F2L PAGE 03

F2L PAGE 02

F2L PAGE 01

First Two Layer

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Using LBL method, we will do the cross first, insert the four bottom corners to complete the first layer. To continuing conquer the second layer,we need to placing the middle four edges to its' corresponding slot.

It's very easy to learn and master it. But it is not the most effective way to finish the first two layer. It took too many moves to complete the first two layer. So if we can insert the corner and edges at the same time it also means we skip 1 process. Save times equivalent to faster times.

F2L is the abbreviations of First Two Layer. After done the cross, we insert 4 pairs of F2L pairs to complete the first two layer. What is F2L pairs? Edge and corner make it a pair.

Allowing me to say some stories. To me, F2L is a hide and seek game on a Cube. Some times the pairs we are looking for are hiding in different positions,front, back, top, right, left or bottom. Just imagine that the each F2L pairs are 1 couple, and the 4 slot where they need to go is theirs houses. Both of our hand is theirs guardian angels, our job is to protect them, find them back and lead them back to their house peacefully. They are so mischievous, always forget to go home. Most of the time the couples ( F2L pairs ) lost contact to each other. The worst thing is they don't know how to meet each other ( pairs up ) and return home ( insert to its' own slot ). There are few frequent scenarios occurring every times:
1) They are together ( formed a pairs already ), but not yet insert to it's slot.

2) They are separated, but both in the same top layer.

3) They are joined in the same top layer but color is flipped.

4) They are corner in top layer, but the edge in the middle layer ( slot )

5) They are cornesr in the slot, but the edges on the top layer.

6) Both of the corner and edge in it's slot.

How to separate them and join them up
without mess up our cross is the thing we need to learn. Here we go, hide the corners or the edges to forming a pairs up, avoid cube rotations as much as possible, using the empty slot wisely, maximize look ahead as much as we can. We must know the map or the route then we can drive and reach our destinations, right?

Finger trigger

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What is Finger Shortcut actually? It is a set of movements which can be performed very quickly using our fingers.

In order to execute algorithms fluently and without pauses, we need to learn a lots of finger shortcuts. These finger shortcuts require ton of practices to master it.

For example: R2' U R U R' U' R' U' R' U R'

The above algorithm contains 11 moves, if we turn 1 move using 1 second,then 11 moves will cost us 11 seconds. This is just an example.

If we know this two trigger ( R U R'U')
and also ( R' U R' ), then it will make the above algorithms become this
R2' U ( R U R' U' ) R' U' ( R' U R' )
You must have noticed that within the bracket is the Finger Shortcut and obviously the algorithms is separated to 4 groups now.
It will decrease the executing time significantly. From 11 seconds to 3 seconds. If you practice hard enough, 1 second 1 algorithm is possible.

There are a lot of finger shortcut that we should learn. The following is the lists and the video links :

1) R U R' U'

2) R' U' R U

3) U R U' R'

4) R' F R F'

5) F R' F' R

6) R U R' U

7) R U2

8) R U' R

9) R' U R'

10) L U L' U'

11) R U R'

12) R U' R'

There are more advanced and new finger shortcuts lately invented by many speedcuber, you can find up through Internet or YouTube easily.

Perhaps someday you can also invent your very own finger shortcuts. Everything is possible.
Speedcubing is still young,comparing with other extreme sports' games.

How to build a bottom cross

1) Scan around you cube to check where the four edges ( white stickers ) located at.

2 ) To check there are how many good edges and bad edges.

3 ) Plan the cross in our brain. Find the shorter path to build the cross.

4) It must be very finger friendly one.

5) Always preserved the good edges first,do not convert the good edge to bad edge.

6) The bad edge always have the priority to move first.

7) Having a bad edge and few good edges at the same time, it is important to use one good edge to convert another bad edge to a good edge.

8) Do not confused by the center pieces because the center pieces will not be changed no matter how we move the other edges.