F2L Algorithms: The Complete Case List for CFOP

This is a reference for every standard F2L case. If you're still learning how pairs form, start with how to learn F2L; the algorithms make more sense once you can see why they work.

Every algorithm is for the front-right slot, with the cross on the bottom. "Front color" and "right color" mean the colors of the front and right centers. For a refresher on R, U' and r, see our Rubik's Cube notation guide.

If an algorithm starts with a U turn, the cue describes the case before that turn.

How F2L cases are grouped

Each F2L case is defined by two things: where the corner and edge are, and which way they face. The corner can be in the top layer or already in the slot. The edge can be in the top layer or already in the slot. The corner's white sticker can face up, front or right (or down, in the slot), and the edge can be oriented either way.

Put those together and you get 41 distinct cases, not counting the one where the pair is already solved. If you want the full reasoning behind that number, read how many F2L algorithms there are. On this page the 41 cases are grouped like this:

• Basic inserts: 4 cases where the pair is one short move from going in.
• Corner and edge in the top layer, white facing the side: 12 cases.
• Corner and edge in the top layer, white facing up: 8 cases.
• Corner in the top layer, edge in the middle layer: 6 cases.
• Corner in the bottom slot, edge in the top layer: 6 cases.
• Corner and edge both in the slot: 5 cases.

The case numbers follow SpeedCubeDB's numbering, so you can cross-check any case there.

Basic inserts (the cases everything reduces to)

These four are the endpoints of almost every other case. Whatever you do intuitively, you are usually setting up one of these. Learn them until you don't have to think.

F2L 1: Corner above the slot with white facing front; edge on the right side of the top layer (UR) with the front color on top. Algorithm: U R U' R'

F2L 2: Corner above the slot with white facing right; edge at the front of the top layer (UF) with the right color on top. Algorithm: F R' F' R

F2L 3: Corner above the slot with white facing front; edge on the left side of the top layer (UL) with the right color on top. Algorithm: F' U' F

F2L 4: Corner above the slot with white facing right; edge at the back of the top layer (UB) with the front color on top. Algorithm: R U R'

Corner and edge in the top layer

This is the biggest group. Both pieces are in the top layer, and the job is to pair them up and then insert. The trick is to recognize them quickly from the corner's white sticker and where the edge is.

Corner white sticker facing the side, pieces split

The corner and edge are separated in the top layer. Most of these solutions move the edge into a spot where it pairs naturally with the corner, then finish with a basic insert.

F2L 5: Corner above the slot with white facing front; edge at the back of the top layer (UB) with the front color on top. Algorithm: U' R U R' U2 R U' R'

F2L 6: Corner above the slot with white facing right; edge on the left side of the top layer (UL) with the right color on top. Algorithm: U' r U' R' U R U r'

F2L 7: Corner above the slot with white facing front; edge on the left side of the top layer (UL) with the front color on top. Algorithm: U' R U2 R' U' R U2 R'

F2L 8: Corner above the slot with white facing right; edge at the back of the top layer (UB) with the right color on top. Algorithm: r' U2 R2 U R2 U r

F2L 9: Corner above the slot with white facing front; edge at the back of the top layer (UB) with the right color on top. Algorithm: U' R U' R' U F' U' F

F2L 10: Corner above the slot with white facing right; edge on the left side of the top layer (UL) with the front color on top. Algorithm: U' R U R' U R U R'

Corner white sticker facing the side, pieces next to each other

Here the edge sits right next to the corner or directly in front of it. Some of these are already paired the wrong way, so you split them and rebuild the pair.

F2L 11: Corner above the slot with white facing front; edge on the right side of the top layer (UR) with the right color on top. Algorithm: U' R U2 R' U F' U' F

F2L 12: Corner above the slot with white facing right; edge at the front of the top layer (UF) with the front color on top. Algorithm: R U' R' U R U' R' U2 R U' R'

F2L 13: Corner above the slot with white facing front; edge at the front of the top layer (UF) with the right color on top. Algorithm: y' U R' U R U' R' U' R

F2L 14: Corner above the slot with white facing right; edge on the right side of the top layer (UR) with the front color on top. Algorithm: U' R U' R' U R U R'

F2L 15: Corner above the slot with white facing front; edge at the front of the top layer (UF) with the front color on top. Algorithm: M U r U' r' U' M'

F2L 16: Corner above the slot with white facing right; edge on the right side of the top layer (UR) with the right color on top. Algorithm: R U' R' U2 F' U' F

Corner white sticker facing up

When white faces up, the corner can't pair with the edge directly. You first turn it so white faces the side, which is why these algorithms are a bit longer.

F2L 17: Corner above the slot with white facing up; edge on the right side of the top layer (UR) with the front color on top. Algorithm: R U2 R' U' R U R'

F2L 18: Corner above the slot with white facing up; edge at the front of the top layer (UF) with the right color on top. Algorithm: y' R' U2 R U R' U' R

F2L 19: Corner above the slot with white facing up; edge at the back of the top layer (UB) with the front color on top. Algorithm: U R U2 R' U R U' R'

F2L 20: Corner above the slot with white facing up; edge on the left side of the top layer (UL) with the right color on top. Algorithm: y' U' R' U2 R U' R' U R

F2L 21: Corner above the slot with white facing up; edge on the left side of the top layer (UL) with the front color on top. Algorithm: U2 R U R' U R U' R'

F2L 22: Corner above the slot with white facing up; edge at the back of the top layer (UB) with the right color on top. Algorithm: r U' r' U2 r U r'

F2L 23: Corner above the slot with white facing up; edge at the front of the top layer (UF) with the front color on top. Algorithm: U R U' R' U' R U' R' U R U' R'

F2L 24: Corner above the slot with white facing up; edge on the right side of the top layer (UR) with the right color on top. Algorithm: F U R U' R' F' R U' R'

Corner in the top layer, edge in the middle layer

The edge is already in the slot, either placed correctly or flipped. You take it out together with the corner, pair them, and put them back in.

F2L 31: Corner above the slot with white facing up; edge in the slot, flipped. Algorithm: U' R' F R F' R U' R'

F2L 32: Corner above the slot with white facing up; edge in the slot, placed correctly. Algorithm: U R U' R' U R U' R' U R U' R'

F2L 33: Corner above the slot with white facing front; edge in the slot, placed correctly. Algorithm: U' R U' R' U2 R U' R'

F2L 34: Corner above the slot with white facing right; edge in the slot, placed correctly. Algorithm: U R U R' U2 R U R'

F2L 35: Corner above the slot with white facing front; edge in the slot, flipped. Algorithm: U' R U R' U F' U' F

F2L 36: Corner above the slot with white facing right; edge in the slot, flipped. Algorithm: U F' U' F U' R U R'

Corner in the bottom slot, edge in the top layer

The corner is already in the slot but the edge is still on top. If the corner is twisted, you pull it out while pairing it with the edge.

F2L 25: Corner in the slot with white on the bottom; edge on the right side of the top layer (UR) with the front color on top. Algorithm: U' R' F R F' R U R'

F2L 26: Corner in the slot with white on the bottom; edge at the front of the top layer (UF) with the right color on top. Algorithm: U R U' R' F R' F' R

F2L 27: Corner in the slot with white facing front; edge on the right side of the top layer (UR) with the front color on top. Algorithm: R U' R' U R U' R'

F2L 28: Corner in the slot with white facing right; edge at the front of the top layer (UF) with the right color on top. Algorithm: R U R' U' F R' F' R

F2L 29: Corner in the slot with white facing front; edge at the front of the top layer (UF) with the right color on top. Algorithm: R' F R F' U R U' R'

F2L 30: Corner in the slot with white facing right; edge on the right side of the top layer (UR) with the front color on top. Algorithm: R U R' U' R U R'

Corner and edge both in the slot (solved but wrong)

Both pieces are in the right slot, but one or both are twisted or flipped. Many cubers find them hard to solve efficiently by feel.

F2L 37: Corner in the slot with white on the bottom; edge in the slot, flipped. Algorithm: R2 U2 F R2 F' U2 R' U R'

F2L 38: Corner in the slot with white facing front; edge in the slot, placed correctly. Algorithm: R U' R' U' R U R' U2 R U' R'

F2L 39: Corner in the slot with white facing right; edge in the slot, placed correctly. Algorithm: R U' R' U R U2 R' U R U' R'

F2L 40: Corner in the slot with white facing front; edge in the slot, flipped. Algorithm: r U' r' U2 r U r' R U R'

F2L 41: Corner in the slot with white facing right; edge in the slot, flipped. Algorithm: R U' R' r U' r' U2 r U r'

Which F2L algorithms to learn first

You don't need to memorize all 41 to get faster. A common order:

• The four basic inserts, until they're automatic.
• The cases you can't solve intuitively. For many cubers that means the "both pieces in the slot" group and some of the white-facing-up cases. If you find yourself freezing on a case, that's the one to learn.
• Cases where your intuitive solution needs a cube rotation. An algorithm can often skip it; see rotationless F2L.
• Cases where you keep getting stuck. If a pair keeps refusing to come together, see how to fix a stuck F2L pair.

Once the basics feel easy, you can also look at pseudoslotting, where you solve a pair into a different slot on purpose to save moves.

How to practice F2L algorithms without memorizing a list

The aim is to see a case and know what to do without stopping:

• Do slow solves that never pause, tracking the next pair. That's the core of F2L look-ahead.
• Learn why each algorithm pairs and inserts, so you remember it and can adapt it to other slots. See how to memorize cube algorithms.
• Drill recognition: set up a case, name it, then solve it.
• Practice two or three cases at a time, then work them into full solves. An algorithm trainer helps.
• Keep your finger tricks clean; execution matters as much as knowing the moves.

To see whether F2L is really where your time goes, check your CFOP solve splits. Use our scramble generator and cube timer to keep practice honest.

How CuberPal helps with F2L

CuberPal is a speedcubing timer and coach:

• See how long each F2L pair takes and where your lookahead breaks down.
• Learn F2L, OLL and PLL algorithms with spaced-repetition practice and focused drills.
• Time your solves and get a weekly recap of your progress and what to work on next.

If you're working through the whole method, the CFOP learning path shows where F2L fits. For the last layer, see our CFOP algorithms reference.

Find the F2L cases that slow you down with CuberPal.