Standard Extensions to F2L

The previous page only taught the 41 standard cases with target slot FR. This page covers standard extensions that, with no new algorithm, allows one to solve new cases and to any slot. Techniques here are more than sufficient for sub-15.

Corner or Edge (but not both) in Wrong Slot

This technique allows one to use a standard F2L algorithm even when a corner/edge is in the first two layers. Since every case among the 41 standard cases that has either a corner or edge in place has the two-step structure discussed earlier, their equivalents with corner or edge in wrong slot can be solved without any additional algorithm. Pretend that the wrong slot containing a corner or an edge is in fact the target slot, and perform step 1 (the italicized part) for the appropriate case. Since this brings the corner-edge pair onto U and in one of the four standard cases, the pair can easily be inserted into the correct slot after adjusting by appropriate numbers of U and Dw.

The following examples demonstrate this. Use the second arrow from the right on the applet to see each solution one move at a time.

Example 1

Note that, although the corner is in a wrong slot, otherwise this is the standard case E2: RU'R'-URU'R'. First do step 1 of E2, RU'R', to pair the corner and the edge. Now Dw2 brings the target slot to FR and leaves us with a basic pattern, URU'R'.

Full solution: RU'R'-Dw2-URU'R'.

Example 2

We recognize this as H2: U'RUR'-DwR'U'R, so start with U'RUR'. Dw2 then brings the target slot to FR, leaving us with a basic pattern, UF'U'F.

Full solution: U'RUR'-UDw2-F'U'F.

Different Angle or Target Slot

Using the technique just described along with the algorithms above for the 41 standard cases, we can solve almost any F2L. The only exception is when none of the four edges and four corners of F2L are on the U layer, in which case an unsolved slot (say at FR) must be brought to the U layer, for example by RUR'. Otherwise, we can solve any every corner-edge pair by bringing the target slot (or the wrong slot containing a corner or an edge) to FR. Repeating this four times, one for each pair, completes the F2L.

Real F2L: In practice, however, bringing the target slot to FR is often a waste of time. To increase speed, we must minimize whole cube turns and maximize finger tricks, which usually involve RU or LU combinations. Both of these can be achieved by learning to use the three target slots other than FR. Although some cases have special algorithms for different target slots, at the start it is enough to learn the algorithms given above for the 41 standard cases from different directions. This can be accomplished in part by understanding how the algorithms work.

We start by reexamining the examples from the preceding section.

Example 1

As before, we start with RU'R' to reduce the case to I2. Instead of bringing the target slot to FR, we can directly insert the corner-edge pair into the BL slot with LU2L'.

Full solution: RU'R'-LU2L'.

Example 2

Again, we start with U'RUR'. Since the corner is above BR, we bring the target slot here with Dw'. The remaining basic pattern is then solved as R'U'R.

Full solution: U'RUR'-Dw'-R'U'R.

Example 3

Here the wrong slot is BR. R'UR brings the corner-edge pair to U, and this basic pattern is solved with RU'R.. It is useful to be familiar with the full solution.

Full solution: R'UR2U'R'.

Things become slightly more difficult for cases other than the four standard ones.

Example 4

This is U1 with the target slot BR. Rather than bringing the target slot to FR with y and doing D'wL'U2L-U'L'UL, we perform the algorithm from a different angle.

Full solution: U'R'U2R-U'R'UR.

The two-step structure of the original algorithm is preserved in this solution. In such cases, understanding how the original algorithm therefore makes it much easier to use it use it from different angles.

Example 5

This is M2 with the target slot BR. Since the algorithm for M2 was not intuitive, here we simply have to get used to the algorithm performed from different directions. To maximize finger tricks, we need the target slot at either FL or BR.

Full solution: R2U2'RUR'UR2.

Empty Slot

When we are solving the first three corner-edge pairs, at least one slot is not yet solved; we call these empty slots (visually, a gray slot in the applet). Algorithms with the usual two-step structure can be simplified significantly using empty slots. The following examples demonstrate this.

Example 6

This is Q2 with target slot FR and empty slot BL. Perform the first step of Q2 as if the target slot were BL: LUL'. This places the pair into a basic position, which then can easily be solved into the real target solt: RU'R'. Note that we need to be comfortable with different angles and target slots before we can effectively use this technique.

Full solution: LUL'RU'R' (2 moves saved).

Here are some more examples with various empty and target slots.

	R'UR-U'RUR' Empty: BR Target: FR		R'U2R-RUR' Empty: BR Target: FR		R'UR-RUR' Empty: BR Target: FR
	RUR'U-R'U'R Empty:FR Target:BR		R'U'R-UL'UL Empty:BR Target:FL		R'U2'R-UL'UL Empty:BR Target:FL

Here are more applications of empty slots:

Example 7

Even if the resulting algorithm has the same number of moves, empty slot may allow us to eliminate awkward whole cube turns. Without empty slot, we would first need to rotate the cube with y (or y'), place the pair into a basic position, and do Dw (or D'w, respectively) before solving this. Instead, we have

Full solution: UL'ULURUR'

Example 8

The empty slot can stay on U during pair insertion. Here, B' creates a basic pattern, which is solved by RUR'. A final B restores the empty slot. Unfortunately, this example is a bit hard to see and also requires regripping.

Full solution: B'RUR'B

Example 9

Yet another application of empty slot is to cases where the target slot already has a corner or an edge solved. The target and empty slot here are FR and FL, respectively. We do D' to bring the target corner to the empty slot, which allows us to solve the corner with L'UL. The bottom layer is then corrected: D. Note that we actually only needed the empty edge FL; this is a special case of mismatched pair, our next topic. Full solution: D'-L'UL-D

Learning to recognize these cases is a skill that requires time to acquire. Once developed, it allows us to choose the easiest corner-edge pair for each of the four slots most of the time.

Mismatched Pair

Also known as "misaligned pair," mismatched pair refers to solving a corner and an edge from two different slots at the same time. We need to pretend that they form a corresponding corner-edge pair and determine the appropriate F2L case. This comes in handy when there are two slots, one with the corner solved and the other with the edge solved.

Although not as common as the other standard techniques, mismatched pair allows us to shorten our solution significantly by solving in one step what would otherwise require two steps.

Example 10

Note that the FR slot has the corner solved and BL the edge. The two remaining pieces of these slots are shown. Since the two slots are across the diagonal, we replace each color on the edge by its opposite to deduce that this is equivalent to case L1. First do D2 to create a mixed target slot at FR. Then do L1: U'RU'R'URUR'. Finally, replace the slots with D2.

Full solution: D2-U'RU'R'URUR'-D2

Example 11

Recognition becomes slightly trickier when the two slots are adjacent. One method is mentally flip the edge and focus on the color shared by the two slots (yellow in this case). Ignoring red and orange, this shows that the correct case is U1. We can also save a whole cube turn by creating the mixed slot using Uw.

Full solution: Uw-L'U2LU'L'UL-Uw'

Looking Ahead and Simple Multislotting

In Getting Fast with an Easy Method and elsewhere, I've repeatedly stressed the importance of looking ahead. By solving slower than at top speed and looking for the next corner-edge pair as you solve one, you eliminate gaps between pairs, making F2L into one seamless motion. While this allows you to always choose the easiest next pair, once the pair is chosen, the techniques covered so far apply just to this one pair

In certain special cases, instead of merely anticipating the next pair, you can use looking ahead as an active tool; in multislotting, the current pair is solved so as to create the next pair, or to at least simplify it. Although true multislotting requires many extra algorithms, a good look-ahead suffices for the simplest types explained here.

Example 12

Using the empty slot BR, you pair with LUL'. At this point, because you have been looking ahead, you notice that the edge currently at FR can be paired with its corresponding corner if you insert the current pair by URU2'R'. The standard insertion RU'R' would not have produced a nice next pair.

Normal solution: LUL'-RU'R'
Better solution: LUL'-URU2'R'

Example 13

A very similar example, with the first pair already made. In practice you would end up here while solving that pair and then realize to use this alternative insertion. You should be able to imagine a few more examples of the same type.

Example 14

This is a lot more sophisticated. Say UFR-FR is the pair you were looking at during the previous pair, so you start solving this with U'R'FRF'. Completely by accident (unless you know multislotting algorithms), this makes another pair! Instead of the normal insertion RU'R', you insert this new pair first and come back to the first pair later, with a cancellation you can also avoid by looking ahead or just by knowing this two-pair insertion: B'RB(R'R)U'R'.

Full solution: U'R'FRF'B'RBU'R'

To be sure, a good anticipatory look-ahead is already very, very advanced (sub-15 level). Even for very experienced speedcubers, unless they know multislotting algorithms, these (basically) accidental multislotting do not occur very often. But when they do happen, they often lead to extremely fast single solves.

These examples give you a taste of advanced F2L. Hopefully, you're now convinced that F2L is the most intricate step, and that it is the step with the most opportunities for dramatic speed-ups.