4x4 Yau Method

Standard Reduction is fine for beginners. But if you want to be fast, you need Yau. Named after Robert Yau, this method solves the “Cross” earlier to improve lookahead.

The Steps

1. First Two Centers

Solve the White and Yellow centers (Opposites).

• Just like Reduction.

2. First 3 Cross Edges

This is the key difference. Before solving the other 4 centers, you solve 3 of the White Cross edges.

• Place them in their spots relative to the White center.
• Why? Now you have a frame of reference for the rest of the solve.

3. Last 4 Centers

Solve the remaining centers (Blue, Red, Green, Orange).

• Benefit: You don’t need to look at the bottom (White) or top (Yellow). You can turn the outer layers freely (u moves) without breaking your cross edges.

4. Last Cross Edge

Solve the final White Cross edge and put it in place.

• Now your Cross is done!

5. Edge Pairing (3-2-3 Pairing)

Use slice moves (Uw) to pair up the remaining edges.

• Since the Cross is done, you don’t look at the bottom.
• You only care about the top and middle layers.

6. 3x3 Stage

Solve as a 3x3.

• Benefit: You enter 3x3 stage with the Cross already solved. You go straight to F2L.

Why Yau?

• Lookahead: In Reduction, finding edges is chaos. In Yau, you narrow the search field.
• Rotationless: You barely rotate the cube during the center/edge stage.
• Cross Transition: You hit the 3x3 stage running.