Solving Methods Overview

Many human-executable solving methods exist for the 3x3x3 Rubik’s Cube. Four dominate modern speedcubing practice, each starting from a different first step and optimizing for different trade-offs between algorithm count, move count, and hand ergonomics.

LBL is the standard first method for any new solver: the cube is solved one layer at a time with a small number of algorithms, typically producing times in the 60-90 second range once smooth. CFOP replaces LBL’s separate corner and edge phases with a unified first-two-layers phase and compresses the last layer into two algorithm lookups. Roux replaces face-based thinking with block-building and leans on M-slice moves for the last step. ZZ front-loads edge orientation into its first phase (EOLine) so that the rest of the solve never needs F or B moves, keeping the hands in one ergonomic pattern. Two historically notable methods round out the picture: Petrus (Lars Petrus, 1981), which builds 2x2x2 and then 2x2x3 blocks and is a precursor to ZZ, and Heise, an elegant mostly intuitive method rarely used under time pressure. CFOP dominates because it has the deepest algorithm database, the most tutorials, and the strongest world record history, and the rest of this article focuses on it.