Read the top rows of the front and right sides to know the PLL, without turning the cube to see all four.
Goal
Recognize the PLL from two neighboring sides, so you do not waste time turning the cube.
Words used here
- : a side's two top corners have the same color.
- or : the middle sticker of a side with headlights, compared with the headlights. Opposite colors are red and orange, green and blue.
- : a corner and the edge next to it share a color.
- : all three top stickers of a side match.
How to recognize it
Look at the top rows of the front and right. Each side shows one of five shapes: a full row, two kinds of headlights, a pair, or nothing.
How to hold the cube
White face on the bottom, top already all yellow. Each case's grip is shown under the controls. The player adds a U at the start or end when needed.
The main idea
Many combinations point to just one PLL (checked by computer for all 21 PLLs from all 4 angles):
- Front full row, right headlights with a neighboring-color edge: . With an opposite-color edge: .
- Front full row, right pair on the left: . Pair on the right: . Right shows nothing: .
- Front and right both headlights with opposite-color edges: .
- Front headlights with an opposite-color edge, right pair on the left: .
- Front pair on the left, right pair on the right: .
- Front headlights with a neighboring-color edge, right pair on the left: . Front pair on the right, right headlights with a neighboring-color edge: .
Other combinations need one more side. Each example here is a PLL seen from an angle with a clear sign.
Next lesson
You have finished CFOP. Practice a lot so you spot shapes and do algorithms without thinking.