What is Fridrich? Why the CFOP in the title?
Fridrich method was invented by Jessica Fridrich of Czech Republic in the 1980's. Here is an extract from Wiki:
CFOP (Cross, F2L, OLL, PLL, pronounced C-F-O-P or C-fop) is a 3x3 speedsolving method proposed by several cubers around 1981. It is also known as the Fridrich Method after its popularizer, Jessica Fridrich. In part due to Fridrich's publication of the method on her website in 1995, CFOP has been the most dominant 3x3 speedcubing method since around 2000, with it and its variants used by the vast majority of the top speedcubers. In particular, every speedcuber ranked in the top 10 by 3x3 average at any point since 2005 has used a variant of CFOP.
All of the worlds best use a variant of this method, apart from selected few that uses Roux.
CFOP (Cross, F2L, OLL, PLL, pronounced C-F-O-P or C-fop) is a 3x3 speedsolving method proposed by several cubers around 1981. It is also known as the Fridrich Method after its popularizer, Jessica Fridrich. In part due to Fridrich's publication of the method on her website in 1995, CFOP has been the most dominant 3x3 speedcubing method since around 2000, with it and its variants used by the vast majority of the top speedcubers. In particular, every speedcuber ranked in the top 10 by 3x3 average at any point since 2005 has used a variant of CFOP.
All of the worlds best use a variant of this method, apart from selected few that uses Roux.
Warning - This is not a beginners method
This method is for people who can solve the rubik's cube, hopefully using the beginner layer by layer method, and want to get faster and serious about speedcubing. If you can't solve the rubik's cube, looking at this page is wasting your time.
How the method works
STEP 1: Cross - You solve a cross on bottom, like the layer by layer method. This could be done in less than 6 moves most of the time.
STEP 2: F2L - This stands for First Two Layers, and as the name suggests, you solve the first two layers in F2L pairs. More explained below.
STEP 3: OLL - This stands for Orientation of the Last Layer. Your aim is to make all yellow sides face up. There are 57 algorithms. However, you
only need to learn 7 algorithms to do this in 2 steps.
STEP 4: PLL - This stands for Permutation of the Last Layer. You permute(move) the pieces on the last layer to solve the entire cube. There are
21 algorithms.
STEP 2: F2L - This stands for First Two Layers, and as the name suggests, you solve the first two layers in F2L pairs. More explained below.
STEP 3: OLL - This stands for Orientation of the Last Layer. Your aim is to make all yellow sides face up. There are 57 algorithms. However, you
only need to learn 7 algorithms to do this in 2 steps.
STEP 4: PLL - This stands for Permutation of the Last Layer. You permute(move) the pieces on the last layer to solve the entire cube. There are
21 algorithms.
Cross
This is completely intuitive, and is probably the hardest part in this method. I say this because whilst it is relatively easy to make the cross; the ability to see the best cross solution and then execute it in the shortest amount of time possible is extremely hard to do. Even some of the worlds best cubers sometime have trouble doing this.
Having said that, you can still with a bit of practice, see the best cross solution in 15 seconds and execute it in well under 3 seconds. In fact, sub-2 cross is not even that hard. All cross can be solved in 7 moves, and a big majority of them only need 6 moves. However, you will need to spend a decent amount of time practising this step and the best way to do it is to solve it blindfolded. Take as long as you want to plan out your cross and solve it blindfolded.
You should now decide whether you want to be colour neutral or, well, not colour neutral. This is explained further in the link below.
Having said that, you can still with a bit of practice, see the best cross solution in 15 seconds and execute it in well under 3 seconds. In fact, sub-2 cross is not even that hard. All cross can be solved in 7 moves, and a big majority of them only need 6 moves. However, you will need to spend a decent amount of time practising this step and the best way to do it is to solve it blindfolded. Take as long as you want to plan out your cross and solve it blindfolded.
You should now decide whether you want to be colour neutral or, well, not colour neutral. This is explained further in the link below.
F2L
F2L is where you solve the First Two Layer in 4 separate F2l pairs. An F2L pair consist of a white corner and its adjacent edge in the second layer. If you're still confused, take the picture to my left. An F2L pair facing us would be the Red/Green edge and the White/Red/Green corner. This is fairly intuitive and easy so you should find all four pairs this way.
Now we solve both pieces at the same time. This is the major difference between F2L and Layer by layer. You can learn to do this intuitively, which is not as hard as it seems. Or you can use algorithms.
Now we solve both pieces at the same time. This is the major difference between F2L and Layer by layer. You can learn to do this intuitively, which is not as hard as it seems. Or you can use algorithms.
2 Look OLL
OLL(Orientation of the Last Layer) is where you Orientate all the top pieces so that all yellow stickers face up. There are 57 algorithms if you want to solve this in one step. Don't worry if you don't want learn all that yet. This is what 2-look is for.
2-Look means you solve it in two steps. You solve a cross on top. Then you do the corners. You only need to learn 7 algorithms and you would be able to do this step. This is highly recommended and you should learn this before you learn PLL. Using 2-look you can get sub-20 easily so don't feel you have to learn all the 57 algorithms yet.
2-Look means you solve it in two steps. You solve a cross on top. Then you do the corners. You only need to learn 7 algorithms and you would be able to do this step. This is highly recommended and you should learn this before you learn PLL. Using 2-look you can get sub-20 easily so don't feel you have to learn all the 57 algorithms yet.
OLL
Well, there are 57 algorithms and that is quite a lot. Do not feel you have to learn this straight away. Even experienced cubers don't learn this for years. Just take your time.
PLL
PLL(Permutation of the Last Layer) is where you permute(move) the pieces on the last layer to solve the entire cube. There are 21 algorithms. I highly recommend learning this before you learn full OLL. In fact, I insist.
You can also do this in 2-Look. But I don't recommend it because it is significantly slower than full PLL. 21 algs is not that much hard work and you should just learn it systematically.
You can also do this in 2-Look. But I don't recommend it because it is significantly slower than full PLL. 21 algs is not that much hard work and you should just learn it systematically.
