How to solve a 4×4 with the Yau method
Build the cross before finishing edge pairing, then use 3–2–3 pairing to reduce rotations, improve lookahead and flow directly into F2L.
What is the Yau method?
Yau is an advanced 4×4 reduction method developed by British speedcuber Robert Yau. Instead of solving every centre and then pairing all twelve edges, it completes most of the cross much earlier.
With the cross secured on the bottom before the final eight edges, the D layer remains out of the working area. This makes 3–2–3 edge pairing possible, reduces cube rotations and makes the next unsolved wing easier to track.
Solve two opposite centres
Begin exactly as in the beginner method: solve one 2×2 centre, followed by its opposite centre. Most solvers use white and yellow, although colour-neutral solvers can choose any opposite pair.
Solve three cross edges
Choose three of the four edges belonging to your cross colour. Pair each edge and insert it beside the white centre, which is normally held on the left or right during this stage.
Leave one cross edge unsolved. The open position gives you freedom to make the U and U' moves required while completing the remaining centres.
Checkpoint
You should now have two opposite centres and three completed cross edges. Keep those edges attached to the cross centre while solving the other four centres.
Solve the remaining four centres
Use the same 1×2 bar-building techniques as the beginner method, but preserve the three cross edges. Place the open cross slot where you need freedom to turn the upper layer.
Pair and insert the final cross edge
In this example, the two white–blue wings need to be paired and inserted into the front cross slot.
- Move the matching wing across with Uw'.
- Take the edge out with L' U L.
- Restore the centres with Uw.
- Insert the completed cross edge with U R' F R F'.
Uw' L' U L Uw U R' F R F'Show move-by-move notation images
Pair the remaining eight edges with 3–2–3
Keep the completed cross on the bottom. The eight remaining edges can now be paired in three groups: first three edges, then two, then the final three.
First three edges
Begin with Uw'. Look at the lower sticker of the front-left wing, find its matching wing and insert that partner into the front-right working slot. Rotate the cube left with y', then repeat for the new front-left edge. Do this three times before restoring the slice with Uw.
Edge 1: white–blue
The working slice is open. Insert the matching white–blue wing into the front-right slot:
U' R U R'Rotate the entire cube left so the next front-left edge becomes the working edge.
Edge 2: green–orange
After the first rotation, insert the green–orange partner:
R U' R'Rotate left again to bring the third unsolved edge to front-left.
Edge 3 and restore
Insert the final matching wing, then restore the original slice:
U' R U R' UwShow notation images
The first group of three edges is now paired.
Next two edges
Slice with Uw', insert the partner for the other working edge with R U' R', then restore with Uw. One edge is completed by the insertion and another when the slice returns.
Uw' R U' R' UwFinal three edges
If no extra edge was solved accidentally, the last three edges form a cycle. Finish them using the same final-edge cycling and slice–flip–slice techniques from the beginner method. The exact moves depend on which wings are already opposite their partners.
Finish with the 3×3 stage
All six centres and twelve paired edges are now complete. Unlike ordinary reduction, the cross is already solved, so rotate into your normal 3×3 orientation and begin directly with F2L.
OLL and PLL parity remain possible. Recognise and solve them exactly as in the beginner reduction method.