After the centers are solved, the three triples of the first two layers are formed and inserted using strategies similar to CFOP F2L. A triple consists of a corner and two triangle centers. Many of the CFOP advanced techniques can also be incorporated, such as pseudo slotting or corner control to orient the last layer corners (the equivalent of CFOP edge control). Below is a guide for solving triples. Much more can be done, especially during the first or second triple when there is freedom due to one or two triples remaining unsolved. A very useful aspect of this step is that there are three possible triangle centers to choose from when attaching a triangle center to a corner.
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First Triangle
First Triangle
Before starting, try using any combination of F' U F, F' U' F, BR U BR', and BR U' BR'. Notice that it works just like the last slot on 3x3. Each of them move around the bottom triple and three U layer triples. The big U layer center stays in place. These simple motions are used to solve the bottom triple.
Start by finding the corner that belongs on the bottom layer. Check where its right layer color sticker is located. Then locate a triangle that is of the right layer color. You want the triangle to be in the position where a single R or R' turn will correctly pair the corner with the triangle. Once the corner and triangle are in their positions to be paired, use the following process to solve the two pieces:
Turn the R layer to pair the corner with the triangle. In the image, R' was used.
Move the pair to the correct side of the group of three B center pieces that are now on the U layer. Use simple separation moves to move the pair - F' U F, F' U' F, BR U BR', or BR U' BR'. In the below applet, F' U F is used.
Move the pair and center group over to the R layer and solve. The bottom layer triangle will be solved next.
If the DR corner is already paired with a triangle before starting, solve the pair correctly in the F2L using one of the separation moves.
If a right side triangle isn't in pairing position at the start of the step, position a triangle using F' U F, F' U' F, BR U BR', or BR U' BR'. To keep the corner on the upper layer and in its current orientation, if the corner is at the upper front, use F' U F, F' U' F, BR U BR' U', or U BR U' BR'. If the corner is at the upper back right, use U' F' U F, F' U' F U, BR U BR', or BR U' BR'.
Second Triangle
Second Triangle
To solve the bottom layer triangle, use the following process:
Locate the bottom layer triangle that is currently on the upper layer.
Turn the right side layer to move the solved first two layer pieces out of the way.
Use the same moves as before to place the bottom layer triangle. These moves are F' U F, F' U' F, BR U BR', or BR U' BR'.
Reposition and solve the right side pieces.
All six possibilities are provided below. These shouldn't be memorized and you only need to understand two of them, for example the first two, because for the others you can turn the upper layer to create one of those two. However, it is useful to know how to solve each.
Simultaneous Triangle Solving
Simultaneous Triangle Solving
Solving the two triangles can be a merged process. Solving the bottom layer triangle always starts with an R or R' move in the basic version described above. This provides the opportunity to solve the bottom layer triangle just before the end of the right side layer triangle solving step.
In the example applet below, the corner is attached to the right side triangle, then grouped with the BR layer center pieces. Instead of aligning this group of pieces to the right side layer and solving, the bottom layer triangle is solved first.
Corner Control
Corner Control
It may be advantageous to orient the last layer corners during the final triple of the F2L. The last triple is a lot of cases when solved as a single step, making a corner orientation ZBLS equivalent become many cases. However, corner control with alternate inserts or endings when solving the final triple can ensure that the last layer corners are oriented and reduce the last layer to PLL.
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