Eric's F2L Version 1.
3
August 2020
Based on J Perm's Best F2L Algorithms
This alg sheet makes 3x3 F2L cases intuitive and easy to learn! For beginner and intermediate CFOP solvers.
How to read:
• Purple: fancy tricks • Diagrams use this orientation:
• Blue: cube rotations (Make sure you can read
• Green: inserts Singmaster notation!)
How to learn:
• Most cases are intuitive, think of them as strategies instead of algorithms. Notation is only for reference.
• To practice a case, start with solved F2L and reverse the solution to replicate the case.
• For front-slot 2-gen cases, make sure you can also execute them to the back!
• If right-hand dominant, <U,L> solutions can be executed as <U,R>: replace y with y' and L moves with R.
Section 1: Basic F2L
1A: Both pieces on top
White sticker faces Up
Pieces are separated:
U2 (R U R') U (R U' R') y U2 (L' U' L) U' (L' U L)
Match edge to center, then move corner Match edge to center, then move corner
on top of it on top of it
U (R U2 R') U (R U' R') y U' (L' U2 L) U' (L' U L)
Match edge to center, then move corner Match edge to center, then move corner
on top of it on top of it
Pieces are together:
U (R U' R') U' (R U' R') U R U' R' y U' (L' U L) U (L' U L) U' L' U L
Insert corner into slot, take it back out Insert corner into slot, take it back out
Alt. angle: [d2] (lefty anti-sune) (L U L') Alt. angle: [y' U2] (anti-sune) (R' U' R)
(R U2 R') U' (R U R') y (L' U2 L) U (L' U' L)
Hide edge, separate corner Hide edge, separate corner
1
White sticker faces Side/Front
Top stickers are different:
(R U R') y (L' U' L)
Simple insert Simple insert
Alt. angle: [y'] (f R f') Alt. angle: [y2] (f' L' f)
U' (R U R') U (R U R') y U (L' U' L) U' (L' U' L)
Hide corner, move edge, unhide corner Hide corner, move edge, unhide corner
R' U2 R2 U R2' U R y L U2 L2' U' L2 U' L'
Split the pair, swing into insert, swing Split the pair, swing into insert, swing
into inserting the pair that got removed into inserting the pair that got removed
U' (R U' R') U (R U R') y U (L' U L) U' (L' U' L)
Split the pair, insert it Split the pair, insert it
Top stickers are the same:
y U' (L' U L) U (R U' R')
Simple insert Simple insert
y U (L' U2 L) U2 (L' U L) U' (R U2 R') U2 (R U' R')
Hide corner, insert edge next to it Hide corner, insert edge next to it
U' (R U R') U2 (R U' R') y U (L' U' L) U2 (L' U L)
Hide corner, insert edge next to it Hide corner, insert edge next to it
M U (L F' L') U' M' y M U' (R' F R) U M'
Set up into a fancy L F' L' insert Set up into a fancy R' F R insert
Note: can be executed as M U r U' r' U' M'
2
1B: One piece in correct slot
Edge in the slot:
U (R U R') U2 (R U R') U (F' U' F) U' (R U R')
Place edge next to corner Place edge across from corner
U' (R U' R') U2 (R U' R') U' (R U R') U y (L' U' L)
Place edge next to corner Place edge across from corner
(U R U' R')3 U' (R' F R F') (R U' R')
Repeat inverse sexy 3 times Place corner to back, sledgehammer
Alt. angle: [y] (U' L' U L)3
Corner in the slot:
(R U R' U')2 y (L' U' L U)2
Repeat sexy twice Repeat lefty sexy twice
Note: leave out the last U' move Note: leave out the last U move
(R U' R') U (R U' R') y (L' U L) U' (L' U L)
Place corner on top of edge Place corner on top of edge
U' (R' F R F') (R U R') U (R U' R') U' y (L' U L)
Move edge to back, sledgehammer Same as beginner method
1C: Both pieces in correct slot
These cases make Eric sad
(R U' R') U (R U2 R') U (R U' R')* (R U' R') (r U' r') U2 (r U r')
Take pieces out with R U' R' to turn it Take pieces out with R U' R' then solve
into a 1A case with a fancy wide R move solution
(R U' R') U' (R U R') U2 (R U' R')* (r U' r') U2 (r U r') (R U R')
Take pieces out with R U' R', join them Use the same wide moves from above
together by hiding corner case
R2' U2' (F R2 F') U2' (R' U R')*
Start with thumb on top, do F' with right
ring finger
* Use keyhole technique if there are other unsolved pairs
3
Section 2: Advanced F2L
2A: Edge in wrong slot
White sticker faces Up:
U' R' U R2 U' R' U2' R f' U' f (R U R')
Match corner with edge, swing into Pair up pieces with wide F moves
insert
U (L' U L) U2 (R U' R') L F' L2 U L U2 F
Match corner with edge Pair up pieces while breaking the cross,
insert pair, fix cross
U2 L2 u L2 u' L2 L F' U F L'
Pair up pieces with wide U moves Open wormhole to connect opposite
slots, do U to insert. Close wormhole
White sticker faces Right:
R' U' R2 U R' F D R D' F'
Place edge across from corner, swing Align pair with F D, insert to D layer
into insert Alt. angle: [y] R (F U F') R'
U' (L' U' L) (R U' R') (F U2 F') (R U R')
Neat trick to pair edge and corner Place edge across from corner
U (R U R') (L U L') U2 F' (L U L') F
Place edge across from corner U2 F' setup to back insert
White sticker faces Front:
U2 (R U R2' U') R2 U R' R' U2 R y (L' U' L)
Fun trick to pair edge and corner, Place edge across from corner
swing into insert
y L U L2' U' L R' D' F' D R
Place edge across from corner, swing Align pair with R' D, insert to D layer
into insert Alt. angle: [y'] F' (R' U' R) F
U' R U' R' (L U' L') U2 R B' U' B R'
Place edge next to corner Place edge across from corner, then
fancy insert (index finger for B/B')
4
2B: Corner in wrong slot
Corner in the Right slot:
U (R U' R') (L' U L) y (L' U2 L) U' (L U L')
Neat trick to pair edge and corner Place corner across from edge
U2 (R U' R') U (L' U' L) U' (R U' R') U2 y' (R U' R')
Place corner across from edge Place corner next to edge
(R U R') U' (L' U L) y U (L' U L) U (L U L')
Match corner with edge Place corner away from edge
Corner in the Left slot:
(R U2 R') U (R' U' R) y U' (L' U L) (R U' R')
Place corner across from edge Match corner with edge
U' (R U' R') U' (R' U R) S R' S'
Place corner across from edge Align pair with S, move it to back, undo S
U R U R2' U2 R (R U R') U2 (f R f')
Match corner, swing into insert Place corner across from edge, then
insert with wide F moves
Corner in the Back slot:
U' (R' F R F') U2 (L U L') U (R U' R') y (R' U2 R)
Sledgehammer to take the corner out Insert corner next to edge
(R U' R') (L U2 L') (R' F R F') (L U2 L')
Place corner on top of edge Sledgehammer magically pairs them up
(R U R') U (L U L') y (L' U L) (R' U2 R)
Place corner across from edge Place corner on top of edge
5
Section 3: Bonus F2L
Solved corner:
R2 U' R2' U R2 y R' u' R u R
Build a 2x2x1 block Insert edge with wide U moves
y L2' U L2 U' L2' L u L' u' L'
Build a 2x2x1 block Insert edge with wide U moves
Solved pair in wrong slot:
(L F' L' F) (R U' R') y (R' F R F') (L' U L)
Lefty sledgehammer to take pair out Sledgehammer to take pair out
(R U R' U') (L U2 L')
Take pair out with sexy, insert to back
Alt. angle: [y] (L' U' L U) (R' U2 R)
