EDGES can be in the same location but flipped in 2 ways.
CORNERS can be in the same location but twisted in 3 ways.
The CENTERS are fixed on an axis.
Therefore, 6 out of the 8 (corners) + 12 (edges) + 6 (centers) = 26 pieces of the 3x3x3 Rubiks Cube are already solved for you, no matter how many turns are done to scramble the cube.
Move Notation
Step 1: Solve the First Layer Edges
Edge pieces with white are in the bottom layer
Edge pieces with white are in the middle layer
Edges with white are in the top layer
Step 2: Solve the Top Corners/Complete the First Layer
Corners with white are in the bottom layer
I II Corners with white are in the top layer
(I)
(II)
Step 3: Solve the Middle Edges/Complete the Middle Layer