Intermediate

Intermediate Method

The intermediate method isn't really a set method of doing the cube - it's more of a stepping stone on the way to learning the full advanced method.

In this method, the last layer is done differently. The beginner method for the last layer is easier to learn as there are fewer algorithms, but it is slow. If you want to start cutting down your time, then you need to start learning the advanced method, CFOP (more detail on the advanced page). However, there are a lot of algorithms to learn for full CFOP, so this intermediate method is about how to split up some of the stages so you need to learn fewer algorithms. This is actually called 2-look OLL and 2-look PLL, if you want to get technical about it.

This method starts in exactly the same way as the beginner method - cross, corners, and second layer. Then you go on to:

Step 1 - 2-look OLL

This step aims to complete the last face, regardless of the position of the cubies, like this:
Magic Cube
Perhaps unsurprisingly, we're going to do this in two steps (hence the '2-look').

Step the first: get a cross on the top face. You should already know how to do this, but you can remind yourself here.

At this point, we can be a little clever if we find ourselves presented with this:

R U2 R2' F R F' U2' R' F R F'

Instead of the beginner method of using both F U R U' R' F' and F R U R' U' F' and having to spin the cube about in the middle, this algorithm flips all the edges in one go and saves us a little time and effort. There are loads of algorithms to do this, but I like this one best. Alternatively, you could just stick to the beginner way, but this algorithm will come back when you learn proper OLL and you'll feel all smug when you already know it.

Step the second: orient the corner cubies.

Much like the beginner method, the rest of the last layer isn't an intuitive thing you can just work out (if you can, go work for NASA or something). Unfortunately, this means you have to just learn which algorithms correspond to which case. Fortunately, there are only seven of them and they're all in this handy-dandy table:

	R' U2 R U R' U R		L' U R U' L U R'
	L U' R' U L' U R U R' U R		R U R' U R U' R' U R U2 R'
	R' F' L F R F' L' F		R' F' L' F R F' L F
	R' F' L' F R F' L F

Step 2 - 2-look PLL

This step aims to orient the corners in their correct positions, like this:
Magic Cube
Continuing the 2-look theme, we're going to do this in two steps. First, the corners. To do this, you need to find two corners that have opposite colours, like this:

where the indicated sides of the corners are the same colour. Occasionally, all of the opposite sides will be the same colour. In this case, it does not matter which way you hold the cube when performing the algorithm. When doing the algorithm, you hold the cube so the opposite colours are in the same place as indicated in the above picture.

The algorithm is: x R2 D2 R U R' D2 R U' R (where x means to rotate the cube away from you, i.e. the yellow face is the back face.)
If all of the opposite sides were the same colour before, you will have to repeat this process, as now there is only one opposite pair.

Now, the corners.

This step aims to orientate the edges of the cross, resulting in a complete cube, like such:
Magic Cube
You will either have one or no correct edges to being with. If you have one, hold the correct one away from you, but if you have none it does not matter which way you hold it.
There are two algorithms to use, but they are very similar:

	F2 U L R' F2 L' R U F2
	F2 U' L R' F2 L' R U' F2

Once this algorithm has been done, you have completed the Magic Cube!

Congratulations!

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