Already comfortable solving a 3×3? Start with recognition, not a long formula list. CFOP means Cross, First Two Layers (F2L), Orient Last Layer (OLL), then Permute Last Layer (PLL). This page teaches five cases, not the complete 57-case OLL or 21-case PLL set.
A practical route from the beginner method
- Keep your existing cross. Practise finding its next edge before turning.
- Learn to pair a corner with its matching middle edge for F2L. The beginner middle-layer guide is a useful bridge, but inserting a lone edge is not full F2L.
- Learn Sune and Anti-Sune for the two matching corner-orientation cases below. Other OLL cases still need another formula or your beginner method.
- Learn T perm for its exact corner-swap pattern, then Ua and Ub for three-edge cycles. H, Z, diagonal corner swaps and other PLL cases are not covered here.
Finish the first two layers before these formulas. Hold white down, yellow up and the same front throughout a sequence. In our examples green faces you and orange is on the right. R still means right, not red. Turn U to align a case before starting; do not rotate the whole cube halfway through.
Read the top-view diagram like a map: F is the edge closest to you, B is the far edge. The narrow strips show the stickers on the sides of the top layer. Match the yellow pattern for OLL; for PLL, match which stickers have the same color and where they belong. Colors may be different on your cube.
Sune
One yellow corner faces up at front-left. Match the yellow side stickers too; the mirror case uses Anti-Sune.
R U R' U R U2 R'Make the yellow face. Keep the completed lower two layers.
Anti-Sune
One yellow corner faces up at back-right. Check the side stickers to distinguish it from Sune.
R U2 R' U' R U' R'Make the yellow face. Keep the completed lower two layers.
T perm
The two corners on the right need swapping. The diagram also shows the paired edge swap. Use only this pattern after the top face is oriented.
R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U' R U R' F'Put the last-layer corners in place. Edges can still need another formula.
Ua perm
Corners are already correct. Keep the complete top row at the back. This formula sends the front edge to the right, right to left, and left to front.
R U' R U R U R U' R' U' R2Cycle the three top edges. Keep all corners and the lower layers.
Ub perm
Corners are already correct; the complete top row stays at the back. The edge cycle is the reverse of Ua: front to left, left to right, right to front.
R2 U R U R' U' R' U' R' U R'Cycle the three top edges. Keep all corners and the lower layers.
Study the starting diagram, open the animation and pause halfway. The lower two layers may move during a formula; they return when the entire sequence is finished. “After” is a preview checkpoint, not a turn to perform on your real cube. Reset view only changes the camera.
Does your top layer look different? Do not repeat a formula at random. Check that the lower two layers are solved, then try U, U′ or U2 to compare orientations. If no case matches, use the corresponding last-layer stage in the beginner guide or enter your cube in the solver.