Rubik F2L

Intro

This page is dedicated to solving the first two layers of the Rubik's cube, after making the cross on the D face.

Links:

• Rubik's cube main page on this wiki.
• Tutoriel : Résoudre les F2L intuitivement - Youtube.com, Victor Colin
• Bob Burton's F2L cases - cubewhiz.com

The principle is to always fall back in one of the 4 basic cases. A basic case is one that requires only 3 moves to solve:

• Case /R1/: R U' R' and case /L1/: L' U L (mirror)

Pair next to each other, horizontal and left (right) of target slot.

• Case /R2/: R U R' and case /L2/: L' U' L (mirror)

Corner above target slot, edge on UB. Corner white sticker facing right (left), front sticker same as edge up sticker.

Notes:

• Always put the corner above the slot, and solve from the right side first, then switch to left if necessary.
• In algorithm below, whitespaces indicate that we reached a basic case.
• We can always replace U2 R U' R' with U sledgeR'.
• Case solve are coded for fast reference. (R2, BR) means we want to get a basic case /R2/ by bringing the corner above BR corner. (R2, BR, rot) means we aim at obtaining a /R2/ case by using the BR corner, but this time with rotation of the corner; this means that the corner is moved above the BR corner not using a U move (followed by R ... R' that would preserve orientation of the corner), but with a R moves that changes orientation of the edge. So rot indicates that the solves change the F2L family.

We follow Bob's Burton classification.

Corner correct, edge not placed

01
02		(FR) U R U' R' y U' L' U L y' (FR) FASTER Using inverse SH U R U' R' F R' F' R no y but re-grip (FL) (BR) (BL)	(FR) This move is called Le Belge. (FR) A faster option using an inverse sledgehammer, but requires a small regrip. (FL) (BR) (BL)
03		(FR) FAST (no y / y') R U' R' U' R U' R' U R U R' grip: LH F/B, index doing all U' and first U, RH U/D, index 2nd U (FR) FASTER (no y / y') U' R' F R F' R U R' 2nd U with LH index (FL) U' L' U L y' U R U' R' y (FL) FASTER Using inverse SH U' L' U L F' L F L' no y but re-grip (BR) (BL)	(FR) (R U' R' to create a known F2L case) (FR) With a sledgehammer, 2nd U with LH index) (FL) Mirror of 02. (FL) Mirror of 02. (BR) (BL)

Edge correct, corner slot free

04		sexy sexy sexy	This is different from case 15 because corner and edge color mismatch.
05
06

Corner in first layer twisted clockwise

White sticker on FRONT / RIGHT face

• First move edge on its color, then
  • If white sticker is on the SAME face → use a double sexy or sexyL.
  • If white sticker is on DIFFERENT face → use a TRUNCATED double sexy' or sexyL' , where first UP rotation is skipped.
• Cases are identified by the visible colors on corner and lateral color on the edge. This is useful when solving the F2L in the wrong slot.

07
08
09		y sexyL sexyL y'	col-white F-col — (alt. U2 R U' R' y L' U' L y')
10		R U' R sexy' (best grip, RH: front/back, index to prepare for U)	white-col1-col2 — (alt. R U' R' R' F R F' or y L' U2 L y' R U2 R')

Corner in first layer twisted counter-clockwise

White sticker on FRONT / RIGHT face

• First move edge on its color, then
  • If white sticker is on the SAME face → use a double sexy or sexyL.
  • If white sticker is on DIFFERENT face → use a TRUNCATED double sexy' or sexyL' , where first UP rotation is skipped.
• Cases are identified by the visible colors on corner and lateral color on the edge. This is useful when solving the F2L in the wrong slot.

11
12
13		y L' U L sexyL' y'	col2-col1-white — (alt. R U R' U' F R' F' R)
14		sexy sexy	col-white R-col — (alt. U2 L' U L y' R U R')

Corner in U-layer with cross-color on U-face

Not touching cases

There are four such cases. Get a basic base by

1. bring edge to its color
2. raise empty slot
3. bring corner above the edge, then
4. turn back slot.

15		R U2' R' y U2 (L' U L) Faster, FR: U' R' F R F' R U' R' Faster, FL: Faster, BL: L U' L' y' L' U2 L (B with RH index). Faster, BR: R' U R' F R F' R	Get the pair out, then reinsert (alt. R U2' R' U' F R' F' R') Faster, FR: U' R' F R F' R U' R' Faster, FL: left SH, or y', the subcase FR above. Faster, BL: Victor's formula. Faster, BR: This is usual code. Victor uses R' U R d' R U' R' (d' = U' y.
16		y L' U2 L U (L' U' L) y'	(L2, FL, rot) create a /L2/ case by using BL corner with y L' move, and U2.
17		y U L' U L U y' R U R' (R' F R F')	(LLLU1, FL) idem, fall-back using BL corner (with y U then L' ).
18		y U' L' U2 L L F' L' F y'	Not touching case — see above.
19		U2 R U R' R' F R F'	Not touching case — see above.
20		R U2' R' U' (R U R')	(R2, BR, rot) create a /R2/ case by using BR corner with R move, and U2.
21		U' R U' R' U' y L' U' L (L F' L' F)	(LLBU2, BR) fall-back to case 22 using BR corner with U' then R, .
22		U R U2' R' R' F R F'	Not touching case — see above.
23		y U2' L' U' L L F' L' F y'	Not touching case — see above.

Corner in U-layer with cross-color on R-face

24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32

Corner in U-layer with cross-color on F-face

33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41

White sticker FRONT

• Edge on 2LL:

Case 1, edge correct Can this case be be inserted from any angle without cube rotation? (R1, BR) goal is to get a /R1/ using BR corner, U' R U' R' U2 R U' R'. Faster, no y / y' , FR:

Case 2, edge wrong (L2, BR) goal is to get a /L2/ using BR corner, U' R U R' U y L' U' L. Faster, no y / y' , FL: y U2' L F' L' F U2' L' U' L y'

• Edge on LL, non-adjacent

• Case 1, same U color, edge BU (R1, BR): Goal is to get a /R1/ using BR corner, U' R U R' U2 R U' R'

Idem for edge LU (R1, BR): U' R U2 R' U2 R U' R'

• Case 2, different U color, edge BU (L2, BR): Because U color are different, goal is to get a /L2/ case here using BR corner: y U L' U' L U' L' U' L (or U' R U' R' U y L' U' L).

For edge LU, this time we directly have a /L2/ (L2): y L' U' L

• Edge on LL, adjacent on RU

• Case 1, same U color (R1): we have directly a basic case /R1/, U R U' R'.
• Case 2, different U color (L2, BR): so we want to get a /L2/, using BR corner: U' R U2 R' U y L' U' L.

• Edge on LL, adjacent on FU

• Case 1, same U color (R2, FL, rot): we use FL corner to get a /R2/ : y L' U L U2' y' R U R'
• Case 2, different U color (R2, FL): we use FL corner to get a /L2/: y U L' U L U' L' U' L

White sticker RIGHT

• Edge on 2LL 2LL:

Case 1, edge correct This case can actually be inserted from any angle without cube rotation. (L1, FL) mirror of above, get a /L1/ using FL corner, and U then L' move: y U L' U L U2' L' U L y'. Faster, no y / y' , FR: U R U R' U2 R U R' Faster, no y / y' , BL: U L U L' U2' L U L' Faster, no y / y' , FL: U L' U L U2' L' U L (alt using sledge: U L' U L L F' L' F, F with thumb) Faster, no y / y' , BR: U R' U R U2' R' U R

Case 2, edge wrong (R2, FL) mirror of above, get a /R2/ case using FL corner, and U then L' move: y U L' U' L y' U' R U R' Faster, no y / y' : U2 R' F R F' U2 R U R'

• Edge on LL, non-adjacent

• Case 1, same U color, edge BU (L1, FL): Here the best is to solve FR then send it to BR y' U R' U' R U' U' R' U R y (alt: y' U R' U' R U' y F R' F' R or y U L' U' L U' L F' L' F y').

idem for edge LU (L1, FL): y' U R' U2 R U' U' R' U R y (alt: y U L' U2 L U' L F' L' F y').

• Case 2, different U color, edge LU (R2, BR): we need to shift our edge by a single U move: U' R U R' U R U R'

For edge BU (R2): this time we directly get a /R2/: R U R'

• Edge on LL, adjacent on RU

• Case 1, same U color (L2, BR, rot): we get a /L2/ case using BR corner and R U' move, R U' R' U2 y L' U' L y'
• Case 2, different U color (R2, BR): we get a /R2/ case using BR corner and U' R move, U' R U' R' U R U R'

• Edge on LL, adjacent on FU

• Case 1, same U color (L1): we directly have a basic case /L1/, L' U L
• Case 2, different U color (R2, FL): so we want to get a /R2/ case. We can with FL corner, y' U R' U2 R y U' R U R' (or y U L' U2 L U' y' R U R')

More tricks

Tutoriel F2L avancés - Partie 1 (déconjugaison intelligente)

• Déconjugaison intelligente

Tutoriel F2L avancés - Partie 2 (Insertions sous différents angles)

• Avoid y2 moves, but solve the F2L cases as is (with empty slots in the back).

This is true for all "base" cases, both contiguous and not.

• y and y' is ok. When choosing between both, favor the one that leads to R and U moves.

For instance, better do y' R' U R than y L' U L to insert a base case.

Tutoriel F2L avancés - Partie 3 (Utilisation des slots libres)

• Use free slots

Tutoriel F2L avancés - Partie 4 (Eviter les rotations y et y')

• Goal of this part: Avoid y and y' move whenever possible.
• Introduce another commutator, the sledgehammer: R' F R F'

F' move must be done with the right thumb!

• Case: R U' R y L' U2' L y', white sticker UP, FR corner.

Subcase FR. Use sledgehammer U' R' F R F' R U' R'

Subcase FL. Use left sledgehammer, or y' then subcase FR above.

Subcase BL. Use L U' L' y' L' U2 L. Or sledgehammer also possible, but with re-grip (B with right hand index).

Subcase BR. Usual solution is R' U R' F R F' R, but R' U R y U' R U' R' (U' while y) is also ok.

• Case: U y L' U' L U' y' R U R'

Avoid cube rotation with sledgehammer: U2 R' F R F' U2 R U R'

• Case: U y L' U L U2' L' U L y'

Can be inserted from any angle. Either pick contiguous base case or separated.

If corner in FR or BL: U R U R' U2 R U R' or U L U L' U2' L U L'.

If corner in FL or BR: U L' U L U2' L' U L (alt using sledge: U L' U L L F' L' F, F with thumb) or U R' U R U2' R' U R

• Case: corner on D face

See my shortcuts above with sexy moves above.

• Case: le Belge

When corner in FRD, and correct edge on UR, two solutions:

• R U' R' U' R U' R' U R U R' (grip: LH F/B, index doing all U' and first U, RH U/D, index 2nd U) (R U' R' to create a known F2L case)
• U' R' F R F' R U R' (with a sledgehammer)

Android - Fridrich Solver (Algorithms summary)

• This app shows solutions for all F2L cases.
• FAST: Use d and d' move instead of y' U or y U'. This happens extremely frequently, and is very useful to solve pair in any slot without turning the cube.