Full F2L Algorithms: All 41 Cases, With a Picture of Each

This post collects the F2L algorithms for all 41 cases of a single slot, split into 7 groups by how you see them on the cube. Each case has a picture, one line to help you spot it, and one algorithm. Every algorithm has been tested on the EasyRubic Rubik's Cube simulator.

Find your case fast

Look at your cube from above and tap the picture that matches it to see how to solve it. Grey cells are stickers you can ignore.

Case 1
URU′R′
For example, the mirror of U R U' R' (F2L 1) is U' F' U F (F2L 2). The two pictures below are F2L 1 and then F2L 2: the corner and the edge swap roles across the slot's diagonal.
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 2
U′F′UF
For example, the mirror of U R U' R' (F2L 1) is U' F' U F (F2L 2). The two pictures below are F2L 1 and then F2L 2: the corner and the edge swap roles across the slot's diagonal.
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 3
URU′R′
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 4
U′F′UF
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 5
F′U′F
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 6
RUR′
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 7
U′RUR′U2RU′R′
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 8
UF′U′FU2F′UF
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 9
U′RU2R′U2RU′R′
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 10
UF′U2FU2F′UF
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 11
U′RU′R′UF′U′F
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 12
U′RUR′URUR′
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 13
U′RU2R′UF′U′F
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 14
R′U2R2UR2UR
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 15
UF′UFU′F′U′F
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 16
U′RU′R′URUR′
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 17
F′UFU2RUR′
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 18
RU′R′U2F′U′F
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 19
RU2R′U′RUR′
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 20
F′U2FUF′U′F
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 21
URU2R′URU′R′
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 22
U′F′U2FU′F′UF
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 23
RU′R′U2RUR′
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 24
U2F′U′FU′F′UF
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 25
U2R2U2R′U′RU′R2
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 26
FURU′R′F′RU′R′
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 27
U′F′UFURU′R′
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 28
URU′R′U′F′UF
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 29
RUR′U′RUR′U′RUR′
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 30
U′RU′R′U2RU′R′
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 31
URUR′U2RUR′
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 32
URU′R′
F2L 1: U R U' R'
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 33
U′F′UF
F2L 2: U' F' U F
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 34
F′U′F
F2L 3: F' U' F
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 35
RUR′
F2L 4: R U R'
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 36
U′RUR′U2RU′R′
F2L 5: U' R U R' U2 R U' R'
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 37
UF′U′FU2F′UF
F2L 6: U F' U' F U2 F' U F
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 38
U′RU2R′U2RU′R′
F2L 7: U' R U2 R' U2 R U' R'
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 39
UF′U2FU2F′UF
F2L 8: U F' U2 F U2 F' U F
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 40
U′RU′R′UF′U′F
F2L 9: U' R U' R' U F' U' F
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 41
U′RUR′URUR′
F2L 10: U' R U R' U R U R'
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 42
U′RU2R′UF′U′F
F2L 11: U' R U2 R' U F' U' F
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 43
R′U2R2UR2UR
F2L 12: R' U2 R2 U R2 U R
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 44
UF′UFU′F′U′F
F2L 13: U F' U F U' F' U' F
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 45
U′RU′R′URUR′
F2L 14: U' R U' R' U R U R'
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 46
F′UFU2RUR′
F2L 15: F' U F U2 R U R'
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 47
RU′R′U2F′U′F
F2L 16: R U' R' U2 F' U' F
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 48
RU2R′U′RUR′
F2L 17: R U2 R' U' R U R'
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 49
F′U2FUF′U′F
F2L 18: F' U2 F U F' U' F
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 50
URU2R′URU′R′
F2L 19: U R U2 R' U R U' R'
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 51
U′F′U2FU′F′UF
F2L 20: U' F' U2 F U' F' U F
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 52
RU′R′U2RUR′
F2L 21: R U' R' U2 R U R'
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 53
U2F′U′FU′F′UF
F2L 22: U2 F' U' F U' F' U F
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 54
U2R2U2R′U′RU′R2
F2L 23: U2 R2 U2 R' U' R U' R2
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 55
FURU′R′F′RU′R′
F2L 24: F U R U' R' F' R U' R'
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 56
U′F′UFURU′R′
F2L 25: U' F' U F U R U' R'
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 57
URU′R′U′F′UF
F2L 26: U R U' R' U' F' U F
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 58
RUR′U′RUR′U′RUR′
F2L 32: R U R' U' R U R' U' R U R'
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 59
U′RU′R′U2RU′R′
F2L 33: U' R U' R' U2 R U' R'
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 60
URUR′U2RUR′
F2L 34: U R U R' U2 R U R'
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →
Case 61
RUR′
The picture below is the example from step 1: on the left is F2L 4 that you just set up with R U' R', on the right is the result after solving it again with R U R'.
1. You start with (input)
3. After the formula
See it in the post →

This is part four of the CFOP series, after Cross CFOP, X-cross and Intuitive F2L. If you don't know what CFOP is yet, read What is CFOP first.

Do you need to memorise all 41 F2L algorithms?

No, and you shouldn't try to take them all on at once. The SpeedSolving Wiki recommends solving F2L intuitively and only using algorithms for the cases where your own way is slow (SpeedSolving Wiki). If you can't solve all four pairs yet without looking at a guide, read Intuitive F2L first.

Use this post as a lookup book. When you hit a case you tend to solve slowly, find it here, get the hang of the algorithm, then go back to solving by hand.

According to the SpeedSolving Wiki, the last F2L slot has exactly 41 cases. The lists of 41 cases on SpeedCubeDB and SpeedCube.com.au give the same number (SpeedCubeDB, SpeedCube.com.au).

How to hold the cube and read the pictures

Throughout this post, hold the cube like this:

White face on the bottom, cross already done. The yellow face is on top: that is layer 3 (the top layer).
Green face in front, orange on the right.
The slot to solve is the front-right slot. Its pair is the white-green-orange corner and the green-orange edge.
"Above the slot" means the front-right corner position of the top layer, right above the slot.

Each picture has two cubes. The left cube is the case you have, just before you do the algorithm. Only the cross, the F2L pairs and the centres are coloured; the top layer is grey. The right cube is the result, flipped over so the white face is on top and you can see the two finished layers.

To solve a different slot, turn the whole cube so that slot is at the front right, then swap green and orange for that slot's two colours. F2L algorithms use the R, U and F faces. If you're not used to the notation yet, see Rubik's Cube notation for beginners.

The numbers F2L 1 to F2L 41 in this post follow the SpeedCubeDB list exactly, so you can compare them easily. Each algorithm was picked from the ones SpeedCubeDB gives for that case. For F2L 6, 8, 13, 22, 29, 40 and 41, the post takes a SpeedCubeDB algorithm that turns the whole cube (y') and rewrites exactly the same moves with the F face, so you don't have to turn the cube. J Perm also advises turning the whole cube as little as possible (J Perm).

Three questions to spot the case

Before looking for an algorithm, look at the cube and answer three questions:

Where is the corner? In the top layer, or already in the slot?
Which way does the corner's white sticker face? Front, right, up or down?
Where is the edge, and which colour faces up? If the edge is in the top layer, check whether the green or the orange sticker faces up. If the edge is in the slot, check whether it is the right way round or flipped.

These three answers are enough to pin down a case; you only need to turn U to bring the corner above the front slot. The groups below follow exactly those three questions.

Mirror trick: get one, know two

The cases come in mirror pairs. Put a mirror along the diagonal of the front-right slot: the front and right faces swap places, and the turning direction flips too. To get the algorithm for the mirror case, swap each move:

R becomes F', R' becomes F, R2 becomes F2.
F becomes R', F' becomes R, F2 becomes R2.
U becomes U', U' becomes U, U2 stays the same.

For example, the mirror of U R U' R' (F2L 1) is U' F' U F (F2L 2). The two pictures below are F2L 1 and then F2L 2: the corner and the edge swap roles across the slot's diagonal.

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

On the simulator, this swap turns each case's algorithm into a correct algorithm for its mirror case. Only F2L 31, 32 and 37 are their own mirror. So really you only need to understand 22 shapes.

Group 1: the four basic cases, F2L 1 to 4
Group 2: white sticker facing sideways, edge not touching the corner, F2L 5 to 10
Group 3: white sticker facing sideways, edge touching the corner, F2L 11 to 16
Group 4: white sticker facing up, F2L 17 to 24
Group 5: corner in the slot, F2L 25 to 30
Group 6: edge in the slot, F2L 31 to 36
Group 7: both in the slot, F2L 37 to 41
Summary table: all 41 algorithms with pictures, for a quick review

Group 1: the four basic cases

The corner is above the slot, white sticker facing sideways. In F2L 1 and 2, the corner and edge are already joined as a pair and just need inserting. In F2L 3 and 4, the two pieces are apart and meet right as they go in. Every other case comes back to these four.

F2L 1

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: above the slot, white sticker facing front.
Edge: right side of the top layer, green sticker facing up.

Algorithm U R U' R', mirror of F2L 2.

F2L 2

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: above the slot, white sticker facing right.
Edge: front of the top layer, orange sticker facing up.

Algorithm U' F' U F, mirror of F2L 1.

F2L 3

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: above the slot, white sticker facing front.
Edge: left side of the top layer, orange sticker facing up.

Algorithm F' U' F, mirror of F2L 4.

F2L 4

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: above the slot, white sticker facing right.
Edge: back of the top layer, green sticker facing up.

Algorithm R U R', mirror of F2L 3.

Group 2: white sticker facing sideways, edge not touching the corner

The corner is above the slot, white sticker facing front or right. The edge is at the back or on the left of the top layer, not touching the corner.

F2L 5

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: above the slot, white sticker facing front.
Edge: back of the top layer, green sticker facing up.

Algorithm U' R U R' U2 R U' R', mirror of F2L 6.

F2L 6

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: above the slot, white sticker facing right.
Edge: left side of the top layer, orange sticker facing up.

Algorithm U F' U' F U2 F' U F, mirror of F2L 5.

F2L 7

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: above the slot, white sticker facing front.
Edge: left side of the top layer, green sticker facing up.

Algorithm U' R U2 R' U2 R U' R', mirror of F2L 8.

F2L 8

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: above the slot, white sticker facing right.
Edge: back of the top layer, orange sticker facing up.

Algorithm U F' U2 F U2 F' U F, mirror of F2L 7.

F2L 9

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: above the slot, white sticker facing front.
Edge: back of the top layer, orange sticker facing up.

Algorithm U' R U' R' U F' U' F, mirror of F2L 10.

F2L 10

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: above the slot, white sticker facing right.
Edge: left side of the top layer, green sticker facing up.

Algorithm U' R U R' U R U R', mirror of F2L 9.

Group 3: white sticker facing sideways, edge touching the corner

The corner is still above the slot with its white sticker facing sideways, but the edge sits right next to it: at the front or on the right of the top layer. The two pieces touch but are not a correct pair yet.

F2L 11

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: above the slot, white sticker facing front.
Edge: right side of the top layer, orange sticker facing up.

Algorithm U' R U2 R' U F' U' F, mirror of F2L 12.

F2L 12

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: above the slot, white sticker facing right.
Edge: front of the top layer, green sticker facing up.

Algorithm R' U2 R2 U R2 U R, mirror of F2L 11.

F2L 13

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: above the slot, white sticker facing front.
Edge: front of the top layer, orange sticker facing up.

Algorithm U F' U F U' F' U' F, mirror of F2L 14.

F2L 14

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: above the slot, white sticker facing right.
Edge: right side of the top layer, green sticker facing up.

Algorithm U' R U' R' U R U R', mirror of F2L 13.

F2L 15

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: above the slot, white sticker facing front.
Edge: front of the top layer, green sticker facing up.

Algorithm F' U F U2 R U R', mirror of F2L 16.

F2L 16

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: above the slot, white sticker facing right.
Edge: right side of the top layer, orange sticker facing up.

Algorithm R U' R' U2 F' U' F, mirror of F2L 15.

Group 4: white sticker facing up

The corner is above the slot, white sticker facing straight up. You can't insert it right away: the algorithm has to turn the white sticker to the side before pairing up. In F2L 17, 18, 23 and 24, the edge touches the corner; in F2L 19 to 22, the edge is at the back or on the left.

F2L 17

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: above the slot, white sticker facing up.
Edge: right side of the top layer, green sticker facing up.

Algorithm R U2 R' U' R U R', mirror of F2L 18.

F2L 18

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: above the slot, white sticker facing up.
Edge: front of the top layer, orange sticker facing up.

Algorithm F' U2 F U F' U' F, mirror of F2L 17.

F2L 19

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: above the slot, white sticker facing up.
Edge: back of the top layer, green sticker facing up.

Algorithm U R U2 R' U R U' R', mirror of F2L 20.

F2L 20

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: above the slot, white sticker facing up.
Edge: left side of the top layer, orange sticker facing up.

Algorithm U' F' U2 F U' F' U F, mirror of F2L 19.

F2L 21

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: above the slot, white sticker facing up.
Edge: left side of the top layer, green sticker facing up.

Algorithm R U' R' U2 R U R', mirror of F2L 22.

F2L 22

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: above the slot, white sticker facing up.
Edge: back of the top layer, orange sticker facing up.

Algorithm U2 F' U' F U' F' U F, mirror of F2L 21.

F2L 23

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: above the slot, white sticker facing up.
Edge: front of the top layer, green sticker facing up.

Algorithm U2 R2 U2 R' U' R U' R2, mirror of F2L 24.

F2L 24

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: above the slot, white sticker facing up.
Edge: right side of the top layer, orange sticker facing up.

Algorithm F U R U' R' F' R U' R', mirror of F2L 23.

Group 5: corner in the slot

The corner is already in the front-right slot, and the edge is in the top layer. The corner can be the right way round (white sticker facing down) or twisted.

F2L 25

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: in the slot, white sticker facing down (right way round).
Edge: right side of the top layer, green sticker facing up.

Algorithm U' F' U F U R U' R', mirror of F2L 26.

F2L 26

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: in the slot, white sticker facing down (right way round).
Edge: front of the top layer, orange sticker facing up.

Algorithm U R U' R' U' F' U F, mirror of F2L 25.

F2L 27

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: in the slot, white sticker facing front.
Edge: right side of the top layer, green sticker facing up.

Algorithm R U' R' U R U' R', mirror of F2L 28.

F2L 28

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: in the slot, white sticker facing right.
Edge: front of the top layer, orange sticker facing up.

Algorithm F' U F U' F' U F, mirror of F2L 27.

F2L 29

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: in the slot, white sticker facing front.
Edge: front of the top layer, orange sticker facing up.

Algorithm F' U' F U F' U' F, mirror of F2L 30.

F2L 30

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: in the slot, white sticker facing right.
Edge: right side of the top layer, green sticker facing up.

Algorithm R U R' U' R U R', mirror of F2L 29.

Group 6: edge in the slot

The edge is already in the front-right slot, and the corner is above the slot. "Right way round" means the edge's green sticker is on the front face; "flipped" means the green sticker is on the right face.

F2L 31

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: above the slot, white sticker facing up.
Edge: in the slot, flipped (green sticker on the right face).

Algorithm F' U F R U2 R', its own mirror.

F2L 32

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: above the slot, white sticker facing up.
Edge: in the slot, right way round (green sticker on the front face).

Algorithm R U R' U' R U R' U' R U R', its own mirror.

F2L 33

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: above the slot, white sticker facing front.
Edge: in the slot, right way round (green sticker on the front face).

Algorithm U' R U' R' U2 R U' R', mirror of F2L 34.

F2L 34

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: above the slot, white sticker facing right.
Edge: in the slot, right way round (green sticker on the front face).

Algorithm U R U R' U2 R U R', mirror of F2L 33.

F2L 35

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: above the slot, white sticker facing front.
Edge: in the slot, flipped (green sticker on the right face).

Algorithm U' R U R' U F' U' F, mirror of F2L 36.

F2L 36

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: above the slot, white sticker facing right.
Edge: in the slot, flipped (green sticker on the right face).

Algorithm U F' U' F U' R U R', mirror of F2L 35.

Group 7: both in the slot

The corner and the edge are both in the front-right slot, but at least one of them is the wrong way round. You have to take both out and pair them up again, so four of the five algorithms in this group are 11 moves long.

F2L 37

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: in the slot, white sticker facing down (right way round).
Edge: in the slot, flipped (green sticker on the right face).

Algorithm R2 U2 F R2 F' U2 R' U R', its own mirror.

F2L 38

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: in the slot, white sticker facing front.
Edge: in the slot, right way round (green sticker on the front face).

Algorithm R U' R' U' R U R' U2 R U' R', mirror of F2L 39.

F2L 39

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: in the slot, white sticker facing right.
Edge: in the slot, right way round (green sticker on the front face).

Algorithm R U' R' U R U2 R' U R U' R', mirror of F2L 38.

F2L 40

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: in the slot, white sticker facing front.
Edge: in the slot, flipped (green sticker on the right face).

Algorithm R U' R' U' R U' R' U F' U' F, mirror of F2L 41.

F2L 41

You start with (input)
After the formula

Corner: in the slot, white sticker facing right.
Edge: in the slot, flipped (green sticker on the right face).

Algorithm R U R' U' R U' R' U2 F' U' F, mirror of F2L 40.

F2L algorithms summary table

All 41 algorithms in one place, for a quick review. Each line is the case number and its algorithm, with the picture of that case right below.

Group 1: basic

F2L 1: U R U' R'

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 2: U' F' U F

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 3: F' U' F

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 4: R U R'

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Group 2: white sideways, edge not touching the corner

F2L 5: U' R U R' U2 R U' R'

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 6: U F' U' F U2 F' U F

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 7: U' R U2 R' U2 R U' R'

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 8: U F' U2 F U2 F' U F

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 9: U' R U' R' U F' U' F

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 10: U' R U R' U R U R'

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Group 3: white sideways, edge touching the corner

F2L 11: U' R U2 R' U F' U' F

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 12: R' U2 R2 U R2 U R

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 13: U F' U F U' F' U' F

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 14: U' R U' R' U R U R'

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 15: F' U F U2 R U R'

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 16: R U' R' U2 F' U' F

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Group 4: white sticker facing up

F2L 17: R U2 R' U' R U R'

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 18: F' U2 F U F' U' F

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 19: U R U2 R' U R U' R'

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 20: U' F' U2 F U' F' U F

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 21: R U' R' U2 R U R'

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 22: U2 F' U' F U' F' U F

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 23: U2 R2 U2 R' U' R U' R2

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 24: F U R U' R' F' R U' R'

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

Group 5: corner in the slot

F2L 25: U' F' U F U R U' R'

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 26: U R U' R' U' F' U F

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 27: R U' R' U R U' R'

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 28: F' U F U' F' U F

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 29: F' U' F U F' U' F

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 30: R U R' U' R U R'

You start with (input)
After the formula

Group 6: edge in the slot

F2L 31: F' U F R U2 R'

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 32: R U R' U' R U R' U' R U R'

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 33: U' R U' R' U2 R U' R'

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 34: U R U R' U2 R U R'

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 35: U' R U R' U F' U' F

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 36: U F' U' F U' R U R'

You start with (input)
After the formula

Group 7: both in the slot

F2L 37: R2 U2 F R2 F' U2 R' U R'

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 38: R U' R' U' R U R' U2 R U' R'

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 39: R U' R' U R U2 R' U R U' R'

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 40: R U' R' U' R U' R' U F' U' F

You start with (input)
After the formula

F2L 41: R U R' U' R U' R' U2 F' U' F

You start with (input)
After the formula

In what order should you tackle the F2L algorithms?

This is the order we suggest if you can already solve F2L intuitively:

Group 1. You already know these four cases. Make them really smooth.
Group 4 (white sticker facing up). You can't insert right away, so an algorithm you already know saves you thinking time.
Groups 5, 6 and 7 (a piece stuck in the slot). You have to get the piece out of the slot first, which can easily make you pause.
Groups 2 and 3. You can usually solve these by intuition already; just swap in the shorter algorithms bit by bit.

Take on just two mirror cases at a time. The algorithms in this post are 3 to 11 moves long. For comparison, the SpeedSolving Wiki says an F2L slot takes about 6.7 moves on average (SpeedSolving Wiki).

How to practise each case

Set up the case yourself. From a solved cube (white face on the bottom), do the algorithm backwards: read it from the end to the start and reverse each move. For example, do R U' R' to set up F2L 4. Then solve it again with the algorithm.
Say the group name before you start. Answer the three questions out loud, then start turning.
Go slowly but don't stop. J Perm advises practising until the steps feel natural, and only then thinking about looking ahead (J Perm).
Time yourself. Once you know a group well, solve the whole cube with the 3x3 timer and see whether your average drops.

The picture below is the example from step 1: on the left is F2L 4 that you just set up with R U' R', on the right is the result after solving it again with R U R'.

See it in 3D, before and after

You start with (input)
After the formula

What's next

Once you have the hang of the groups, the next post in the CFOP series covers advanced F2L tips: choosing a slot, using an empty slot and looking ahead. After F2L come OLL and PLL; the overall route is in What is CFOP.

With the EasyRubic app, you can scan your real cube with the camera and see the solution step by step on a 3D cube. Get EasyRubic to practise your own F2L pairs.

Video

Prefer to see it in motion? The short video below from the Đạt Trần channel on YouTube shows more of what this post covers (in Vietnamese). The video belongs to that channel and is embedded straight from YouTube.

[Rubik 3x3 nâng cao] 16. Cải thiện công thức 41 trường hợp F2L cơ bản (10/41) (Phần 1)Video · Đạt Trần · YouTube

Sources

Frequently asked questions

How many F2L cases are there?

One F2L slot has 41 cases, not counting the one that is already solved. The SpeedSolving Wiki, SpeedCubeDB and SpeedCube.com.au all use this number.

Do you need to memorise all 41 F2L algorithms?

No, you don't have to. The SpeedSolving Wiki recommends solving F2L intuitively and only using algorithms for the cases where your own way is slow.

How can I remember so many F2L algorithms?

Go by mirror pairs: swap R for F', F for R' and U for U' (and the other way round) and you have the algorithm for the mirror case. That way, 41 cases come down to just 22 shapes to understand.

What if the slot isn't at the front right?

Turn the whole cube so that slot is at the front right, then use the algorithm as normal, swapping green and orange for that slot's two colours.

Why do the algorithms in this post use F moves?

Some of the original algorithms turn the whole cube (y'). This post rewrites the same moves with the F face so you don't have to turn the cube; the simulator confirms both ways give the same result.

EasyRubic Editorial

Friendly notes for anyone who wants to solve their first Rubik’s Cube.

Ready for your first turn?

Go from reading notation to each step of a solved cube.

Start with step 0

Learn the 3x3 step by step · 3x3 online timer

Find your case fast

Do you need to memorise all 41 F2L algorithms?

How to hold the cube and read the pictures

Three questions to spot the case

Mirror trick: get one, know two

Contents

Group 1: the four basic cases

F2L 1

F2L 2

F2L 3

F2L 4

Group 2: white sticker facing sideways, edge not touching the corner

F2L 5

F2L 6

F2L 7

F2L 8

F2L 9

F2L 10

Group 3: white sticker facing sideways, edge touching the corner

F2L 11

F2L 12

F2L 13

F2L 14

F2L 15

F2L 16

Group 4: white sticker facing up

F2L 17

F2L 18

F2L 19

F2L 20

F2L 21

F2L 22

F2L 23

F2L 24

Group 5: corner in the slot

F2L 25

F2L 26

F2L 27

F2L 28

F2L 29

F2L 30

Group 6: edge in the slot

F2L 31

F2L 32

F2L 33

F2L 34

F2L 35

F2L 36

Group 7: both in the slot

F2L 37

F2L 38

F2L 39

F2L 40

F2L 41

F2L algorithms summary table

Group 1: basic

Group 2: white sideways, edge not touching the corner

Group 3: white sideways, edge touching the corner

Group 4: white sticker facing up

Group 5: corner in the slot

Group 6: edge in the slot

Group 7: both in the slot

In what order should you tackle the F2L algorithms?

How to practise each case

What's next

Video

Sources

Frequently asked questions

EasyRubic Editorial

Ready for your first turn?

Another angle.

Giải vô địch thế giới Rubik: lịch sử, nhà vô địch và 2027

AUF Rubik là gì? Xoay U đúng trước và sau công thức

Xoay cả khối Rubik: ký hiệu x, y, z cho người mới