Moving from the Beginner Method to CFOP

Moving from the beginner method to CFOP is one of the main stages in a speedcuber's development. The beginner method teaches the solver to complete the cube reliably, while CFOP makes it possible to use fewer separate stages, create smoother transitions and reduce pauses.

There is no need to abandon everything familiar in one day and memorise dozens of new algorithms immediately. The most practical approach is to replace individual parts of the beginner method gradually: improve the cross, move to F2L pairs, learn two-look OLL and PLL and only later decide whether full algorithm sets are necessary.

What is CFOP?

The name CFOP is formed from the first letters of four stages:

Cross — building the cross on the first face;
F2L, First Two Layers — solving the first two layers together;
OLL, Orientation of the Last Layer — turning all last-layer pieces with the correct colour facing upwards;
PLL, Permutation of the Last Layer — moving the last-layer pieces into their correct positions.

In a beginner method, the first-layer corners and middle-layer edges are usually solved separately, and the last layer may contain several small stages. In CFOP, a first-layer corner and its matching middle-layer edge are connected into a pair and inserted into their slot together.

Should you change the entire method immediately?

No. Replacing everything at once often makes the solver considerably slower for a period, causes old and new algorithms to become confused and reduces motivation.

A gradual transition may look like this:

Beginner method	Next step	Goal
The cross is solved one edge at a time	Plan several edges during inspection	Begin the solve more quickly and confidently
First-layer corners and middle-layer edges are solved separately	Move to intuitive F2L	Connect a corner and edge into one pair
The last face is completed in several stages	Learn two-look OLL	Orient the last layer with two algorithms
Last-layer pieces are positioned separately	Learn two-look PLL	Permute the last layer with two algorithms
Two-look OLL and PLL are comfortable	Learn full PLL gradually, followed by OLL	Reduce the number of last-layer stages

When should you begin the transition?

There is no compulsory time requirement. The solver does not need to reach sub-one-minute or any other arbitrary result before beginning CFOP.

The transition can begin when the solver:

can complete the cube consistently without detailed instructions;
remembers the order of the beginner stages;
confidently distinguishes centres, edges and corners;
understands basic move notation;
can execute familiar algorithms without constant stops;
is prepared to become temporarily slower while learning.

The main sign of readiness is not a particular time but a stable beginner method. When the solver still frequently forgets the order, it is better to strengthen the complete solve first.

What should be retained from the beginner method?

Moving to CFOP does not make the previous learning useless. Most fundamental skills remain important:

understanding the colour scheme;
finding the required pieces;
controlling which faces are on top and at the front;
basic algorithms and finger tricks;
preserving sections that are already solved;
checking the side colours of the cross and first layer.

The organisation of the solution changes more than the fundamental logic. Several separate tasks are combined into larger stages.

First transition stage: improving the cross

In CFOP, the cross is normally built on the bottom face. This keeps the remaining pieces visible and allows the solver to move directly into F2L without flipping the whole cube after the first stage.

When the cross was previously built on top, there is no need to change everything at once. Begin by learning to:

locate all four cross edges;
track their side colours;
plan the first two edges before starting;
build the cross on the bottom without repeatedly rotating the cube;
notice the first corner or F2L pair while completing the cross.

A useful drill is to solve only the cross, check it and scramble again. This provides more repetitions in a short period than ordinary full solves.

Do not demand a perfect cross immediately

Experienced speedcubers try to plan the complete cross during inspection, but this is not necessary for someone beginning the transition.

Progress may look like:

seeing one edge in advance;
planning two edges;
completing the cross without a full stop;
reducing whole-cube rotations;
gradually removing unnecessary moves;
later planning the full cross and the beginning of the first pair.

It is better to execute a simple plan accurately than to memorise too many moves and lose orientation immediately after starting.

Second stage: moving to intuitive F2L

F2L replaces the separate solving of first-layer corners and middle-layer edges. For every slot, the solver finds a corner and its matching edge, connects them into a pair and inserts them together.

The first two layers contain four pairs. Each consists of:

a corner containing the first-face colour;
an edge containing the two matching side colours;
the slot between the two corresponding centres.

The main purpose of F2L is not memorising long sequences but understanding the relationship between the corner and edge.

Do you need to learn every F2L case immediately?

No. Standard F2L situations are often grouped into approximately 41 cases, but a beginner does not need to memorise 41 separate algorithms.

Begin by learning to:

find a corner and its matching edge;
bring both pieces into the upper layer;
separate them when they are connected incorrectly;
form the pair in the correct orientation;
insert it into the correct slot;
avoid disturbing pairs that are already solved.

Once this principle is understood, individual awkward cases can gradually be replaced with shorter solutions.

Why does F2L make solves slower at first?

With the beginner method, the solver already knows where to place an individual corner or edge. In F2L, two pieces must be found, their positions evaluated and a way of joining them selected.

A temporary decline in results is normal. Early practice often includes:

a long search for the second piece of a pair;
frequent whole-cube rotations;
accidentally disturbing solved slots;
uncertainty about the direction of insertion;
returning to the old method during a difficult case.

The purpose of early F2L practice is understanding piece movement, not achieving fast times.

How to learn F2L gradually

A practical sequence is:

Solve F2L without a timer.
Identify the colours of the corner and edge in every pair.
Check which slot belongs to them.
Begin with the front slots, which are easier to see.
Then learn to insert pairs from different angles.
Compare several solutions to the same position.
Increase speed only after the movement is understood.

It is useful to complete the cross, stop and carefully solve all four F2L pairs without measuring time.

Reduce whole-cube rotations

A beginner often rotates the entire cube to bring every open slot to the front. This makes the process easier to understand but creates additional pauses.

The transition should be gradual:

first solve pairs in the front slots confidently;
then learn insertions into the back slots;
use both the right and left hands;
avoid rotating the cube only to repeat a familiar algorithm;
after a solve, consider which rotations were genuinely necessary.

There is no need to eliminate every rotation immediately. The initial goal is to remove automatic rotations after every pair.

Develop lookahead during F2L

Lookahead is the ability to search for the next pair while inserting the current one. It is one of the most important CFOP skills, but develops only after basic pair solutions become sufficiently familiar.

To practise:

turn more slowly than usual;
avoid staring at a pair once its insertion has begun;
move your attention towards unsolved pieces;
try to avoid a complete stop between pairs;
do not increase hand speed when the eyes can no longer keep up.

A smooth slow F2L is more useful than aggressive turning followed by several seconds of searching.

Third stage: two-look OLL

After the first two layers, all last-layer pieces must be oriented with the correct colour facing upwards. Full OLL performs this in one algorithm and contains 57 cases.

There is no need to learn the complete set immediately. Two-look OLL divides the task into:

orienting the edges to form the last-layer cross;
orienting the corners to complete the upper face.

This requires a relatively small set of algorithms, several of which may already be familiar from the beginner method.

How to learn two-look OLL

Begin by strengthening the cross cases:

dot;
corner, or L shape;
line;
completed cross.

Then learn corner orientation. Recognition is as important as execution:

how many upper corners are already oriented;
where the upper colour appears on the remaining corners;
how the cube should be held before the algorithm;
whether an upper-layer adjustment is required first.

Fourth stage: two-look PLL

After OLL, the upper face has one colour, but the pieces may still occupy the wrong positions. PLL moves them without changing their orientation.

Full PLL contains 21 cases. Two-look PLL divides the task into:

permuting the corners;
permuting the edges.

This allows the solver to use the CFOP structure without learning the entire set immediately.

Which should be learned first: full PLL or full OLL?

After two-look last layer becomes comfortable, full PLL is usually the more practical first step.

Reasons include:

PLL contains fewer cases;
cases are often easier to recognise from blocks and colour patterns;
every new PLL replaces an entire stage of the two-look solution;
the algorithms appear regularly in full solves;
reduced last-layer pauses become noticeable quickly.

Full OLL is generally learned later by gradually adding common and easily recognised cases.

Do not learn full PLL in one day

Even 21 algorithms are easier to manage in smaller groups:

corner permutations;
three-edge cycles;
cases containing solved blocks;
diagonal permutations;
algorithms using similar finger tricks.

Add another case when the previous one:

is recognised quickly;
can be executed without prompts;
has a clear starting orientation;
has been used successfully several times in full solves.

Recognition matters more than algorithm speed

A PLL can be performed extremely quickly while several seconds are lost deciding which case it is. Practice should therefore include:

viewing the case from different sides;
finding solved blocks;
identifying headlights — matching colours on neighbouring corners;
selecting the correct algorithm quickly;
making the correct upper-layer adjustment before starting;
performing the final AUF after the algorithm.

It is useful to practise recognition separately without executing the entire algorithm every time.

When should you begin full OLL?

Full OLL becomes useful when:

F2L is reasonably confident;
two-look OLL causes no confusion;
most PLL cases are already familiar;
new algorithms do not cause older ones to be forgotten;
the solver is prepared to review learned cases regularly.

OLL does not have to be learned in a strict order. It is practical to begin with:

frequent cases;
situations with easy recognition;
algorithms containing familiar movements;
cases that are particularly awkward with two-look OLL.

Finger tricks during the CFOP transition

CFOP uses longer and faster sequences, making awkward regrips more noticeable.

Useful principles include:

avoid gripping the cube too tightly;
turn the upper layer with the index fingers;
use both hands rather than relying entirely on the dominant hand;
finish an algorithm in a position suitable for the next stage;
avoid a complete regrip in the middle of a short sequence;
develop accuracy before increasing TPS.

There is no need to copy the fastest possible algorithm. Choose a sequence that your own hands can perform consistently.

Example gradual transition plan

Stage	Main objective
Stage 1	Bottom cross and planning the first two edges
Stage 2	Intuitive F2L pairs without a timer
Stage 3	Full solves using F2L and the old last-layer method
Stage 4	Two-look OLL and PLL
Stage 5	Fewer rotations and improved lookahead
Stage 6	Gradually learning full PLL
Stage 7	Adding selected full OLL cases

Each stage may take several days or several weeks. The speed of transition depends on practice frequency and how securely the new material is learned.

How to structure practice during the transition

An example session:

several normal warm-up solves;
five to ten cross repetitions;
ten minutes of untimed F2L pair work;
review of one new OLL or PLL case;
several slow complete CFOP solves;
a short timed set;
a note about the main difficulty encountered.

A new algorithm does not need to be added during every session. Reviewing and applying existing knowledge in full solves is equally important.

Can the methods be mixed temporarily?

Yes. During the transition, it is acceptable to:

solve some pairs with F2L and use the old approach for a difficult case;
use a new OLL followed by the familiar beginner PLL;
apply known PLL cases and solve the others in two steps;
practise with CFOP while using the familiar method when a quick reliable solve is required.

A mixed stage is a normal part of learning. The important point is to increase the use of new solutions gradually rather than returning to the old method whenever a difficulty appears.

How to measure progress

Total solve times may become worse temporarily, so other indicators should also be observed:

how many F2L pairs can be solved without returning to the old method;
whether the number of cube rotations is decreasing;
whether OLL and PLL recognition is becoming faster;
whether solves are becoming smoother;
whether new algorithms are forgotten less often;
whether the difference between good and poor results is becoming smaller.

Once the new method becomes natural, solve times normally begin falling without a need to return to the old structure.

Do you need a new speed cube for CFOP?

A professional flagship is not required for learning CFOP. Any good-quality 3x3 that turns easily, does not catch excessively and supports normal finger tricks is sufficient.

A new speed cube may be useful when the existing model:

requires considerable force to turn;
catches frequently;
comes apart repeatedly;
feels unstable during faster algorithms;
is uncomfortable in size or surface finish.

For regular practice, the MoYu RS3M V5 Dual Adjustment Magnetic may be considered. Its magnetic positioning and adjustable mechanism make it suitable for learning CFOP and continuing towards faster solves.

Common transition mistakes

Learning everything simultaneously. F2L, full OLL and full PLL create too much information at once.
Abandoning the old method in one day. The solver feels as though the ability to solve has been lost.
Judging progress only by time. New techniques are almost always slower initially.
Memorising F2L without understanding piece movement. The solution is forgotten when the position changes slightly.
Rotating the cube after every pair. Pauses remain even when algorithms become fast.
Learning execution without recognition. The movements are quick but begin after a long pause.
Changing algorithms constantly. Muscle memory has no opportunity to develop.
Chasing TPS. Hand speed develops faster than accuracy and lookahead.

Quick CFOP transition plan

Make the beginner method fully reliable.
Learn to build the cross on the bottom.
Plan several cross edges during inspection.
Learn intuitive F2L pairing.
Allow old and new solutions to coexist temporarily.
Learn two-look OLL and PLL.
Reduce rotations and develop lookahead.
Learn full PLL gradually.
Add convenient full OLL cases over time.
Measure smoothness and consistency, not only records.

Moving to CFOP is not one large process of relearning everything. It is a sequence of smaller improvements. The first two layers are reorganised first, the last-layer structure is simplified next, and the number of algorithms increases only afterwards. This approach preserves confidence, avoids overwhelming the memory and allows CFOP to become a natural part of solving.