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{{Method Infobox
|name=Guimond
|image=Guimond.gif
|proposers=[[Gaétan Guimond]]
|year=1980s
|anames
|variants
|steps=3
|algs=23 (2 for beginner)
|moves
|purpose=<sup></sup>
* [[Speedsolving]]
* [[Beginner Method]]
}}

Guimond solves the cube by orienting both layers, then permuting both layers ([[PBL]]). This method is very popular because it is move efficient, and can be reduced to a 2-look method for more experienced users. Guimond requires 23 algorithms (or 16 without reflections).

== The Steps ==

# Solve just 3/4 of a face of opposite colours. 'Opposite' colours are colours which appear at opposite ends of the cube. White/Yellow for example (western scheme). For colour neutral solvers this step is often skipped. If not it rarely requires more than 1 move, which makes for easy planning of the next step.
# Solve 2 opposite faces of opposite colours. This step has 16 cases (15 excluding solved, 8 excluding mirrors). The majority of algorithms are 3 or 4 moves, with the exception of 4 cases.
# Separate opposite colours to create two solved opposite faces. There are 6 cases (4 excluding the solved and trivial case, 3 if using x2 rotation). The optimal algs have a move counts of 1, 3, 3 and 5 moves.
# Permute both layers [[PBL]]. This is exactly the same as the final step in Ortega, making these two methods complementary.

== Guimond as a Beginner Method ==
Gaimond makes a slightly more efficient and intuitive alternative to [[Beginner LBL]]. The beginner method procedure is as follows:

# Use intuition to orient three cubies on both U and D faces. Mixing U/D colours at this stage is fine, as long as each U/D face has three oriented cubies (ie. with U or D colour on top).
# Using a U face turn, place the misoriented U-face cubie in URF. Flip the cube using x2 and do the same for the opposite layer.
# Now check the orientation of the misoriented URF cubie. If the U/D colour is facing you, use x2 to flip the cube. Now the misorineted cubie should have the U/D colour facing to the right.
# Apply the algorithm '''R' F U' R''' to complete orientation of the U/D faces.
# Using F2 R2 and U moves, swap U/D cubies until the U-face contains only U colour.
# Now look at the U layer only
#* If you see 1 bar, position the cube (using y turns) so that the bar is in the back face. Apply the algorithm '''R' F R' B2 R F' R' B2 R2''' (A-perm).
#* If there are no bars apply A-perm to create a bar.
# Do x2 and repeat step 6 for the D layer to complete the cube.

== Guimond-style 3x3x3 Method ==
It is possible to solve the 3x3x3 cube using the same basic phases of the 2x2x2 Guimond method. The method is broken down into:
# Orientation of all the pieces
#* Orientation of edges (see [[EOLine]])
#* Orientation of corners (same as Guimond, but preserving EO)
# Separation of the U/D Layer
#* Move all mid-edges into E-slice
#* Corner Separation (same as Guimond)
#* Edge Separation
# Permutation of all the pieces
#* Final solve of E-Slice
#* U/D layer permutation (Using [[PLL]])

== Predicted Separation ==
This is a more advanced form of regular Guimond, which allows one look to be eliminated. During inspection the solver works out the separation case (step 2), so that the separation alg can be executed immediately after the first step, without pause.

== 2 Step Guimond ==
This goes one step further than predicted separation and actually carries out separation and orientation (steps 1 and 2) all at the same time. The solver starts with three corners, then uses a larger set of algs to solve orientation and separation in one step. This is similar to the [[SS]] method, but requires more algorithms.

== Ortega-style OLL ==
Where a scramble leaves one face with four oriented U/D corners, it is possible to simply use an Ortega OLL alg to bring the cube straight to the separation step. Because mixing of U/D colours doesn't matter in this step, slightly more efficient algorithms may be used. See [[OLL (2x2x2)#Mixing U/D|OLL (2x2x2)]]

== See Also ==
* [[OLL (2x2x2)]]
* [[PBL]]
* [[LBL]]
* [[Ortega Method]]
* [[VOP Method]]

== External Links ==

* [http://erikku.er.funpic.org/rubik/2x2_guimond.html funpic.org]
* [http://rapidshare.com/files/129358753/Guimond_Method-english.doc Martijn Bakker' doc on RapidShare]
* Speedsolving.com [http://www.speedsolving.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13055 2 Alg Guimond]
* Speedsolving.com [http://www.speedsolving.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3566 What is the "fridrich" of 2x2x2 cubing?] (info on 2-step Guimond)
* Speedsolving.com [http://www.speedsolving.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15534 3x3x3 Guimond-style Method]

[[Category:Methods]]
[[Category:2x2x2 Methods]]
[[Category:2x2x2 Beginner Methods]]
[[Category:2x2x2 Speedsolving Methods]]
[[Category:Fewest Moves Methods]]