A method for performing a surface code error detection cycle, the method comprising: initializing multiple measurement qubits from a quantum computing system comprising a plurality of data qubits (118, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 352, 354, 356, 358, 360, 1104) and a plurality of measurement qubits (116, 1106) arranged as a two-dimensional grid, wherein each data qubit of the plurality of data qubits within the grid is coupled to neighboring measurement qubits through respective qubit couplers; applying Hadamard quantum logic gates to the initialized measurement qubits; performing multiple entangling controlled-Z quantum logic gate operations on a first set of paired measurement and data qubits, wherein each pair in the first set of paired measurement and data qubits comprises one of the measurement qubits and a first neighboring data qubit, wherein the one of the measurement qubits is coupled to the first neighboring data qubit in a first direction; performing multiple entangling controlled-X quantum logic gate operations on a second set of paired measurement and data qubits, wherein each pair in the second set of paired measurement and data qubits comprises one of the measurement qubits and a second neighboring data qubit, wherein the one of the measurement qubits is coupled to the second neighboring data qubit in a second direction, performing multiple entangling controlled-X quantum logic gate operations on a third set of paired measurement and data qubits, wherein each pair in the third set of paired measurement and data qubits comprises one of the measurement qubits and a third neighboring data qubit, wherein the one of the measurement qubits is coupled to the third neighboring data qubit in a third direction, and wherein the second and third direction being perpendicular to the first direction, the second direction being opposite to the third direction; performing multiple entangling controlled-Z quantum logic gate operations on a fourth set of paired measurement and data qubits, wherein each pair in the fourth set of paired measurement and data qubits comprises one of the measurement qubits and a fourth neighboring data qubit, wherein the one of the measurement qubits is coupled to the fourth neighboring data qubit in a fourth direction, the fourth direction being opposite to the first direction, wherein for each of the initialized measurement qubits, the controlled-Z, controlled-X, controlled-X and controlled-Z operations are performed, in that order, on the measurement qubit and a respective data qubit in the first, second, third and fourth direction; applying Hadamard quantum logic gates to the multiple measurement qubits; and measuring the multiple measurement qubits to detect errors. initializing multiple measurement qubits from a quantum computing system comprising a plurality of data qubits (118, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 352, 354, 356, 358, 360, 1104) and a plurality of measurement qubits (116, 1106) arranged as a two-dimensional grid, wherein each data qubit of the plurality of data qubits within the grid is coupled to neighboring measurement qubits through respective qubit couplers; applying Hadamard quantum logic gates to the initialized measurement qubits; performing multiple entangling controlled-Z quantum logic gate operations on a first set of paired measurement and data qubits, wherein each pair in the first set of paired measurement and data qubits comprises one of the measurement qubits and a first neighboring data qubit, wherein the one of the measurement qubits is coupled to the first neighboring data qubit in a first direction; performing multiple entangling controlled-X quantum logic gate operations on a second set of paired measurement and data qubits, wherein each pair in the second set of paired measurement and data qubits comprises one of the measurement qubits and a second neighboring data qubit, wherein the one of the measurement qubits is coupled to the second neighboring data qubit in a second direction, performing multiple entangling controlled-X quantum logic gate operations on a third set of paired measurement and data qubits, wherein each pair in the third set of paired measurement and data qubits comprises one of the measurement qubits and a third neighboring data qubit, wherein the one of the measurement qubits is coupled to the third neighboring data qubit in a third direction, and wherein the second and third direction being perpendicular to the first direction, the second direction being opposite to the third direction; performing multiple entangling controlled-Z quantum logic gate operations on a fourth set of paired measurement and data qubits, wherein each pair in the fourth set of paired measurement and data qubits comprises one of the measurement qubits and a fourth neighboring data qubit, wherein the one of the measurement qubits is coupled to the fourth neighboring data qubit in a fourth direction, the fourth direction being opposite to the first direction, wherein for each of the initialized measurement qubits, the controlled-Z, controlled-X, controlled-X and controlled-Z operations are performed, in that order, on the measurement qubit and a respective data qubit in the first, second, third and fourth direction; applying Hadamard quantum logic gates to the multiple measurement qubits; and measuring the multiple measurement qubits to detect errors.