Fridrich Method

From Speedsolving.com Wiki

The Fridrich Method, also CFOP; Cross, F2L, OLL and PLL, , popularized by Jessica Fridrich, is similar to the Layer-By-Layer (LBL) method, because some of the steps are the same. However, the full Fridrich method uses many more algorithms than the layer by layer method, and combines some steps from the LBL method into one step. A very large number of people use this method, so there's a huge support network, and almost everyone will be able to help with learning it. The vast majority of the fastest cubers use this method (although that does not mean this is the only fast method). The fact that the name Fridrich method is used for this method can be discussed. Fridrich was the first to publish and popularize the method although several other people also invented this method at the same time. A 'better' but less used name for this method would simply be the CFOP method.

The Steps

1. Cross

First, make a cross on any side of the cube. This entails solving all of the edges with a given color to their proper positions.

2. F2L (First Two Layers)

In this step you fill in the slots where the corners of the cross are missing. For each insertion, a corner and an edge are placed simultaneously. There are 41 basic cases for this step, but it can be learned intuitively.

3. OLL (Orient the Last Layer)

Next, you make the entire top side of the cube a solid color. This requires 57 algorithms, but can be broken down into two steps (2 Look OLL), which only requires 9 algorithms.

4. PLL (Permute the Last Layer)

Finally, you finish the cube by permuting the top layer of the cube. There are 21 algorithms to learn, but this step can be done into two steps, (2 Look PLL), which includes just 6 algorithms.

Pros

This method is relatively easy to understand when compared to other methods. Therefore, it is the most tested and most popular method used. It has a reasonable number of algorithms to learn, and sub 15 second averages are definitely possible. World records for this method has been set many times. It takes less thinking than block-building methods because it's more algorithm based.

Cons

Learning all of the algorithms takes some time, and it requires a lot of practice to solve the F2L consistently in 10 seconds or less. Also, it has a slightly higher move count when compared to block building methods.

Where to learn the Fridrich (CFOP) method


Note: Written by the members of the speedsolving forum in this thread: http://www.speedsolving.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3688 - Posted by Rubik's Cube Fan