First two layers (F2L)

Pair a corner with its edge and insert the pair: 41 cases per slot.

What it is

After the cross, CFOP solves the first two layers four times over: each time it pairs a D-layer corner with the middle-layer edge beside it and inserts the pair into its slot. Most cases are solved intuitively once you understand how pairs form; the algorithms here are the efficient, well-practised solutions to each of the 41 cases.
Cases are grouped by where the two pieces are: both in the U layer (free, connected or disconnected), one already in the slot, or both in the slot but wrong. Learn the free-pair cases first: they are the most common.

Recognition

Find the corner (it has the cross colour) and its edge. Where the cross-coloured sticker of the corner points (up, front or right) and whether the edge's colours match the corner's neighbours tell you the case.
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Free Pairs

F2L 1
U R U' R'
4 HTM · 16 algs
F2L 2
F R' F' R
4 HTM · 16 algs
F2L 3
F' U' F
3 HTM · 16 algs
F2L 4
R U R'
3 HTM · 16 algs

Disconnected Pairs

F2L 5
U' R U R' U2 R U' R'
8 HTM · 16 algs
F2L 6
U' r U' R' U R U r'
8 HTM · 16 algs
F2L 7
U' R U2 R' U' R U2 R'
8 HTM · 15 algs
F2L 8
r' U2 R2 U R2 U r
7 HTM · 14 algs
F2L 9
U' R U' R' U F' U' F
8 HTM · 16 algs
F2L 10
U' R U R' U R U R'
8 HTM · 16 algs
F2L 19
U R U2 R' U R U' R'
8 HTM · 14 algs
F2L 20
y' U' R' U2 R U' R' U R
8 HTM · 13 algs
F2L 21
U2 R U R' U R U' R'
8 HTM · 16 algs
F2L 22
r U' r' U2 r U r'
7 HTM · 16 algs

Connected Pairs

F2L 11
U' R U2 R' U F' U' F
8 HTM · 16 algs
F2L 12
R U' R' U R U' R' U2 R U' R'
11 HTM · 16 algs
F2L 13
y' U R' U R U' R' U' R
8 HTM · 14 algs
F2L 14
U' R U' R' U R U R'
8 HTM · 14 algs
F2L 15
M U r U' r' U' M'
9 HTM · 16 algs
F2L 16
R U' R' U2 F' U' F
7 HTM · 16 algs
F2L 17
R U2 R' U' R U R'
7 HTM · 14 algs
F2L 18
y' R' U2 R U R' U' R
7 HTM · 10 algs
F2L 23
U R U' R' U' R U' R' U R U' R'
12 HTM · 16 algs
F2L 24
F U R U' R' F' R U' R'
9 HTM · 16 algs

Corner In Slot

F2L 25
U' R' F R F' R U R'
8 HTM · 16 algs
F2L 26
U R U' R' F R' F' R
8 HTM · 16 algs
F2L 27
R U' R' U R U' R'
7 HTM · 13 algs
F2L 28
R U R' U' F R' F' R
8 HTM · 11 algs
F2L 29
R' F R F' U R U' R'
8 HTM · 15 algs
F2L 30
R U R' U' R U R'
7 HTM · 14 algs

Edge In Slot

F2L 31
U' R' F R F' R U' R'
8 HTM · 16 algs
F2L 32
U R U' R' U R U' R' U R U' R'
12 HTM · 16 algs
F2L 33
U' R U' R' U2 R U' R'
8 HTM · 15 algs
F2L 34
U R U R' U2 R U R'
8 HTM · 15 algs
F2L 35
U' R U R' U F' U' F
8 HTM · 16 algs
F2L 36
U F' U' F U' R U R'
8 HTM · 16 algs

Pieces In Slot

F2L 37
R2 U2 F R2 F' U2 R' U R'
9 HTM · 16 algs
F2L 38
R U' R' U' R U R' U2 R U' R'
11 HTM · 15 algs
F2L 39
R U' R' U R U2 R' U R U' R'
11 HTM · 16 algs
F2L 40
r U' r' U2 r U r' R U R'
10 HTM · 16 algs
F2L 41
R U' R' r U' r' U2 r U r'
10 HTM · 16 algs
Source: SpeedCubeDB, https://speedcubedb.com/a/3x3/F2L, retrieved 2026-10-24: case names, groups, setups and images, and the top-voted algorithms per case with their votes. Every algorithm shown was checked by the logic engine; rejected ones are listed in docs/db-exclusions.md.