The CFOP method (Cross – F2L – OLL – PLL), also known as the Fridrich method, is one of the most commonly used methods in speedsolving a 3×3×3 Rubik's Cube. This method was first developed in the early 1980s combining innovations by a number of speed cubers. Czech speedcuber and the namesake of the method Jessica Fridrich is generally credited for popularizing it by publishing it online in 1997. The method works on a layer-by-layer system, first solving a cross typically on the bottom, continuing to solve the first two layers (F2L), orienting the last layer (OLL), and finally permuting the last layer (PLL). There are 78 algorithms in total to learn for OLL and PLL but there are other algorithm sets like ZBLL and COLL that can be learned as an extension to CFOP to improve solving efficiency. History Basic layer-by-layer methods were among the first to arise during the early 1980s craze, such as James Nourse's The Simple Solution to Rubik's Cube which proposed the use of a cross, and worked its way down. David Singmaster published a faster layer-based solution in 1980. The major innovation of CFOP over the simpler LBL methods is its use of F2L, which solves the first two layers simultaneously by solving top-corners and vertical edges together after the Cross is established. According to Singmaster's report on the 1982 World Rubik's Cube Championship, this step was not invented by Jessica Fridrich, who was then using a basic layer method. Another difference between the CFOP method over Nourse's simple solution is that it orients the Last Layer fist, and then positions the pieces. In the simple solution, the pieces are positioned first, and then oriented. The last layer steps OLL (orient last layer) and PLL (position last layer) involve first orienting the last layer pieces, then permuting them into their correct positions. This innovation was proposed by Hans Dockhorn and Anneke Treep. Fridrich switched to F2L later in 1982. Her main contribution to the method was developing the OLL and PLL algorithms, which together allowed any last layer position to be solved with two algorithms and was significantly faster than the previous last layer systems. CFOP, with small tweaks, is by far the most popular method that top cubers use. Users include Mats Valk, Feliks Zemdegs, Tymon Kolasiński and Max Park. Method Cross This first stage involves solving the four edge pieces around one