diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 78232006..14d32bdd 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -33,6 +33,29 @@ export const minimatch = (
 
 export default minimatch
 
+// Optimized checking for the most common glob patterns.
+const starDotExtRE = /^\*+(\.[^!?\*\[\(]*)$/
+const starDotExtTest = (ext: string) => (f: string) =>
+  !f.startsWith('.') && f.endsWith(ext)
+const starDotExtTestDot = (ext: string) => (f: string) => f.endsWith(ext)
+const starDotExtTestNocase = (ext: string) => {
+  ext = ext.toLowerCase()
+  return (f: string) => !f.startsWith('.') && f.toLowerCase().endsWith(ext)
+}
+const starDotExtTestNocaseDot = (ext: string) => {
+  ext = ext.toLowerCase()
+  return (f: string) => f.toLowerCase().endsWith(ext)
+}
+const starDotStarRE = /^\*+\.\*+$/
+const starDotStarTest = (f: string) => !f.startsWith('.') && f.includes('.')
+const starDotStarTestDot = (f: string) =>
+  f !== '.' && f !== '..' && f.includes('.')
+const dotStarRE = /^\.\*+$/
+const dotStarTest = (f: string) => f !== '.' && f !== '..' && f.startsWith('.')
+const starRE = /^\*+$/
+const starTest = (f: string) => f.length !== 0 && !f.startsWith('.')
+const starTestDot = (f: string) => f.length !== 0 && f !== '.' && f !== '..'
+
 /* c8 ignore start */
 const platform =
   typeof process === 'object' && process
@@ -228,10 +251,11 @@ interface NegativePatternListEntry extends PatternListEntry {
   reEnd: number
 }
 
-type MMRegExp = RegExp & {
+export type MMRegExp = RegExp & {
   _src?: string
   _glob?: string
 }
+
 type SubparseReturn = [string, boolean]
 type ParseReturnFiltered = string | MMRegExp | typeof GLOBSTAR
 type ParseReturn = ParseReturnFiltered | false
@@ -316,16 +340,41 @@ export class Minimatch {
     const rawGlobParts = this.globSet.map(s => this.slashSplit(s))
 
     // consecutive globstars are an unncessary perf killer
-    this.globParts = this.options.noglobstar
-      ? rawGlobParts
-      : rawGlobParts.map(parts =>
-          parts.reduce((set: string[], part) => {
-            if (part !== '**' || set[set.length - 1] !== '**') {
-              set.push(part)
+    // also, **/*/... is equivalent to */**/..., so swap all of those
+    // this turns a pattern like **/*/**/*/x into */*/**/x
+    // and a pattern like **/x/**/*/y becomes **/x/*/**/y
+    // the *later* we can push the **, the more efficient it is,
+    // because we can avoid having to do a recursive walk until
+    // the walked tree is as shallow as possible.
+    // Note that this is only true up to the last pattern, though, because
+    // a/*/** will only match a/b if b is a dir, but a/**/* will match a/b
+    // regardless, since it's "0 or more path segments" if it's not final.
+    if (this.options.noglobstar) {
+      // ** is * anyway
+      this.globParts = rawGlobParts
+    } else {
+      for (const parts of rawGlobParts) {
+        let swapped: boolean
+        do {
+          swapped = false
+          for (let i = 0; i < parts.length - 1; i++) {
+            if (parts[i] === '*' && parts[i - 1] === '**') {
+              parts[i] = '**'
+              parts[i - 1] = '*'
+              swapped = true
             }
-            return set
-          }, [])
-        )
+          }
+        } while (swapped)
+      }
+      this.globParts = rawGlobParts.map(parts =>
+        parts.reduce((set: string[], part) => {
+          if (part !== '**' || set[set.length - 1] !== '**') {
+            set.push(part)
+          }
+          return set
+        }, [])
+      )
+    }
 
     this.debug(this.pattern, this.globParts)
 
@@ -601,6 +650,30 @@ export class Minimatch {
     }
     if (pattern === '') return ''
 
+    // far and away, the most common glob pattern parts are
+    // *, *.*, and *.<ext>  Add a fast check method for those.
+    let m: RegExpMatchArray | null
+    let fastTest: null | ((f: string) => boolean) = null
+    if (isSub !== SUBPARSE) {
+      if ((m = pattern.match(starRE))) {
+        fastTest = options.dot ? starTestDot : starTest
+      } else if ((m = pattern.match(starDotExtRE))) {
+        fastTest = (
+          options.nocase
+            ? options.dot
+              ? starDotExtTestNocaseDot
+              : starDotExtTestNocase
+            : options.dot
+            ? starDotExtTestDot
+            : starDotExtTest
+        )(m[1])
+      } else if ((m = pattern.match(starDotStarRE))) {
+        fastTest = options.dot ? starDotStarTestDot : starDotStarTest
+      } else if ((m = pattern.match(dotStarRE))) {
+        fastTest = dotStarTest
+      }
+    }
+
     let re = ''
     let hasMagic = false
     let escaping = false
@@ -977,10 +1050,17 @@ export class Minimatch {
 
     const flags = options.nocase ? 'i' : ''
     try {
-      return Object.assign(new RegExp('^' + re + '$', flags), {
-        _glob: pattern,
-        _src: re,
-      })
+      const ext = fastTest
+        ? {
+            _glob: pattern,
+            _src: re,
+            test: fastTest,
+          }
+        : {
+            _glob: pattern,
+            _src: re,
+          }
+      return Object.assign(new RegExp('^' + re + '$', flags), ext)
       /* c8 ignore start */
     } catch (er) {
       // should be impossible
diff --git a/tap-snapshots/test/basic.js.test.cjs b/tap-snapshots/test/basic.js.test.cjs
index e0eb6cd2..60dc088c 100644
--- a/tap-snapshots/test/basic.js.test.cjs
+++ b/tap-snapshots/test/basic.js.test.cjs
@@ -41,6 +41,14 @@ exports[`test/basic.js TAP basic tests > makeRe * 1`] = `
 /^(?:(?!(?:^|\\/)\\.{1,2}(?:$|\\/))(?=.)[^/]*?)$/
 `
 
+exports[`test/basic.js TAP basic tests > makeRe * 2`] = `
+/^(?:(?!\\.)(?=.)[^/]*?)$/
+`
+
+exports[`test/basic.js TAP basic tests > makeRe * 3`] = `
+/^(?:(?!(?:^|\\/)\\.{1,2}(?:$|\\/))(?=.)[^/]*?)$/
+`
+
 exports[`test/basic.js TAP basic tests > makeRe *(a/b) 1`] = `
 /^(?:(?=.)[^/]*?\\((?!\\.)a\\/b\\))$/
 `
@@ -97,10 +105,34 @@ exports[`test/basic.js TAP basic tests > makeRe *.!(js) 1`] = `
 /^(?:(?!\\.)(?=.)[^/]*?\\.(?:(?!(?:js)(?:$|\\/))[^/]*?))$/
 `
 
+exports[`test/basic.js TAP basic tests > makeRe *.* 1`] = `
+/^(?:(?!\\.)(?=.)[^/]*?\\.[^/]*?)$/
+`
+
+exports[`test/basic.js TAP basic tests > makeRe *.* 2`] = `
+/^(?:(?!(?:^|\\/)\\.{1,2}(?:$|\\/))(?=.)[^/]*?\\.[^/]*?)$/
+`
+
 exports[`test/basic.js TAP basic tests > makeRe *.\\* 1`] = `
 /^(?:(?!\\.)(?=.)[^/]*?\\.\\*)$/
 `
 
+exports[`test/basic.js TAP basic tests > makeRe *.js 1`] = `
+/^(?:(?!\\.)(?=.)[^/]*?\\.js)$/
+`
+
+exports[`test/basic.js TAP basic tests > makeRe *.js 2`] = `
+/^(?:(?!(?:^|\\/)\\.{1,2}(?:$|\\/))(?=.)[^/]*?\\.js)$/
+`
+
+exports[`test/basic.js TAP basic tests > makeRe *.js 3`] = `
+/^(?:(?!\\.)(?=.)[^/]*?\\.js)$/i
+`
+
+exports[`test/basic.js TAP basic tests > makeRe *.js 4`] = `
+/^(?:(?!(?:^|\\/)\\.{1,2}(?:$|\\/))(?=.)[^/]*?\\.js)$/i
+`
+
 exports[`test/basic.js TAP basic tests > makeRe */man*/bash.* 1`] = `
 /^(?:(?!\\.)(?=.)[^/]*?\\/(?=.)man[^/]*?\\/(?=.)bash\\.[^/]*?)$/
 `
@@ -129,6 +161,50 @@ exports[`test/basic.js TAP basic tests > makeRe .* 1`] = `
 /^(?:(?=.)\\.[^/]*?)$/
 `
 
+exports[`test/basic.js TAP basic tests > makeRe .* 2`] = `
+/^(?:(?=.)\\.[^/]*?)$/
+`
+
+exports[`test/basic.js TAP basic tests > makeRe .x/**/* 1`] = `
+/^(?:\\.x(?:\\/|\\/(?:(?!(?:\\/|^)\\.).)*?\\/)(?!\\.)(?=.)[^/]*?)$/
+`
+
+exports[`test/basic.js TAP basic tests > makeRe .x/**/* 2`] = `
+/^(?:\\.x(?:\\/|\\/(?:(?!(?:\\/|^)(?:\\.{1,2})($|\\/)).)*?\\/)(?!(?:^|\\/)\\.{1,2}(?:$|\\/))(?=.)[^/]*?)$/
+`
+
+exports[`test/basic.js TAP basic tests > makeRe .x/**/**/* 1`] = `
+/^(?:\\.x(?:\\/|\\/(?:(?!(?:\\/|^)\\.).)*?\\/)(?!\\.)(?=.)[^/]*?)$/
+`
+
+exports[`test/basic.js TAP basic tests > makeRe .x/**/**/* 2`] = `
+/^(?:\\.x(?:\\/|\\/(?:(?!(?:\\/|^)(?:\\.{1,2})($|\\/)).)*?\\/)(?!(?:^|\\/)\\.{1,2}(?:$|\\/))(?=.)[^/]*?)$/
+`
+
+exports[`test/basic.js TAP basic tests > makeRe .x/**/*/** 1`] = `
+/^(?:\\.x\\/(?!\\.)(?=.)[^/]*?(?:\\/|(?:(?!(?:\\/|^)\\.).)*?)?)$/
+`
+
+exports[`test/basic.js TAP basic tests > makeRe .x/**/*/** 2`] = `
+/^(?:\\.x\\/(?!(?:^|\\/)\\.{1,2}(?:$|\\/))(?=.)[^/]*?(?:\\/|(?:(?!(?:\\/|^)(?:\\.{1,2})($|\\/)).)*?)?)$/
+`
+
+exports[`test/basic.js TAP basic tests > makeRe .x/*/** 1`] = `
+/^(?:\\.x\\/(?!\\.)(?=.)[^/]*?(?:\\/|(?:(?!(?:\\/|^)\\.).)*?)?)$/
+`
+
+exports[`test/basic.js TAP basic tests > makeRe .x/*/** 2`] = `
+/^(?:\\.x\\/(?!(?:^|\\/)\\.{1,2}(?:$|\\/))(?=.)[^/]*?(?:\\/|(?:(?!(?:\\/|^)(?:\\.{1,2})($|\\/)).)*?)?)$/
+`
+
+exports[`test/basic.js TAP basic tests > makeRe .x/*/**/** 1`] = `
+/^(?:\\.x\\/(?!\\.)(?=.)[^/]*?(?:\\/|(?:(?!(?:\\/|^)\\.).)*?)?)$/
+`
+
+exports[`test/basic.js TAP basic tests > makeRe .x/*/**/** 2`] = `
+/^(?:\\.x\\/(?!(?:^|\\/)\\.{1,2}(?:$|\\/))(?=.)[^/]*?(?:\\/|(?:(?!(?:\\/|^)(?:\\.{1,2})($|\\/)).)*?)?)$/
+`
+
 exports[`test/basic.js TAP basic tests > makeRe /^root:/{s/^[^:]*:[^:]*:([^:]*).*$/
/ 1`] = `
 /^(?:\\/\\^root:\\/\\{s\\/(?=.)\\^[^:][^/]*?:[^:][^/]*?:\\([^:]\\)[^/]*?\\.[^/]*?\\$\\/
\\/)$/
 `
diff --git a/test/basic.js b/test/basic.js
index cd385dad..6bc30ea4 100644
--- a/test/basic.js
+++ b/test/basic.js
@@ -29,9 +29,16 @@ t.test('basic tests', function (t) {
     t.equal(String(r), String(r2), 'same results from both makeRe fns')
     tapOpts.re = r
     tapOpts.files = JSON.stringify(f)
-    tapOpts.pattern = pattern
+    tapOpts.glob = pattern
     tapOpts.set = m.set
+    tapOpts.globSet = m.globSet
     tapOpts.negated = m.negate
+    const o = Object.entries(options)
+      .filter(([_, v]) => v)
+      .map(([k]) => k)
+    if (o.length) {
+      tapOpts.flags = o
+    }
 
     var actual = mm.match(f, pattern, options)
     actual.sort(alpha)
diff --git a/test/patterns.js b/test/patterns.js
index 64db6a31..309fb704 100644
--- a/test/patterns.js
+++ b/test/patterns.js
@@ -140,9 +140,9 @@ module.exports = [
   // even when options.dot is set.
   () => (files = ['a/./b', 'a/../b', 'a/c/b', 'a/.d/b']),
   ['a/*/b', ['a/c/b', 'a/.d/b'], { dot: true }],
-  ['a/.*/b', ['a/./b', 'a/../b', 'a/.d/b'], { dot: true }],
+  ['a/.*/b', ['a/.d/b'], { dot: true }],
   ['a/*/b', ['a/c/b'], { dot: false }],
-  ['a/.*/b', ['a/./b', 'a/../b', 'a/.d/b'], { dot: false }],
+  ['a/.*/b', ['a/.d/b'], { dot: false }],
 
   // this also tests that changing the options needs
   // to change the cache key, even if the pattern is
@@ -266,16 +266,17 @@ module.exports = [
       'a/.x/b',
       '.x',
       '.x/',
-      '.x/a',
+      '.x/a/',
       '.x/a/b',
       'a/.x/b/.x/c',
-      '.x/.x',
+      '.x/.x/',
+      '.x/.y',
     ]),
   [
     '**/.x/**',
     [
       '.x/',
-      '.x/a',
+      '.x/a/',
       '.x/a/b',
       'a/.x/b',
       'a/b/.x/',
@@ -284,6 +285,17 @@ module.exports = [
       'a/b/.x/c/d/e',
     ],
   ],
+  'test equivalence of **/* and */**',
+  ['.x/**/*', ['.x/a/', '.x/a/b']],
+  ['.x/*/**', ['.x/a/', '.x/a/b']],
+  ['.x/**/**/*', ['.x/a/', '.x/a/b']],
+  ['.x/**/*/**', ['.x/a/', '.x/a/b']],
+  ['.x/*/**/**', ['.x/a/', '.x/a/b']],
+  ['.x/**/*', ['.x/a/', '.x/a/b', '.x/.x/', '.x/.y'], { dot: true }],
+  ['.x/*/**', ['.x/a/', '.x/a/b', '.x/.x/'], { dot: true }],
+  ['.x/**/**/*', ['.x/a/', '.x/a/b', '.x/.x/', '.x/.y'], { dot: true }],
+  ['.x/**/*/**', ['.x/a/', '.x/a/b', '.x/.x/'], { dot: true }],
+  ['.x/*/**/**', ['.x/a/', '.x/a/b', '.x/.x/'], { dot: true }],
 
   ['**/.x/**', ['a/.x/b'], { noglobstar: true }],
 
@@ -336,12 +348,49 @@ module.exports = [
   // doesn't start at 0, no dice
   // neg extglobs don't trigger this behavior.
   ['!(.a|js)@(.*)', ['a.js'], { nonegate: true }],
-  () => files=['a(b', 'ab', 'a)b'],
+  () => (files = ['a(b', 'ab', 'a)b']),
   ['@(a|a[(])b', ['a(b', 'ab']],
   ['@(a|a[)])b', ['a)b', 'ab']],
 
   // TODO: recursive descent parser for extglobs, to do this properly
   // ['@(+(.*))', ['.a', '.a.js', '.js']],
+
+  'optimized checking for some common patterns',
+  () =>
+    (files = [
+      '.a',
+      '.a.js',
+      '.js',
+      'a',
+      'a.js',
+      'js',
+      'a.JS',
+      '.a.JS',
+      '.JS',
+      '.',
+      '..',
+    ]),
+  ['*.js', ['a.js']],
+  ['*.js', ['a.js', '.a.js', '.js'], { dot: true }],
+  ['*.js', ['a.js', 'a.JS'], { nocase: true }],
+  [
+    '*.js',
+    ['a.js', 'a.JS', '.a.js', '.a.JS', '.js', '.JS'],
+    { dot: true, nocase: true },
+  ],
+  ['*.*', ['a.js', 'a.JS']],
+  [
+    '*.*',
+    ['.a', '.a.js', '.js', 'a.js', 'a.JS', '.a.JS', '.JS'],
+    { dot: true },
+  ],
+  ['.*', ['.a', '.a.js', '.js', '.a.JS', '.JS']],
+  ['*', ['a', 'a.js', 'js', 'a.JS']],
+  [
+    '*',
+    ['.a', '.a.js', '.js', 'a', 'a.js', 'js', 'a.JS', '.a.JS', '.JS'],
+    { dot: true },
+  ],
 ]
 
 Object.defineProperty(module.exports, 'files', {