PLL Algorithms
PLL (Permutation of the Last Layer) is the final step of the CFOP method. After OLL has oriented all top-face stickers, PLL rearranges the pieces into their solved positions. There are 21 PLL cases in total.
If you are a beginner, start with 2-Look PLL -- a simplified approach that requires only 6 algorithms instead of all 21.
2-Look PLL
2-Look PLL breaks the permutation step into two smaller steps:
- Permute the corners -- put all 4 corners in the correct position (2 cases)
- Permute the edges -- put all 4 edges in the correct position (4 cases)
This means you only need to learn 6 algorithms total.
Step 1: Permute Corners
Look at the top layer corners. Check if any pair of adjacent corners belongs to the same side (matching headlights).
Adjacent Corner Swap
One pair of adjacent corners is already correct. Hold the solved pair at the back and apply:
Algorithm: R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U' R U R' F'
This is the T-Perm -- it swaps the two front corners (and two edges, which we fix in step 2).
Diagonal Corner Swap
No adjacent corners match. Apply the Y-Perm to swap corners diagonally:
Algorithm: F R U' R' U' R U R' F' R U R' U' R' F R F'
Step 2: Permute Edges
All corners are now solved. Look at the edges and determine which need to cycle.
Ua Perm (3-edge cycle clockwise)
Three edges need to cycle clockwise. Hold the solved edge at the back.
Algorithm: M2 U M U2 M' U M2
Ub Perm (3-edge cycle counter-clockwise)
Three edges need to cycle counter-clockwise. Hold the solved edge at the back.
Algorithm: M2 U' M U2 M' U' M2
H Perm (Swap opposite edge pairs)
Two pairs of opposite edges need to swap.
Algorithm: M2 U M2 U2 M2 U M2
Z Perm (Swap adjacent edge pairs)
Two pairs of adjacent edges need to swap. Hold so the two pairs are front/right and back/left.
Algorithm: M2 U M2 U M' U2 M2 U2 M'
Full PLL -- All 21 Cases
Edges Only (4 cases)
These PLLs only move edges; corners are already solved.
Ua Perm
Edges cycle clockwise. The solved edge is at the back.
Recognition: One solved bar (edge + two corners) visible from the back.
Algorithm: M2 U M U2 M' U M2
Ub Perm
Edges cycle counter-clockwise. The solved edge is at the back.
Recognition: One solved bar visible from the back; edge colors cycle the opposite direction from Ua.
Algorithm: M2 U' M U2 M' U' M2
H Perm
Two pairs of opposite edges swap.
Recognition: Every side has the opposite color in the center edge. Checkerboard pattern on all four sides.
Algorithm: M2 U M2 U2 M2 U M2
Z Perm
Two pairs of adjacent edges swap.
Recognition: Two adjacent sides each have the other's color in the edge position. No side is fully solved.
Algorithm: M2 U M2 U M' U2 M2 U2 M'
Corners Only (3 cases)
These PLLs only move corners; edges are already solved.
Aa Perm
Three corners cycle. Headlights on the left side.
Recognition: Headlights on one side, the bar (3 matching stickers) is on the opposite side.
Algorithm: x R' U R' D2 R U' R' D2 R2 x'
Ab Perm
Three corners cycle (opposite direction to Aa). Headlights on the right side.
Recognition: Mirror of Aa -- headlights on the opposite side.
Algorithm: x R2 D2 R U R' D2 R U' R x'
E Perm
Two pairs of diagonal corners swap. No edges move.
Recognition: No headlights on any side. Each side has two different corner colors.
Algorithm: x' R U' R' D R U R' D' R U R' D R U' R' D' x
Adjacent Corner Swap (6 cases)
These PLLs swap one pair of adjacent corners along with edge permutations.
T Perm
Recognition: Headlights on the front and back. The two non-headlight sides each have their colors swapped.
Algorithm: R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U' R U R' F'
F Perm
Recognition: Headlights on one side only (front). The other three sides have no matching pairs.
Algorithm: R' U' F' R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U' R U R' U R
Ja Perm
Recognition: A solved 1x1x3 block on the left side. The right side has adjacent pieces swapped.
Algorithm: x R2 F R F' R U2 r' U r U2 x'
Jb Perm
Recognition: A solved 1x1x3 block on the right side. Mirror of Ja.
Algorithm: R U R' F' R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R'
Ra Perm
Recognition: Headlights on the front. Adjacent corner and edge swap on the right side.
Algorithm: R U' R' U' R U R D R' U' R D' R' U2 R'
Rb Perm
Recognition: Headlights on the back. Mirror of Ra.
Algorithm: R' U2 R U2 R' F R U R' U' R' F' R2
Diagonal Corner Swap (4 cases)
These PLLs swap two diagonally opposite corners.
V Perm
Recognition: No headlights on any side. One side has a 2-color pattern where the edge matches one corner.
Algorithm: R' U R' U' y R' F' R2 U' R' U R' F R F
Y Perm
Recognition: No headlights. One side has two matching corners but the edge between them is wrong.
Algorithm: F R U' R' U' R U R' F' R U R' U' R' F R F'
Na Perm
Recognition: Two opposite sides are fully solved (a solved bar on each), but the other two sides have their pieces completely swapped.
Algorithm: R U R' U R U R' F' R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U2 R U' R'
Nb Perm
Recognition: Mirror of Na. Two opposite bars but swapped differently.
Algorithm: R' U R U' R' F' U' F R U R' F R' F' R U' R
G Perms (4 cases)
The G permutations are the trickiest to recognize. They move both one pair of adjacent corners and cycle three edges.
Ga Perm
Recognition: Headlights on the left. The front-right corner matches the right edge.
Algorithm: R2 U R' U R' U' R U' R2 U' D R' U R D'
Gb Perm
Recognition: Headlights on the front. The back-left corner matches the left edge.
Algorithm: R' U' R U D' R2 U R' U R U' R U' R2 D
Gc Perm
Recognition: Headlights on the right. The front-left corner matches the left edge.
Algorithm: R2 U' R U' R U R' U R2 U D' R U' R' D
Gd Perm
Recognition: Headlights on the back. The front-right corner matches the right edge.
Algorithm: R U R' U' D R2 U' R U' R' U R' U R2 D'
Recognition Tips
Efficient PLL recognition is key to fast solves. Here are general strategies:
- Look for headlights -- a pair of matching corners on one side. This narrows down the case immediately.
- Count solved bars -- a bar is three matching stickers in a row (corner-edge-corner). Bars indicate specific PLLs.
- Check two sides -- looking at the front and right side is usually enough to identify the case.
- Learn opposite patterns -- many PLLs come in mirror pairs (Ua/Ub, Ja/Jb, Ra/Rb, Ga-Gd).
| What you see | Possible PLLs |
|---|---|
| 4 sides with headlights | H, Ua, Ub, Z |
| 2 opposite sides with headlights | T, F, Ja, Jb, Ra, Rb |
| 1 side with headlights | Aa, Ab, Ga, Gb, Gc, Gd |
| 0 sides with headlights | E, V, Y, Na, Nb |
Learning Order
A recommended order for learning all 21 PLLs:
- 2-Look first: T, Y (corners) + Ua, Ub, H, Z (edges) -- 6 algorithms
- Adjacent swaps: Ja, Jb, F, Ra, Rb -- 5 more algorithms
- Corner-only: Aa, Ab, E -- 3 more algorithms
- Diagonal swaps: V, Na, Nb -- 3 more algorithms
- G Perms last: Ga, Gb, Gc, Gd -- 4 final algorithms
Practice recognition by scrambling, solving to PLL, then covering the cube and trying to identify the case from memory. Speed comes from instant recognition, not just fast finger tricks.