How to solve the 2x2x3 Tower Cube

The 2x2x3 Tower Cube is a reasonably straightfoward puzzle that does not shape shift unlike its 2x2x4 cousin.

Notation

Part 1

Notation Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Step 1 is to solve the top and bottom layers, i.e. the corner pieces. We are not worried about orientation, simply getting the ends done. First, pick the end you want to solve as your first layer, here we will solve the light grey layer first and the first three corners can be placed quite easily. The final one requires a simple algorithm to move it from the bottom right up into the correct layer.

Simply place the corner below where you want to move it to and then perform the following algorithm:

This should result in two complete ends.

Part 2

Notation Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Now we have the ends complete we need to put each corner into the correct place. There are two algorithms to do this, one will swap the front left and front right corners in the upper layer and the second will swap the diagonally opposite pieces in the front right and back left positions.

To swap two adjacent pieces use the following algorithm where the pieces marked X swap.

To swap two diagonally adjacent pieces use the following algorithm where the pieces marked by X and the arrow swap (i.e. the front right and back left pieces).

Part 3

Notation Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

The final step is to solve the edge pieces in the middle layer.

Hopefully at least one edge piece is already correct. If not perform the following algorithm to create at least one correct piece:

You will then either have 2 pieces correct or just the one piece correct. You will need to decide which of the following algorithms to use. The first will swap the front right and back right edge pieces, the second will swap the front left and back right edge pieces and the final one will cycle the three incorrect edges with the correct edge placed in the back left.

To swap the front right and back right pieces as marked by Xs:

To swap the front left and back right pieces as marked by Xs:

With the correct piece in the back left cycle a, b and c as follows:

Well done!

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