PLL (Permutation of the Last Layer): the top face is yellow, and every piece still has to go to its place. One algorithm, and the cube is solved. There are 21 cases, and it is the best-value list in CFOP: it comes up on every solve, its algorithms are fast, and six of them are enough to get started.

2-look PLL: six algorithms to start with

As with OLL, in two steps: first the corners, then the edges.

First look: the corners

Look for headlights: a side whose two corners show the same colour. Count the sides that have them.

Headlights Situation What to do
On all four sides the corners are already placed move on to the edges
On one side only two adjacent corners to swap hold the headlights on the left and do the T: R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U' R U R' F'
Nowhere two diagonal corners to swap do the Y, in any orientation: F R U' R' U' R U R' F' R U R' U' R' F R F'

After the algorithm, the corners are placed relative to each other (headlights on all four sides), even if the whole layer is offset: that’s normal, you align it at the end.

T: headlights on one sideY: no headlights

The two corner cases, seen from above, with the edges greyed out because they don't count yet. Hold the T with the headlights on the left; the Y has no headlights anywhere.

Open the “Corner placement” step in the app

Second look: the edges

With the corners placed, four edge cases are left. The first three algorithms use only M and U: see which way M turns in the notation.

Case How to recognise and hold it Algorithm
Ua one complete side (a bar): put it at the back. The front edge has the colour of the right headlights M2 U M U2 M' U M2
Ub a bar at the back. The front edge has the colour of the left headlights M2 U' M U2 M' U' M2
H no bar, each edge sits opposite its place: between two headlights, the edge is the opposite colour M2 U M2 U2 M2 U M2
Z no bar, the edges are swapped in pairs with their neighbours: between two headlights, the edge is an adjacent colour M' U M2 U M2 U M' U2 M2

One last U turn to align the layer, and the cube is solved.

UaUbHZ

The four edge cases, corners already placed, held as in the table: bar at the back for Ua and Ub.

Open the “Edge placement” step in the app

The six 2-look algorithms (T, Y, Ua, Ub, H, Z) are part of the 21. Nothing you learn here will need unlearning.

The 21 PLLs

The cases are not all equally frequent: sixteen of them come up 1 time in 18, the symmetrical cases less often (E and Z 1 in 36, H, Na and Nb 1 in 72). The groups below follow the structure of the cases, the one you use to recognise them.

Edges only (corners already placed)

Ua, Ub, H, Z: you already know them from 2-look.

Corners only (edges already placed)

Case Algorithm
Aa x R' U R' D2 R U' R' D2 R2 x'
Ab x R2 D2 R U R' D2 R U' R x'
E x' R U' R' D R U R' D' R U R' D R U' R' D' x

The A perms are among the most frequent in the list, and their algorithms are very fast once you have the x grip down.

AaAbE

Corners only: the edges are in place, three corners cycle (Aa, Ab) or swap in pairs (E).

Open the “PLL (last layer)” step in the app

Two adjacent corners swapped

These cases have headlights on one side only. T, Ja, Jb, F, Ra, Rb and the four G perms.

Case Algorithm
T R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U' R U R' F'
Ja L' U' L F L' U' L U L F' L2 U L
Jb R U R' F' R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R'
F R' U' F' R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U' R U R' U R
Ra R U' R' U' R U R D R' U' R D' R' U2 R'
Rb R2 F R U R U' R' F' R U2 R' U2 R
Ga R2 U R' U R' U' R U' R2 U' D R' U R D'
Gb R' U' R U D' R2 U R' U R U' R U' R2 D
Gc R2 U' R U' R U R' U R2 U D' R U' R' D
Gd R U R' U' D R2 U' R U' R' U R' U R2 D'
TJaJbFRaRbGaGbGcGd

Two adjacent corners swapped: headlights on one side only (here on the left, or on the right for Ja), each case shown in the orientation of its algorithm.

Open the “PLL (last layer)” step in the app

Two diagonal corners swapped

No headlights anywhere: Y, V, Na, Nb.

Case Algorithm
Y F R U' R' U' R U R' F' R U R' U' R' F R F'
V R' U R' U' y R' F' R2 U' R' U R' F R F
Na R U R' U R U R' F' R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U2 R U' R'
Nb R' U R U' R' F' U' F R U R' F R' F' R U' R
YVNaNb

Two diagonal corners swapped: no headlights anywhere.

Open the “PLL (last layer)” step in the app

The same building blocks from one PLL to the next

PLLs look long, but many of them overlap. Before learning one, look for what you can already do:

  • T starts with the sexy move: R U R' U', then R' F R2 U' R' U' R U R' F'.
  • Jb is R U R' F' followed by the start of the T: R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R'.
  • F contains almost all of the T: R' U' F', the T without its final F', then U R.
  • Y ends with OLL 33, sexy move then sledgehammer: R U R' U' R' F R F'. Only the first half, F R U' R' U' R U R' F', is new.
  • Gd also starts with the sexy move.

So learning T first is no accident: it makes Jb and F much shorter to memorise.

In what order to learn them

  1. The six from 2-look, already done.
  2. Aa and Ab: very frequent, short algorithms. Watch the x grip at the start: the algorithm is done right at the bottom of the cube, with D2.
  3. Ja and Jb: frequent and fast.
  4. F, Ra, Rb, V.
  5. The four G perms: the least loved, because they look alike. Learn them in two goes (Ga/Gc, then Gb/Gd) and spend most of your effort on recognising them.
  6. E, Na, Nb: rare and long, so leave them for last.

Each PLL takes a few days to learn with the method in How to learn an algorithm: allow one to two months for the fifteen you are missing after 2-look. And from the very first one, you gain on every solve.

Two habits to build right now

  • Recognise before you turn. You recognise a PLL by looking at two sides of the top layer, without rotating the cube: the page Recognising all 21 PLLs explains how. Get into the habit of naming the case under your breath before the algorithm.
  • Anticipate the final alignment. The algorithm finishes the layer up to a U turn. With experience, you know during the algorithm how far you will need to turn, and you carry straight on without a pause. At first, just make sure you don’t hesitate: look at one side, turn, done.