F2L basics

Pair up a corner and an edge on top, then insert them in one go.

Goal of this step

F2L replaces two steps of the beginner method (the white corners and the second layer) with a single one: for each of the 4 slots around the cross, you place the white corner and its matching middle edge at the same time.

The idea is always the same:

bring the corner and the edge to the top of the cube;
pair them up (or set them up so a single trigger joins them);
insert the pair into its slot, bottom front right.

Here are the 4 simplest situations, solved in 3 or 4 moves. Watch how R or F’ “opens” the slot, then how U joins the pieces before closing it. Rather than memorizing these moves, try to understand why they work.

Cases and algorithms

Corner above its slot, white facing right; edge on top, at the back.

R U R'

Corner above its slot, white facing front; edge on top, on the left.

F' U' F

Corner above its slot, white facing front; edge on top, on the right.

U R U' R'

Corner above its slot, white facing right; edge on top, at the front.

U' F' U F

Tips

Always work on the front-right slot: turn the cube with y to choose which slot to fill.
Before inserting, look at where both pieces are: the goal is to bring them into one of these four cases.
The edge must match the two centers of its slot: a red-green edge goes between the red center and the green center.