A singular f2l question.

[Arcanist]

I feel like I understand how to get faster at algs - drill and make sure your finger tricks are good. However I think improving f2l is a bit trickier. I understand you need to do slow, untimed solves but I had a question.
Do you just do the first pair you see?
This is a question that has been weighing on me for a while. I usually just do the first pair that I see. Sometimes this results in me not being able to insert into the back. So should I watch out specifically for pairs in the back to solve or not? (average around 15.5-16)

 

[Jorian Meeuse]

The key to faster F2L is mostly that you minimize pauses. This means:

- Before you do look ahead, you solve a pair, look for the next one, solve that. To minimize pauses there, you go with the first thing you see. That ensures a shorter pause, which is more worth it than looking for better pairs. After all, there might not be any better pairs.

- When you start looking ahead, it will still be hard to see the next pair while solving a pair. That means there is pretty much no way you can see multiple pairs in advance, and sometimes you'll fail to see any. If you do see a pair in advance, go with it, otherwise you'll have to pause. If you don't see a pair, you're pretty much in the same situation as if you don't look ahead yet.

- When you get more advanced, you'll start to see multiple options for the next pair. When that happens, you pick the best one. This will start to happen naturally at some point, so you don't have to worry about that.

So basically, don't go with the first pair you see, but the best pair you see without needing to pause to see it. Most of the time, this will come down to being the first pair you see, because seeing multiple pairs in advance is hard.

 

[phononmusic]

just gonna put this here cause its useful