CFOP step 1: the cross on the bottom

In the beginner method you built the white cross on top, where you can see it, and then turned the cube over. In CFOP you build it on the bottom from the start, with yellow on top. That saves the flip, and it means the pieces you need for F2L are already on top where you can see them.

The demos on this page look at the cube from below, so you can watch the cross form. Drag a cube to look around it.

The goal

The same as before, upside down:

• The four white edges form a cross on the bottom.
• Each edge's other colour matches the centre of its side.

Every cross can be solved in 8 moves or fewer, and about half need exactly 6. Aim for 8 or fewer yourself.

Plan it before you turn

In a timed solve you get 15 seconds to look at the cube before you start. Use it to plan the whole cross:

1. Find the four white edges.
2. Pick one to start with, usually one that's already close.
3. Work out the moves for each edge in turn, in your head, without turning.

At first, plan just the first two edges, then look for the rest while you turn. Practise until you can plan all four.

The cases

Hold the cube with yellow on top and the edge's target at the front: the white edge should end up at the bottom of the front face. If its target is on another side, turn the whole cube (y) or plan the same moves on that side.

On top, white facing up

Turn the top until the edge sits above its centre, then turn that face twice.

On top, white facing out

Turn the top so the edge is on the right side. R' brings it down into the middle layer, F drops it into place, and R puts back the cross edge that R' moved.

In the middle layer

The edge sits next to the front centre, with its other colour on the front and white facing sideways. One turn of the front face drops it in: F if white faces right, F' if white faces left.

On the bottom, but wrong

The edge is in the wrong place, or in the right place but flipped. Take it out to the top layer, then use one of the cases above.

Tips

• Edges move together. Turning a side moves any cross edge already on it. Place edges in an order that doesn't undo earlier ones, or put the side back afterwards, as R does above.
• The centres don't have to match yet. You can build the cross with the edges in the right order around the bottom and turn D at the end to line them all up.
• Look at the bottom less. Track the white stickers on the sides and top. With practice you'll know the cross is right without tilting the cube.

Common mistakes

• Solving the cross on top out of habit. Start with white on the bottom every time, even when it feels slower. It gets faster within a few days.
• Planning only one edge. Every pause to look costs more time than the moves. Plan two edges at least.
• Edges in the wrong order. If two cross edges are swapped, the cross looks right from below but the sides don't match. Check the side colours.