Fridrich Method
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Fridrich Method is one of the most commonly used methods in speedsolving a Rubik's Cube. This method was first developed by Jessica Fridrich. It works on a layer by layer method, first solving a cross on the bottom (cross), continuing to solve the first two layers (F2L), orienting the last layer (OLL), and finally permuting the last layer (PLL). This method is commonly referred to as CFOP (Cross, First 2 Layers, Orient Last Layer, Permute Last Layer).
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[edit] Basic Rules
One of the most important things to do before you start learning any speedcubing method is to know how to solve your Rubik's cube a beginner way. If you know this, you will understand that you cannot just get all of one color on one side, but you have to put the pieces in the right place as well. Knowing this will also help you to understand why many of the algorithms of a speedcubing method work. You also need to know the color scheme of your cube by heart. To get a fast time, you must be able to know where pieces go relative to each other without having to think about it.
[edit] Notation
The notation that will be used here is as follows:
[edit] Layers
R-Right face L-Left face U-Up face D-Down face F-Front face B-Back face M-Slice between R and L (Middle) E-Slice between U and D (Equatorial) S-Slice between F and B (Side) x-whole cube in direction of R y-whole cube in direction of U z-whole cube in direction of F
[edit] Turns
No Suffix-quarter turn clockwise '-quarter turn counter-clockwise 2-half turn w or lowercase letter-double layer quarter turn clockwise w' or lowercase letter-double layer quarter turn counter-clockwise w2 or lowercase letter-double layer half turn
[edit] Cross
Solving the cross is the first step in solving the Rubik's cube using CFOP. This involves solving the four edge pieces on one side. The cross can be solved on any side. The method that is preferred by most is solving on the bottom. The method explained here will solve the cross on the bottom. When solving the cross, you do not have to worry about matching the edges to the individual sides. You must only make sure that the pieces are correctly positioned in relation to all the other cross pieces. You can turn the bottom face to match the pieces after the cross is done. This is usually the simplest step and takes expert speedcubers 2-3 seconds.
[edit] First Two Layers
The first two layers, or F2L, is the next step in solving the Rubik's cube using CFOP. It involves placing the bottom corners and middle edges in one step. There are 41 algorithms to learn for solving this step, and seven or eight others that are useful to know. Some speedcubers recommend figuring this step out on your own, so that you can understand exactly why this step works as well as it does. This is the longest step in CFOP, due to the fact that you must perform four algorithms, one for each corner-edge pair, or c/e pair.
A boy typing this does not get it. whoa !
[edit] Orientation of Last Layer
The Orientation of the Last Layer, or OLL, is the second to the last step to solving a Rubik's cube using CFOP. This step involves manipulating the top layer so that the top is a solid color, even if the pieces are not in the right places. This step involves learning the most algorithms (57) of any step due to the fact that there are so many different combinations of the top layer.
[edit] Permutation of Last Layer
The Permutation of the Last Layer, or PLL, is the final step in solving a cube using CFOP. This step involves moving the pieces of the top layer without reorienting them to move them into a solved state. This step requires the memorization of 21 algorithms, which is relatively few considering how many F2L and OLL required.
