get it immediately! Just keep trying!

Q: Which way do I turn when you say slash? Clockwise or counterclockwise?
A: It doesn't matter; it's a 180 degree turn, so it accomplishes the same thing either way!

Q: How am I supposed to follow this? You go way too fast!!
A: I went over notation for a solid two minutes, so, considering the algs are both onscreen and in the description, you really shouldn't even need to see me actually perform them (although I do anyway). If it's too fast for you, pause the video and do the algorithm onscreen, or slow down the video via the cog in the bottom right section of the player (if you're not on mobile).

Q: Your algorithm for *insert step here* doesn't work! My puzzle literally can't do the moves.
A: I get your frustration, and I know that Square-1 notation is hard to get used to. However, I am 100% certain that every algorithm in the video and description is written correctly, as I have checked many times. I'd recommend you spend more time watching the notation part of the video and practicing that before you move on to actually doing the algs. Also, once you are doing the algs, make sure you're following the instructions in the video exactly. If you do the same exact thing as I did, you won't have any issues.

2022 updates to check out!!

[JustKeepCubing]

I feel like sq-1 is one of the hardest wca puzzles to teach. It's a lot of "move this like this" and "experiment to find out how to do it" but you did a really good job explaining it! nice job!

[andrediday]

Why am i watching this if i even dont have a square 1

[TylerDunphy]

Can you quickly explain when exactly you have to constantly slam the cube on the table?

[jackmaniar]

His by far the best tutorial video I have ever seen

[nathanhernandez]

algs
cube shape: 5:27
edge orientation 7:51
corner permutation 9:21
edge perm 11:48
parity 14:40

[thecornerpiece]

Thanks DG! You helped me a lot. I saw a lot unboxings and reviews of QiYi Square-1 and I buyed one and after it came it took 2 minutes to scramble it and then i didn't know how to solve it and it standed on shelf for 6 months, then this evening I watched this tutorial and solved it! Thanks!

[creamofthecrop]

Thanks! This is the first tutorial i could watch without falling asleep...

[cebrown]

Thank you so much! This is the first understandable SQ1 tutorial I've seen. This video is the reason why I'm finally able to solve mine! Thanks DG!

[fanfromky]

Thank you Daniel, I am thinking about getting a Sq-1, but was worried about the lack of good tutorials.

[deven]

Helped a lot. Thank you so much! I solved it in my car on the freeway. It was very disruptive and well thought out for easy instructions. Thank you again, and now to mix it up and watch again.

[YLKRubiks]

I liked square1 until i saw the parity alg

[HennieBekker-ti]

Love this tutorial, easy to follow and solving it easily.

[scottpetersen]

Does anyone know how to make a 1x1 corner cut better? I tried changing the tension and lubing it but it just doesn't work. Should I get another one?

[yerkinassylbek]

Thanks DG, this was the first video I watched to learn square-1, right now I want to become officially top 25 in the world since I average low 9.

[electro]

Lol the amount of times that he dropped it on the table I was waiting for it to burst

[akhilboby]

Thanks a lot bro. After wasting lots of time seeing other videos, I finally learned how to solve this square one. This is probably the best and easiest way to solve square one . Thank you so much.

[ghostmeme]

My algorithm: U' R' D' U' M' B'

[NshbrVrjsn]

6 years later and your video is still helping others!

[TheNateHaas]

Only reason I have a square 1 is to throw at a wall

[deepstudios]

I used this tutorial many years ago to solve my sq1. I recently found it again and didn't remember the algs. Came back here and the muscle memory is back!!!