Beginner Guide
2-Look OLL and PLL
Solve the whole last layer in four short steps with 16 algorithms. The natural next step to get faster after the the beginner method and F2L.
2-Look OLL
Two steps make the top face fully yellow: first the cross, then the corners.
Orient the Edges - Yellow Cross
Same goal as the beginner guide's yellow cross, but now each state has its own algorithm.
The Dot and Small L algorithms use f - the front face and the middle layer beside it, turned together (see the notation guide).
No edges oriented
Hold the two oriented edges at the front and right.
Hold the line going left to right.
This is what your cube should look like before moving on to the next step.
Orient the Corners - Full Yellow Face
With the cross done, one of these seven cases finishes the yellow face.
One corner oriented - you know this one from the beginner guide.
Sune's mirror - one corner oriented.
No corners oriented - two pairs of yellow headlights.
No corners oriented - one pair of yellow headlights.
Two corners left, their yellows facing the same way.
Two corners left, their yellows facing opposite ways.
Two corners left, diagonal from each other.
2-Look PLL
Permute the Corners
Yellow face done - now look at the side colours of the top-layer corners.
One pair of headlights. This is the T-Perm you already used in the beginner method.
No headlights on any side. This one is the E-Perm.
Permute the Edges
Corners done - only the edges are left.
The H and Z perms use M - the middle slice between L and R (see the notation guide).
Three edges swap counter clockwise
Three edges swap clockwise
Opposite edges swap
Neighbouring edges swap
That's the whole last layer!
Practice recognizing the cases until each step is automatic.
Tip: prefer to practise away from the screen? Get the printable cheat sheet.
What's next?
- Drill the cases in the OLL trainer and PLL trainer.
- Browse the cases you just learned in the OLL database and PLL database - each alg ranked by how often top solvers use it.
- When 2-look feels easy, start replacing pairs of looks with full OLL and full PLL algorithms - one case at a time.
- Speed up your recognition with the PLL Recognition Trainer - learn to name every case from just two visible sides.
Frequently asked questions
- How many algorithms do I need for 2-look OLL and PLL?
- 16 in total - 10 for 2-look OLL and 6 for 2-look PLL.
- Do I need to finish the beginner guide first?
- You should be able to solve the first two layers on your own. The steps here replace the beginner guide's four last-layer steps.
- What do the grey stickers mean?
- Grey means "ignore me": only the coloured stickers matter for recognizing the case in that step.