# Faster solving with CFOP

CFOP stands for **Cross, F2L, OLL, PLL**. It's the method most speedcubers use, and it grows straight out of the beginner method: the same layers, done in fewer, smarter steps.

> 3D demo, The last layer in two looks: Sune (OLL), then Ua (PLL): `R U R' U R U2 R' R U' R U R U R U' R' U' R2`

## The four steps

1. **Cross.** The white cross, built on the **bottom** from the start, so you never turn the cube over.
2. **F2L (First Two Layers).** Each white corner is paired with its middle-layer edge and both go in together. Four pairs finish the first two layers.
3. **OLL (Orient the Last Layer).** Make the whole top yellow.
4. **PLL (Permute the Last Layer).** Move the top pieces to their places.

Full CFOP has 57 OLL and 21 PLL algorithms. You don't need them. This chapter teaches **2-look** OLL and PLL: each step in two smaller parts, with 10 algorithms in total, most of which you already know.

## Why it's faster

The beginner method places one piece at a time, and the last layer takes four separate steps. CFOP does more with each algorithm:
- F2L places a corner and an edge in one go, instead of one after the other.
- The last layer takes two to four algorithms instead of six or more.

A beginner solve is usually over 100 moves. CFOP with 2-look last layer is around 70, and full CFOP around 60.

## When to switch

Switch once you can solve with the beginner method **without notes**, in under about 2 minutes. You'll get slower for a week or two while F2L feels strange. That's normal.

You can switch in stages:
1. Learn the bottom cross first. Keep the rest of the beginner method.
2. Replace the corners and middle layer with F2L.
3. Learn 2-look OLL, then 2-look PLL. Many of their algorithms are ones you've already used.

## Three new kinds of move

CFOP algorithms use a few moves the beginner method didn't.

**`r`: the right two layers together.** Like `R`, but the middle slice turns with it.

> 3D demo, r turns the right face and the middle slice together: `r`

**`M`: the middle slice** between left and right. It turns the same way as `L`: the front column goes down.

> 3D demo, M turns the middle slice, the same way as L: `M`

**`y`: turn the whole cube** around the vertical axis, the same way as `U`. Nothing gets scrambled; you're just holding it differently. You'll use it to bring a different slot to the front-right.

> 3D demo, y turns the whole cube, like U: `y`

## In this chapter

1. **The cross on the bottom.** Plan it before you turn.
2. **F2L.** Pair each corner with its edge, intuitively.
3. **2-look OLL.** Yellow cross, then yellow face.
4. **2-look PLL.** Corners, then edges.
5. **Getting faster.** Finger tricks, look-ahead and practice.

Source: https://scanmycube.com/learn/cfop