Step 4 of 4

PLL (last layer)

Place the last-layer pieces with a single algorithm: the top stays yellow, only the pieces move. Look for headlights (two corners of the same colour on one side), full rows and corner-edge blocks, then find the matching case. After the algorithm, a last turn of U lines the layer up if needed: your cube is solved.

The basic situations

Hold the cube as the hint says, then apply the formula. In the app, every formula is animated on a virtual cube.

• Aa · three corners

  Only three corners move, the edges are solved. Turn U to put the headlights (two corners of the same colour) at the back, then finish with a turn of U if needed.

  x R' U R' D2 R U' R' D2 R2 x' → piece in place

• Ab · three corners

  Only three corners move, the edges are solved. Turn U to put the headlights on the right, then finish with a turn of U if needed.

  x R2 D2 R U R' D2 R U' R x' → piece in place

• E · corners in pairs

  Only the corners move, swapped in pairs: no side has headlights. Turn U to line the edges up with the centres, and the whole cube (y) if the corners don't look like the picture, then finish with a turn of U if needed.

  x' R U' R' D R U R' D' R U R' D R U' R' D' x → piece in place

• F · full bar

  One side shows a full row of a single colour. Turn U to put it on the left, then finish with a turn of U if needed.

  R' U' F' R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U' R U R' U R → piece in place

• Ga

  Headlights on one side, and a corner-edge pair built elsewhere. Turn U to put the headlights on the left, as in the picture, then finish with a turn of U if needed.

  R2 U R' U R' U' R U' R2 U' D R' U R D' → piece in place

• Gb

  Headlights on one side, and a corner-edge pair built elsewhere. Turn U to put the headlights on the left, as in the picture, then finish with a turn of U if needed.

  R' U' R U D' R2 U R' U R U' R U' R2 D → piece in place

• Gc

  Headlights on one side, and a corner-edge pair built elsewhere. Turn U to put the headlights on the left, as in the picture, then finish with a turn of U if needed.

  R2 U' R U' R U R' U R2 U D' R U' R' D → piece in place

• Gd

  Headlights on one side, and a corner-edge pair built elsewhere. Turn U to put the headlights on the left, as in the picture, then finish with a turn of U if needed.

  R U R' U' D R2 U' R U' R' U R' U R2 D' → piece in place

• H · opposite edges

  The corners are solved and each edge has to go to the opposite side. Turn U to line the corners up with the centres, then finish with a turn of U if needed.

  M2 U M2 U2 M2 U M2 → piece in place

• Ja

  One side shows a full row of a single colour, with a corner-edge block next to it. Turn U to put the full row on the right, then finish with a turn of U if needed.

  L' U' L F L' U' L U L F' L2 U L → piece in place

• Jb

  One side shows a full row of a single colour, with a corner-edge block next to it. Turn U to put the full row on the left, then finish with a turn of U if needed.

  R U R' F' R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' → piece in place

• Na

  No headlights, and two corner-edge blocks facing each other diagonally. Turn U so the sides look like the picture, then finish with a turn of U if needed.

  R U R' U R U R' F' R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U2 R U' R' → piece in place

• Nb

  No headlights, and two corner-edge blocks facing each other diagonally. Turn U so the sides look like the picture, then finish with a turn of U if needed.

  R' U R U' R' F' U' F R U R' F R' F' R U' R → piece in place

• Ra

  Headlights on one side, and a corner-edge block on the opposite side. Turn U to put the headlights on the left, then finish with a turn of U if needed.

  R U' R' U' R U R D R' U' R D' R' U2 R' → piece in place

• Rb

  Headlights on one side, and a corner-edge block on the opposite side. Turn U to put the headlights on the left, then finish with a turn of U if needed.

  R2 F R U R U' R' F' R U2 R' U2 R → piece in place

• T

  Headlights on one side, and opposite them a row alternating two colours. Turn U to put the headlights on the left, then finish with a turn of U if needed.

  R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U' R U R' F' → piece in place

• Ua · three edges

  The corners are solved and one side is complete: only three edges move. Turn U to put the complete side at the back, then finish with a turn of U if needed.

  M2 U M U2 M' U M2 → piece in place

• Ub · three edges

  The corners are solved and one side is complete: only three edges move. Turn U to put the complete side at the back, then finish with a turn of U if needed.

  M2 U' M U2 M' U' M2 → piece in place

• V

  No headlights, two corners to swap diagonally and one corner-edge block built. Turn U to put the block at the front left, then finish with a turn of U if needed.

  R' U R' U' y R' F' R2 U' R' U R' F R F → piece in place

• Y

  No headlights, two corners to swap diagonally and one corner-edge block built. Turn U to put the block at the front left, then finish with a turn of U if needed.

  F R U' R' U' R U R' F' R U R' U' R' F R F' → piece in place

• Z · adjacent edges

  The corners are solved and the edges swap with their neighbours. Turn U to line the corners up with the centres, and the whole cube (y) if needed to match the picture, then finish with a turn of U if needed.

  M' U M2 U M2 U M' U2 M2 → piece in place

Go further in the guide

• PLL: from 2-look to all 21 cases
• PLL recognition: all 21 cases from two sides