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Advanced method (https://ruwix.com/the-rubiks-cube/advanced-cfop-fridrich/) First two layers F2L

Previous step Next step

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Step 2: First two layers F2L

The first two layers (F2L) of the Rubiks Cube are solved simultaneously rather than individually, reducing the
solve time considerably. In the second step of the Fridrich method we solve the four white corner pieces and
the middle layer edges attached to them. The 41 possible cases in this step can be solved intuitively but its
useful to have a table of algorithms (https://ruwix.com/the-rubiks-cube/algorithm/) printed on your desk for
guidance.

To be efficient try not to turn your cube around while solving and look ahead as much as possible. Familiarize with the
algorithms so you can do them even with your eyes closed.

In the beginners method solving the white corners (https://ruwix.com/the-rubiks-cube/how-to-solve-the-rubiks-cube-

beginners-method/step-2-first-layer-corners/) and the second layer edges (https://ruwix.com/the-rubiks-cube/how-to-solve-
the-rubiks-cube-beginners-method/step3-second-layer-f2l/) were two separate steps, but in this stage you should already
know this. In the advanced Fridrich method (https://ruwix.com/the-rubiks-cube/advanced-cfop-fridrich/) were going to pair
them in the top layer, then insert them where they belong. The simple example below demonstrates a lucky situation where
the red-blue edge piece goes where it belongs while we solve the white corner. If the red-blue corner is somewhere else,
then first we need to get it to the back-top position.

R U R

In the example below the white sticker is pointing upwards. First we have to put the corner and edge pieces together, and
put them where they need to be.

R U2 R U R U R

We can never affect the solved blocks! In the situation below, instead of doing F U2 F we are going to do U R U2 R so we
dont mess up the blue-orange block.
 F U2 F

U R U2 R

To get faster sometimes we are going to use double turns. Just a reminder that the u letter in the algorithm means the
rotation of the two upper layer clockwise. See full reference in the notation page (https://ruwix.com/the-rubiks-
cube/notation/).

Be intuitive or learn algorithms?

An intuitive approach of this situation would suggest to solve this case in the following steps: to take the two
pieces to the top layer, then joining them to insert where they belong to: (R U2 R) (F U2 F) (U R U R).
However the following algorithm is much quicker because its the same series of movements repeating: (R U
Home Programs Rubik's Cube Puzzles Shop
R U) (R U R
U) (R U R U)

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Lets see the possible situtations you might meet in this stage. Cases grouped by the position of the white corner and the
edge that needs to be attached to it:

1st: Easy cases

These are the lucky cases which can be solved in 3-4 moves.

R U R F U F

U F U F U R U R

2nd case: Corner in bottom, edge in top layer

The first two should be familiar from the beginners method (https://ruwix.com/the-rubiks-cube/how-to-solve-the-rubiks-
cube-beginners-method/):

(U R U R) (U F U F) (U F U F) (U R U R)

(F U F) (U F U F) (R U R) (U R U R)
 (R U R) (U R U R) (F U F) (U F U F)

3rd case: Corner in top, edge in middle

(R U R U) (R U R U) (R U R) (R U R) (d R U R)

(U F U F) (U F U2 F) (U F U F) (d F U F)

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(U R U R) (U R U2 R) (U R U R) (d R U R)
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4th case: Corner pointing outwards, edge in top layer

In this case we usually bring the cube to a basic case, reorienting the white corner in the first stage.

(R U R U) (d R U R) (F U F U) (d F U F)

(U F U2 F) (U F U2 F) (U R U2 R) (U R U2 R)

(U F U F) (U F U2 F) (U R U R) (U R U2 R)

(U R U R U) (R U R) (U F U F U) (F U F)

(U R U R U) (R U R) (U F U F U) (F U F)
 (U F U2 F U) (R U R) (U R U2 R U) (F U F)

5th case: Corner pointing upwards, edge in top layer

(R U R U) U (R U R U) (R U R) y (R U R U) U (R U R U) (R U R)

(U2 R U R) (U R U R) (U2 F U F) (U F U F)

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(U R U2 R) (U R U R) (U F U2 F) (U F U F)
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(R U2 R) (U R U R) (F U2 F) (U F U F)

6th case: Corner in bottom, edge in middle

(R U R d R U2 R) (U R U2 R)

(R U R U R U2 R) (U R U R) (R U R U R U R) (U R U2 R)

(R U R U R U R) (U d R U R) (R U R d R U R) (U R U R)

Previous step Next step

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cross/) last-layer-oll/)
 Steps of the Fridrich Rubiks Cube Method (https://ruwix.com/the-rubiks-cube/advanced-cfop-
fridrich/):

1. White cross (https://ruwix.com/the-rubiks-cube/advanced-cfop-

fridrich/white-cross/)
2. First two layers (F2L) (https://ruwix.com/the-rubiks-cube/advanced-
cfop-fridrich/first-two-layers-f2l/)
3. Orient last layer (OLL) (https://ruwix.com/the-rubiks-cube/advanced-
cfop-fridrich/orient-the-last-layer-oll/)
4. Permute last layer (PLL) (https://ruwix.com/the-rubiks-cube/advanced-
cfop-fridrich/permutate-the-last-layer-pll/)

Comments
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34 Comments Sort by Oldest

Add a comment...

Nicholas Bassett Works at Taco Bell

Not explained well at all. What are you supposed to do after solving the red, white, and blue "cube"?
Like Reply 1 Jul 21, 2016 11:46pm

Austin Min Long Beach, California

These are algorithms for intermediate rubik's cube solvers
Like Reply 8 Jul 26, 2016 9:20am

Nicholas Bassett Works at Taco Bell

Austin Min I can solve a cube the easy way no problem . I want to learn this hid way but it isn't
explained at all.
Like Reply Jul 26, 2016 9:52am

Steve Wu University of Georgia

Nicholas Bassett Your supposed to use it for that case for that F2L slot, then you apply the same things
to the other slots (which will have different colors)
Like Reply 4 Jul 26, 2016 1:18pm

Show 10 more replies in this thread

RK Vassan Managing Director at Osaky Trade & Transport Agency - MA Sdn.Bhd

Nice
Like Reply Jul 26, 2016 12:31pm

Anthony Ladjar Transport Consultant at Self-Employed

Know the principles and you don't have to memorize all the algs.
Being an intuitive solver is fun.
Like Reply Aug 20, 2016 12:58am
 Like Reply Aug 20, 2016 12:58am

Jack Rysavy
Using the above algorithms, I can only solve the first layer. Am I doing something wrong?
Like Reply Aug 24, 2016 12:11pm

Drelk Drek
I think that you didnt make your cross corectly i average 20 seconds...
Like Reply Nov 26, 2016 8:03pm

Alexis Xavier Arquillo

Drelk Drek Yeah I agree maybe his cross isn't correctly placed
Like Reply Jan 13, 2017 7:03am

Asif Shahzad National Textile University

Excellent explaination of every possible position. Great work. Thank you.
Like Reply 2 Aug 30, 2016 5:02pm

Home Nikolo
Programs Rubik's
Villamor
Caballero Cubeat
Manager Puzzles
Sa Puso Mo :"> Shop
new best 17 sec.
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Like Reply Sep 11, 2016 6:23pm (https://twitter.com/#!/RuwixCube)

Lystyr Jon Nuez Works at Edi sa puso mo :">

mine is 9
Like Reply Oct 9, 2016 10:29am

Nikolo Caballero Villamor Manager at Sa Puso Mo :">

Lystyr Jon Nuez hambog
Like Reply 1 Oct 11, 2016 8:00pm

Maksymilian Piskorowski
Nikolo Caballero Villamor My PB is 19.94
Like Reply Oct 17, 2016 2:17am

Dendi NaVi Dolera

it's hard to solve on f2l
Like Reply Sep 16, 2016 4:41pm

Andy Huynh
you just need to practise
Like Reply 1 Sep 21, 2016 9:35am

Subramanian Chinnakannu Teacher at Retired

intresting
Like Reply Sep 17, 2016 10:29pm

David Galvis Nueva Granada Military University

What does the " d " means?
Like Reply Oct 10, 2016 3:01am

Darius Cotovanu
you have to move the down side and the middle in the same time
Like Reply 2 Oct 24, 2016 3:57pm

You need to do zbll and more like this
Like Reply Oct 11, 2016 2:39am
 Like Reply Oct 11, 2016 2:39am

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