Finger Tricks Every Speedcuber Must Know

What Are Finger Tricks?

Finger tricks are the technique of using individual finger movements rather than full wrist rotations to turn cube faces. They are the fundamental physical skill of speedcubing — without finger tricks, your maximum turning speed is limited to approximately 3-4 turns per second (TPS). With proper finger tricks, experienced cubers achieve 8-12 TPS during algorithm execution.

Every standard cube move has one or more corresponding finger tricks. Learning these tricks is a prerequisite for fast solving, and they should be practiced deliberately until they become completely automatic. Think of finger tricks as the "technique" of speedcubing, analogous to proper form in sports.

Right Hand Finger Tricks

R Move (Right Clockwise)

Push the right face forward and up using your right index finger placed on the bottom-right edge of the R face. The motion is a quick upward flick. Your right thumb should rest on the F face for stability. This is arguably the most important single finger trick because R appears in the majority of speedcubing algorithms.

R' Move (Right Counter-Clockwise)

Pull the right face backward and down using your right ring finger or middle finger placed on the top-right edge of the R face. Some cubers use a thumb push from the back instead. Experiment to find which feels more natural for your hand.

R2 Move (Right 180°)

Execute an R move immediately followed by another R move (double flick with index finger), or use a single stronger flick that carries the face through 180 degrees. Many cubers prefer the double-flick method for consistency.

U Move Finger Tricks

U Move (Top Clockwise)

Flick the top face to the left using your right index finger placed on the right edge of the U face. The motion is a quick horizontal push from right to left. This is the second most common move in speedcubing and should be extremely fast and precise.

U' Move (Top Counter-Clockwise)

Flick the top face to the right using your left index finger placed on the left edge of the U face. Alternatively, use your right thumb pushing the back edge of the U face from back to front. Both methods are valid — choose based on the algorithm context.

U2 Move (Top 180°)

Two options: (1) double-flick U U with the right index finger, or (2) push U with the right index finger then U with the left index finger. Option 2 is slightly faster for most cubers because it distributes the work between both hands.

Left Hand Finger Tricks

L' Move

Push the left face forward and up using your left index finger. This mirrors the right hand's R move. L' is more natural than L for most cubers because the pushing motion is easier than pulling.

L Move

Pull the left face backward using your left ring finger. This is the mirror of R' but many cubers find it awkward because the left hand is typically the "stabilizing" hand. Practice L moves extensively if your algorithms include them.

Front Face Finger Tricks

F Move

Push the front face clockwise using your right thumb. Place your thumb on the right edge of the F face and push downward. Alternatively, use your right index finger curled to push the top edge rightward.

F' Move

Push the front face counter-clockwise using your left thumb or right index finger. The thumb method pushes the left edge of the F face downward.

D Move Finger Tricks

D moves are less common but appear in certain algorithms. Use your right ring finger to pull the bottom face toward you (D) or push it away (D'). Some cubers use the pinky finger instead. D moves are generally the slowest and least comfortable, which is why most algorithm designers minimize their use.

Practice Routine

Spend 5 minutes daily drilling individual finger tricks. Set a metronome to 4 beats per second and execute R moves on each beat for 30 seconds, then R' moves, then U moves, and so on. Gradually increase the metronome tempo. Also practice common triggers: R U R' U' (the "sexy move"), R U2 R' (double U insert), and F R U R' U' F' (OLL algorithm). These triggers appear so frequently that they should feel effortless at maximum speed.