CFOP DISCUSSION

        CFOP, sometimes called the Fredrich Method, is one of the main speedcubing methods along with Roux and ZZ (for the 3x3 Rubiks Cube), and is widley considered the best method for speedcubing due to its consistently high results in competitive settings. CFOP's credited creator is Jessica Fridrich, who devleoped CFOP in the early 1980s, though it was created along with (and often credited to) many others such as David Singmaster. (More linked below.)

        CFOP stands for the steps used to solve the cube in this method.

C- Cross

F- F2L (First 2 Layers)

O- OLL (Orientation of the last Layer)

P- PLL (Permutaion of the last layer.)

      

         OLL and PLL are sets of algorithms to solve a certian step of the cube, and are the main algorithms that people learn. However, there are subsets of algorithms that have been developed such as ZBLLs (Zborowski-Bruchem Last Layer), Winter Variation, Summer Variation, and simply just alternate algorithms for the regular OLL and PLLs. F2L, though it has 42 intuituve cases, can also be met with algorithms and subsets such as JSS (Jay Second Slot), or VLS (Valk Last Slot.) F2L also has tricks and different ways of doing things such as solving cases from different angles, keyhole and pseudo slotting. PLL, of course, also has its alternate algorithms.

        The cross (often on the white side) is formed by inserting 4 edges into their corresponding centers to match the colors. In its simplest form, F2L is inserting the corners and edges into those slots formed by the cross to form a 2x3x3 blocks and or diagonal blocks. OLL is, as I have described it by teaching prople on my own,  is just solving the top facing side (often yellow) and ignoring the sides. PLL is the solving of those last sides I described before.

        Enough about the method though; lets talk about its uses. CFOP has been used in almost all 3x3 world records ever set, including the current record single by Max Park (3.13 seconds.) CFOP is also considered the best method for 3x3 stage on big cubes such as 4x4, 5x5, 6x6, etc. In most big cubes, methods such as Yau, Reduction, and Hoya are used, but because of the increased amount of layers CFOP is considered one of the best methods to use during 3x3 stage because it has a lack of M moves minus some OLLs, Plls, and some cross solutions (all M moves can be avoided with choice algorithms). In methods such Roux, there are much more M moves to do and having to flick all the layers in the middle can be quite annoying and is typically ergonomically worse. This is not to say it is the worst though, with a properly set up cube, Roux is a viable option. I will not be talking about the uses of ZZ on this part as I am not entirely informed on or qualified enough to speak on the subject.

        I said in the beginning that CFOP, Roux, and ZZ are the main speedcubing methods. This is true, however CFOP and Roux are the more widely used ones. Both methods are quite good. Let us take the competition Worlds 2019 podiums for example. Sean Patrick Villanueva managed to podium at Worlds 2019, using the Roux method and got the first sub- 6 second average set by using Roux (as well as a recent rise in the use of Roux for one handed solving, giving that the M moves combined with using the table as a support on the cube allow for fast solves). CFOP had of course has a sub- 6 average before this, but a great accomplishment to get especially at worlds officially. CFOP users took the other spots at the podium however, but that is not to say Roux is inherently bad because obviously it took a place in the podiums along with CFOP.

        So that just about wraps up todays discussion. I know it strayed a bit from what it was meant to be, but that is how it goes. Hope you enjoyed this short discussion about the  CFOP method, and I will see you later.

Places where I got some of this info:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speedcubing

https://www.speedsolving.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page