Watch CFOP in action
One solve from start to finish
Scroll down to watch the cube get scrambled and then solved through the 4 steps. The solution comes from the solver on this page and uses the algorithms in this handbook.
No algorithms found. Try "T perm", "OLL 21", "fish" or a move sequence such as "R U R'".
From your first solve to speedsolving: a beginner guide, all 119 CFOP algorithms, Roux, ZZ and 2×2. Each algorithm is the fewest-move solution found by computer, with the speedcubers’ common alg alongside. Press Play on any card to watch a 3D cube play it move by move.
Scroll down to watch the cube get scrambled and then solved through the 4 steps. The solution comes from the solver on this page and uses the algorithms in this handbook.
The layer-by-layer method needs only 6 short algorithms. Work through the 7 steps below; each has figures and a 3D cube you can play. When you can do a step, tick Got it. Once you can solve it, move on to CFOP to get faster.
Hold the cube with white on the bottom, yellow on top (step 1 builds the cross on top, then flips it down). See Notation if the letters R, U, F are new to you.
Each letter is a face, turned 90° clockwise as seen when looking straight at that face. A ' means counterclockwise, and a 2 means 180°.
U and U'.D, B and M.R and L with the wrist, not with the fingers.Arrows show the turn direction seen from the front. Press Play to watch the 3D cube do that move.
Repeat each sequence until your hands flow without looking. Doing R U R' U' exactly 6 times returns the cube to where it started.
| R L U D F B | Right, Left, Up, Down, Front, Back |
| r l u d f b | Turn 2 layers at once (also written Rw, Lw…) |
| M E S | Middle slices. M turns like L, E like D, S like F |
| x y z | Rotate the whole cube like R, U, F |
| Move count | Each face, double-layer (r, u…) or slice (M, E, S) turn is 1 move, including 180° turns. Whole-cube rotations (x, y, z) are free. U turns that align the layer at the start (and at the end for PLL) are not counted |
| Fewest moves | The shortest algorithm available: the optimal solver result (face turns only), or the common speedcubing algorithm when it is as short or shorter (usually thanks to M moves). When the shortest solution uses awkward L, B or D turns, the common algorithm is listed too: longer, but faster to execute |
Bring the 4 white edges to the bottom face so that the side color of each one matches its center. Nothing to memorize here, but you need to plan: good solvers plan the whole cross during the 15-second inspection, then execute it in 1–2 seconds.
Full table: a white edge can only be in 12 positions with 2 orientations each; leaving out the solved one gives 23 cases. Pick an edge below. Each algorithm is the fewest-move solution found by computer, holding the cube like every other figure on this page (green in front).
Each card has two 3D views, from the front-top and from the back-bottom, so the edge is visible wherever it is. Only white edges are colored.
Edge white paired with:
Join a white corner with its matching edge into a pair, then insert the pair into its slot. Do it 4 times and the first two layers are done. All figures use the front-rightslot; for other slots, mirror the algorithm or rotate the cube.
Only the pair being solved and the finished parts are colored; other top-layer pieces are grey. Every algorithm is checked to keep the cross and the other 3 slots intact.
Easy · 6 casesYou only need the 6 basic cases below, including the 4 inserts R U R’, U R U’ R’, F’ U’ F, U’ F’ U F. For anything else, split the corner and edge apart and bring them to one of these 6.
Make the top face all yellow. The 3D figure looks down at an angle. The small inset is the top face seen straight on, with the front at the bottom; bars on its border are yellow stickers facing sideways. Numbering follows the standard.
Just starting? Use 2-look OLL. First make the yellow cross with one of the 3 algorithms below, then orient the corners with OLL 21–27.
Easy · 2-look OLL, 10 algorithmsStep 1: make the yellow cross with one of 3 algorithms. Step 2: orient the 4 corners with one of the 7 algorithms OLL 21–27.
The top is yellow; now move the last-layer pieces into place. Arrows show where the pieces go. To recognize a case, look for headlights (two matching corners on one side) and bars of 3 matching stickers.
Just starting? 2-look PLL. Swap corners with T (2 adjacent corners) or Y (2 diagonal corners), then cycle edges with Ua, Ub, H or Z.
Easy · 2-look PLL, 6 algorithmsStep 1: swap corners with T (adjacent) or Y (diagonal). Step 2: cycle edges with Ua, Ub, H or Z.
Two sets that shorten the last layer. Each algorithm is the fewest-move solution using only R, U, F, found by computer and checked to keep F2L intact.
Advanced materialCOLL and Winter Variation are for solvers who know full OLL and PLL. Choose Full at the top to see all 67 algorithms.
Figures: the last pair waits above the front-right slot, ready for R U R’. The inset is the top face seen straight on.
Roux solves in blocks instead of layers: two 1×2×3 blocks on the left and right, then the 4 top corners, then the last 6 edges with only M and U. About 45–50 moves on average, with just 42 CMLL algorithms to learn.
Solve the 4 top corners while keeping both blocks (the M slice and top edges may get scrambled). Figures color only the blocks and corners. Algorithms use only R, U, F.
ZZ orients all 12 edges right at the start. After that you only need R, U, L, never rotate the cube, and the last layer always starts with a yellow cross.
After EOLine, hold white on the bottom, green in front. The DF and DB edges are already in place and every edge is oriented, so L, R and U are all you need. Build the left block first, then the right one.
Pair and insert the front-right corner and edge once the rest of the first two layers is done. Every algorithm uses only R and U and is the fewest moves possible. The front-left slot works the same way, mirrored: R becomes L′, R′ becomes L, and U turns the other way.
A 2×2 has only 8 corners. Ortega solves it in 3 steps: make one face a single color (positions do not matter yet), orient the opposite face with one of 7 algorithms, then permute both layers with one of 5. To go faster: finish the whole first layer, then solve the rest with one CLL algorithm.
Algorithms use only R, U, F, so you never have to regrip. A 2×2 timer is in the Practice.
Two views so the bottom layer is visible too. If only the bottom layer is swapped, flip the cube (z2) and treat it as the top.
With the first layer fully solved, solve the 4 top corners in one algorithm.
A 4×4 has no fixed centers and each edge comes in 2 halves. The common approach is to reduce it to a 3×3: build the 6 centers, pair the 12 edges, then solve it like a 3×3. A 4×4 can also show 2 situations called parity that a 3×3 never has; each needs just one algorithm.
International (WCA) convention: looking straight at the named face, a plain letter is a 90° clockwise turn, ′ is counterclockwise and 2 is a half turn. Layers are counted from that face inwards. The coloured part of each picture is what turns; press Play to see the move. U, D, F, B and L are written the same way as R.
Many competitors use Yau: the cross is built while doing centers, so the 3×3 stage starts straight at F2L, and edge pairing is faster with fewer free edges.
Every method solves the same 3×3, but splits the work differently. The table shows typical speedsolving numbers (average moves, each face or slice turn counting as 1); individual results vary a little.
| Method | Steps | Move count | Algorithm | Rotate the whole cube | Users | Competition | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 7 layer-by-layer steps | ~110 | 6 | A few | — | Not used in competition | Solving the cube for the first time |
| CFOP | Cross, F2L, OLL, PLL | 55–60 | 16 (2-look) · 119 (full) | Yes, for back slots | ~84% | The top choice | The most popular, lots of resources, easy look-ahead |
| Roux | First block, second block, CMLL, last six edges | 45–50 | 42 | Almost never | ~6% | Good, strongest one-handed | Intuitive solving, few algorithms, lots of M moves |
| ZZ | EOLine, 2 blocks, last layer | 50–55 | 28 · 40 COLL · 493 ZBLL | No | ~2% | Good, especially one-handed | Turning only R, U, L with very easy look-ahead |
| 2×2 Ortega | First face, OLL, PBL | 15–20 | 12 · 42 CLL | Flip for PBL | — | Standard for 2×2 | Cube 2×2 |
Sources: the r/Cubers community Cubing Mega-Survey 2022 and WCA top-100 counts, compiled at scheopner.com. The WCA does not record methods, so these are estimates; the rest use other methods or did not answer.
Cross, pair up 4 slots, then a 2-step last layer. Grow from 16 to 119 algorithms.
CrossF2LOLLPLLLearn CFOP → Fewest movesRouxBuild two 1×2×3 side blocks, solve the corners with CMLL, finish the last 6 edges with only M and U.
Block 1Block 2CMLLLSELearn Roux → No rotationsZZOrient every edge first, then only R, U, L. The last layer always has a yellow cross.
EOLineF2LLast layerLearn ZZ → Cube 2×2OrtegaMake one face, orient the opposite face, permute both layers. Learn CLL to go faster.
First faceOLLPBLLearn 2×2 →Photograph the 6 faces one by one, check the colors, then press Solve all, or Next step only if you are mid-solve and only want the next step. The solution follows the 4 CFOP steps, each with a figure and the case name from the handbook, plus a short computer solution (Kociemba) for comparison. Photos are processed on your device and never uploaded.
Example: a randomly scrambled cube. Scan your cube to replace it.
No solution yet. Check the colors in step 2, then press Solve all or Next step only.
Your first solve of the day counts. Afterwards, share your result and compare with everyone on the leaderboard.
Look at the figure and pick the right case name. No timer.
Which case is this?
Shortcuts: 1–4 to choose, Enter for the next one. Figures get a random U turn, like in a real solve.