Beginner CFOP
Introduction:
When moving from the beginner method to CFOP, I found it overwhelming to learn all the new 2-Look OLL and PLL algorithms.
I discovered that it is possible to reduce the number of 2-Look OLL and PLL algorithms you need to use in order to solve the cube whilst still using the CFOP method. This basically turns it into a 3-Look OLL and PLL method.
If you don’t already have a semi-decent speed cube, something like the MoYu RS3M 20201 as pictured above, will make cubing so much more enjoyable.
Simplified 3-Look OLL
From the table below, you can see that it is possible to use the “Sune” algorithm in a number of additional cases. These cases require two or three simple algorithms instead of one arguably more complex algorithm to solve this stage of the cube.
Whilst this may take longer, I found this much easier to learn fewer algorithms. Rather than 10 algorithms, we only need 5. “Sune”, “Antisune” and “H” are basically the same algorithm.
Note that patterns “Pi” and “U” are rotated compared to those in JPerm’s table.
The original table can be found on JPerm’s site: Algorithms: 2-Look OLL.
| Name | Case | Algorithm | Group |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-Shape |  | F R U R’ U’ F' | 1: Edges |
| L-Shape |  | f R U R’ U’ f' | 1: Edges |
| Dot-Shape |  | “I-Shape” “L-Shape” | 1: Edges |
| Antisune |  | R U2 R’ U’ R U’ R' | 2: Corners |
| Sune |  | R U R’ U R U2 R' | 2: Corners |
| L |  | “Sune” U2 “Antisune” | 2: Corners |
| T |  | “Sune” U’ “Antisune” | 2: Corners |
| Pi |  | “Sune” U “Sune” | 2: Corners |
| U |  | “Sune” U “Antisune” | 2: Corners |
| H |  | (This is basically Sune, but with extra moves in the middle) R U R’ U R U’ R’ U R U2 R' | 2: Corners |
Simplified 3-Look PLL
Similar to the simplified 3-Look OLL, we can reduce the number of algorithms necessary to learn for 3-Look PLL.
Here we need to learn 4 algorithms instead of 6.
The original table can be found on JPerm’s site: Algorithms: 2-Look PLL.
| Name | Case | Algorithm | Group |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLL (H) |  | M2 U M2 U2 M2 U M2 | 2: Edges |
| PLL (Z) |  | “Repeat Headlights” turning cube as necessary until complete | 2: Edges |
| PLL (Ua) |  | R U’ R U R U R U’ R’ U’ R2 | 2: Edges |
| PLL (Ub) |  | (Perform “Ua” x2 or mirror “Ua” with following algo) L U L U’ L U’ L’ U L’ U L2 | 2: Edges |
| Headlights |  | (Complex but need to learn) R U R’ U’ R’ F R2 U’ R’ U’ R U R’ F' | 1: Corners |
| Diagonal |  | (“Repeat Headlights” turning cube as necessary until complete) | 1: Corners |
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