Once you've solved the cross, you will want to solve the First 2 Layers. The strategy here is to solve a bottom layer corner simultaneously with the middle layer piece which it should connect to.

In the VH System, you only solve 3 of the 4 First 2 Layer Pairs, in the standard way. The algorithms listed on this page will allow you to solve any of the 42 standard F2L cases. Once you have solved 3 pairs, go to the next section to see how you should solve the final pair.

It is very important that you don't just learn these algorithms as a sequence of moves, but that you really understand what is happening to the pieces. Most algorithms are just a simple "pair-up" and insert, once you have looked at a few cases you will understand what I mean. But to become really fast at F2L, learning these algorithms is not enough. You need to be able to solve pairs from all angles, and I explain this in my advanced tricks section at the bottom of the page. To use these algorithms, you must first have the cube so that the corner piece is in the UFR position. Then the algorithms will work correctly.

The notation used in the algorithms is explained here, if you are unfamiliar with the notation I strongly advise you to open this page so you can follow the algorithms more easily.

If you have any questions or problems with either these algorithms or the F2L in general, please feel free to email me @ danh@cubestation.co.uk

Thanks to Josef Jelinek for the applet from which the diagrams are taken and Werner Randelshofer for the animated cubes.