CFOP is the method almost every fast solver uses. The name is just its four stages: Cross, F2L, OLL, PLL. It looks intimidating because of the algorithm count, but you can learn it gradually — most of it is intuitive, and you only memorize the last layer.
New to solving? Learn the beginner's layer-by-layer method first. CFOP is where you go once you want to be quick.
The short version
- CFOP solves the cube in four stages: Cross, F2L, OLL, then PLL.
- It's faster than the beginner method because F2L pairs pieces instead of solving them one at a time.
- Only the last layer (OLL and PLL) needs memorized algorithms — the rest is intuitive.
- Learn it in order, and start with the 2-look shortcut before full OLL.
What does CFOP stand for?
CFOP stands for Cross, F2L, OLL, PLL — the four steps in the order you perform them. It's also called the Fridrich method, after Jessica Fridrich, who popularized it. Each stage solves a bigger chunk of the cube than the beginner method, with far fewer pauses and wasted moves.
Here's the whole solve at a glance: build a cross on one face, fill the first two layers, orient the last layer so the top is one color, then permute the last layer so everything lines up. Four steps, and the cube is solved.
Step 1: The Cross
The Cross is four edge pieces forming a plus on one face, with each edge matching the side centers. Most solvers build it on the bottom (usually white) so it's out of the way for the rest of the solve.
Aim to plan your whole cross during inspection and build it in under 8 moves. It's fully intuitive — no algorithms — so the only skill is looking ahead and being efficient. A good cross sets up everything that follows.
Step 2: F2L (First Two Layers)
F2L solves the first two layers at once by pairing a corner with its matching edge and inserting them together. This is the big time-saver: the beginner method solves corners and edges in separate steps, while F2L drops them in as a unit, roughly halving the moves.
You don't need a lookup table. F2L is intuitive once it clicks — join the pair, then insert it into its slot. There are 41 standard cases, but you'll solve most of them by understanding, not memorization. If notation like R U R' U' still slows you down, keep the notation guide handy while you drill.
Step 3: OLL (Orient the Last Layer)
OLL orients every piece on the top layer so the whole top face is one color — even if the sides aren't sorted yet. Full OLL is 57 algorithms, which is why nobody starts there.
Instead, start with 2-look OLL: orient the edges first (a couple of small cases), then orient the corners (seven cases). That's about ten algorithms total to handle every last-layer orientation, and you can upgrade to full OLL later once you're consistent.
Step 4: PLL (Permute the Last Layer)
PLL is the final step: the top is already one color, so you just slide the pieces into their correct positions. There are 21 PLL cases, and learning all of them is the highest-value algorithm set in the whole method.
Like OLL, PLL has a 2-look version — permute the corners, then the edges — using about six algorithms while you learn the full 21. Recognition is the slow part, not the fingers. Cuby's PLL trainer shows every case and times your recognition, so you can grind the ones you're slow on. For more on speeding up overall, see how to get faster at solving a Rubik's Cube.
How long does it take to learn CFOP?
Plan for weeks, not days — and learn it one stage at a time. A common path is: get comfortable with the cross and intuitive F2L first, then add 2-look OLL and PLL, then fill in full PLL, and finally full OLL over a few months.
Rushing all 78 last-layer algorithms at once is how people burn out. Add them a handful at a time, keep solving, and let each new case become automatic before moving on.
Frequently asked questions
Is CFOP the fastest Rubik's Cube method?
CFOP is the most popular method among fast solvers and holds many records, but it's not the only fast one — Roux and ZZ are competitive alternatives. For most people, CFOP is the best-supported choice, with the most tutorials, trainers, and algorithm sheets available.
Do I need to learn all 78 algorithms?
No — not to start, and not to get fast. Intuitive F2L plus 2-look OLL and PLL (about 16 algorithms) already gets many solvers under 30 seconds. Full OLL and PLL (21 PLL + 57 OLL = 78) come gradually, over months.
What's the difference between CFOP and the beginner method?
The beginner method solves corners and edges separately and uses more, simpler steps. CFOP merges the first two layers with F2L and handles the last layer in two stages, cutting both the move count and the pauses. Same solved cube, far fewer moves.
Should I learn F2L or the last-layer algorithms first?
Learn F2L first. It gives the biggest time drop and is mostly intuitive, so it pays off immediately. Add 2-look OLL and PLL once your F2L is smooth and you're no longer pausing between pairs.
Start practicing CFOP
CFOP isn't 78 algorithms you memorize overnight — it's four stages you build up over weeks. Nail the cross, learn intuitive F2L, add the 2-look last layer, then expand from there.
Open Cuby → to drill the PLL cases, time your averages, and check any solve against a guaranteed solver — free in your browser.