[Help Thread] F2L Discussion and Help

Can't figure out F2L properly

Hey, i am quite new to cubing, i have mastered the begginers method and average about 1:20sec. Single is 51 sec, but i wanted to move on to CFOP. I have started abit with F2L, but im having a really hard time. I have watched alot of youtube videos and some sites with F2L. I dont really want to learn all the F2L algs and want to learn it intuitive. If you guys could share some sites, videos or info about F2L it would help me out a ton. I really want to improve my times and try to learn CFOP. Thanks alot :)
 
I would suggest going to a number of different F2L tutorials, that way you can pick up on things that one tutorial missed, etc. Personally, I learned from paradox cubing's tutorial, I think it's a great one.

Also, once you learn F2L, your times will increase dramatically, I remember that I learned F2L when I averaged 50 seconds, and my times went up into the 2-3 minute range. But in a few days, your times will be back to normal, just trust me and don't give up! Also just always make sure you are using f2l and not the beginners method, all it does is reinforce the old method and doesn't help the new one.
Hope this helped!
 
The basic idea for F2L is very simple. Instead of doing 4 corners first and then 4 edges you will do 4 times 1 corner + 1 edge.
For this to work you will
1) search for a corner and find the matching edge (or the other way around)
2) Attach or line-them-up in the top layer
3) Insert them into the F2L without breaking what is already solved in there.

Step 2 should be about 4 moves and step 3 as well, so that makes 8 moves and you have to do that 4 times.
Step 2 and 3 will almost always look like F' <U> F or R <U> R' with another U move before or after

Simple example1: (setup = R U R' U2 R U' R')
step 1: There is a corner at URB and the matching edge at UL
step 2: R U R' (attach)
step 3: U2 R U' R' (insert) (or U' R U2 R' to insert)

Simple example2: (setup = R U R' U2 R U2 R')
step 1: There is a corner at URB and the matching edge at UF
step 2: R U2 R' (attach)
step 3: U2 R U' R' (insert) (or U' R U2 R' to insert)

As you can see from this example, the IDEA behind this pair is identical, but the moves are slightly different. There is no need at all to learn this as 2 algorithms

Good luck following some written or video-tutorials to see more (similar) situations. There are a few more difficult an a few easier ones. Just try to figure them all out and if you can't...STUDY the alg to see what it does. Don't memo the alg, but understand what the alg does. It will always follow the general idea of "attach/line-up and then insert".
 
Getting familiar with F2L cases? How do?

So I want to learn look ahead but first I need to be familiar with all F2L cases to the point where I can do any case with my eyes closed.

How can I practice to get to this point? Do I just solve and take note on harder cases?

Or do I try and do the case with my eyes close?

What is a good way of doing this?

Thanks.

(I average about 27 seconds btw)
 
It's good that you're taking the initiative to learn lookahead. First you want to just see if you can solve cases blindfolded, so basically just solve your cross, look at the first case, close your eyes, and do it. If you can't do this yet, really the only way to get good at this is to practice a lot.
 
I have a doubt with F2L. Once you've inserted a pair, and you need to insert another pair into a different slot, is it better to rotate the cube, perform a U turn or perform d'? From what I've seen, a lot of F2L algs use d'. Is it a better option?
 
mkarthick said:
I have a doubt with F2L. Once you've inserted a pair, and you need to insert another pair into a different slot, is it better to rotate the cube, perform a U turn or perform d'? From what I've seen, a lot of F2L algs use d'. Is it a better option?
Click to expand...

As with most answers to "which is better" questions, the answer is that it depends on the case. Also, your question is a little ambiguous so I'll try to answer both possible readings. If you mean "Is it better to rotate the cube and then perform a U turn, or is it better to do d' ", then the answer is basically whatever is faster for you to do. If you can d' and do the necessary grip faster than the y or y', do it. But if your question is "Is it better to rotate the cube, or perform a U turn, or perform d' ", then the answer is almost always perform a U turn if the case can be solved by making R, U, or L moves only. If it cannot, it's once again preference. I prefer cube rotations, but lots of people do d' easily.
 
Johnny said:
My F2L is absolutely horrible. I always rely on putting corners into slots, then bringing the edges above the corners and doing an algorithm. How do I speed up my F2L? Do I need to approach it differently?
Click to expand...
Definitely watch a bunch of tutorials just on learning f2l, then watch a bunch of videos on some F2L tricks.
 
Best way to learn F2L and best LBL times?

I have been having so much trouble trying to learn f2l intuitively. I've tried memorizing algorithms but unlike the basic its so many different cases, it just confuses me a bit. I've learned a few, but not as well as I know Ortega or LBL. Please help.

To my second question: what is your guys lbl PB? I'm averaging around a minute using a modified beginners method taking some algorithms from Ortega, and two from Fridrich OLL. My PB is 48, so I've come a long way from some of my early solves being at 6-7 mins, but I'm not where I'd like to be. What about you guys?
 
Here again, but can anyone tell me how to improve my f2l times. I have OLL and PLL in less than 20 seconds using 4LLL but my cross takes ten seconds and f2l 15-20 seconds. Help is appreciated, thanks.
 
2cubed4u said:
Here again, but can anyone tell me how to improve my f2l times. I have OLL and PLL in less than 20 seconds using 4LLL but my cross takes ten seconds and f2l 15-20 seconds. Help is appreciated, thanks.
Click to expand...

How long have you been cubing? I started in May and switching to intuitive F2L seemed like it was slowing me down at first. I just practiced slow turns, and experimenting trying to see what patterns evolve from certain states. The only algorithm I really knowingly use is when I see the edge piece in the correct spot and the corner is above it instead of below (R U R' U')x3 (Picture below). I now get the cross and F2L between 15 and 20 seconds. It takes time. Don't worry about trying to rush it. Just practice slowly and see what patterns develop. What was a struggle for me was trying to remember what corners were already done and not mess those up.

0068AD60-F17A-49DF-9E5E-55D67B525097_zpsxa4o4qth.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
ViolaBouquet said:
How long have you been cu... not mess those up.
Click to expand...

I've been cubing for around a year, but once i got to a minute in lbl I got sort of lazy and didn't cube seriously. I was too immature to understand f2l, but I think I've got it now. I've been doing f2l for around a year, and I've set new PB's using Fridrich/CFOP but I dont really seem to be improving much. I'll try going slower and really drilling OLL/PLL algs.
But my cross takes around ten seconds, do you have tips for improving that time?

Thanks
 
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