1-look PLL

There are 21 algorithms in 1-look PLL, each named after letters of the alphabet according to the arrangement of the solved and unsolved pieces. To recognize which algorithm to use, look for headlight, bars, pairs, and blocks.

  • Headlights—two correct corners. Search for pairs, blocks, or additional headlights to determine the appropriate algorithm.
  • Bar—a pair of headlights around a matching edge piece. Search for pairs or additional headlights to determine whether to use the F-Perm, one of the J-perms, or one of the U-Perms.
  • Pair—a corner next to a matching edge. The number and position of pairs, along with the presence or absence of headlights and bars, determines which algorithm to use.
  • Block—A corner with two matching edges. With headlights, use one of the A-perms. Otherwise, use the V-perm. 

Locations of pairs and blocks use the following conventions:

  • Blocks—Two letters indicate position in the last layer. E.g., R F for right front.
  • Pairs—A side letter followed by a side word. E.g., “F right” is a pair on the front side toward the right side of the cube; “R back” is a pair on the right side towards the back of the cube.

The 21 algorithms are  organized into three categories, each with a heading level 2.

Here are the algorithms.

Adjacent Corner Swap

PLL 1: Aa-perm

Headlights left, block R F

Setup: x′ L2 D2 L U L′ D2 L U′ L U

Solution 1: x L2 D2 L′ U′ L D2 L′ U L′

Solution 2: Rw L D2 L′ U′ L D2 L′ U Rw′

Notes for A-perms:

Headlights and a block forms an A-perm.

For a block by itself, see the V-perm.

The Aa-perm is the setup for the Ab-perm and vice versa.

PLL 2: Ab-perm

Headlights left, block R B

Setup: x L2 D2 L′ U′ L D2 L′ U L′ U′

Solution 1: x′ L2 D2 L U L′ D2 L U′ L

Solution 2: Rw′ L′ D2 L U L′ D2 L U′ Rw

PLL 3: F-perm

Bar left

Setup: same

Solution: R′ U′ F′ R U R′ U′ R′ F R2 U′ R′ U′ R U R′ U R

Notes for F-perm:

Besides the Edges Only scenarios, the E-perm and F-perm are the only scenarios with no pairs and no blocks.

PLL 4: Ga-perm

Headlights left, one pair on F right

Setup: R′ U′ R U D′ R2 U R′ U R U′ R U′ R2 D

Solution: R2 U R′ U R′ U′ R U′ R2 U′ D R′ U R D′

Notes for G-perms:

Headlights and one pair means either a G-perm or an R-perm.

The Ga-perm is the setup for the Gb-perm and vice versa.

Likewise, Gc-perm is the setup for Gd-perm and vice versa.

PLL 5: Gb-perm

Headlights left, one pair on R back

Setup: R2 U R′ U R′ U′ R U′ R2 U′ D R′ U R D′

Solution: R′ U′ R U D′ R2 U R′ U R U′ R U′ R2 D

PLL 6: Gc-perm

Headlights left, one pair on B right

Setup: R U R′ U′ D R2 U′ R U′ R′ U R′ U R2 D′

Solution: R2 U′ R U′ R U R′ U R2 U D′ R U′ R′ D

PLL 7: Gd-perm

Headlights left, one pair on R front

Setup: R2 U′ R U′ R U R′ U R2 U D′ R U′ R′ D

Solution: R U R′ U′ D R2 U′ R U′ R′ U R′ U R2 D′

PLL 8: Ja-perm

Bar left, three pairs: F left, R front, and B right

Setup: same

Solution: x R2 F R F′ R U2 Rw′ U Rw U2

PLL 9: Jb-perm

Bar left, three pairs: F right, R back, and B left

Setup: R U R′ F′ R U R′ U′ R′ F R2 U′ R′ U′

Solution: R U R′ F′ R U R′ U′ R′ F R2 U′ R′

Notes for Jb-perm:

The setup is the Jb-perm plus an additional U′.

PLL 10: Ra-perm

Headlights left, one pair on F left

Setup: R U′ R′ U′ R U R D R′ U′ R D′ R′ U2 R′ U′

Solution: R U′ R′ U′ R U R D R′ U′ R D′ R′ U2 R′

Notes for R-perms:

Headlights and one pair means either a G-perm or an R-perm.

The setup is the Ra-perm plus an additional U′.

PLL 11: Rb-perm

Headlights left, one pair on B left

Setup: R2 F R U R U′ R′ F′ R U2 R′ U2 R U

Solution: R2 F R U R U′ R′ F′ R U2 R′ U2 R

Notes for Rb-perm:

The setup is the Rb-perm plus an additional U.

PLL 12: T-perm

Headlights left, two pairs: F left and B left

Setup: same

Solution: R U R′ U′ R′ F R2 U′ R′ U′ R U R′ F′

Diagonal Corner Swap

PLL 13: E-perm

No headlights, no bar, no pairs, no blocks.

Right-facing texture of R U edge and front-facing texture of R U F corner should match

Setup: same

Solution: x′ R U′ R′ D R U R′ D′ R U R′ D R U′ R′ D′

PLL 14: Na-perm

Four pairs: F right, R back, B left, and L front

Setup: same

Solution: R U R′ U R U R′ F′ R U R′ U′ R′ F R2 U′ R′ U2 R U′ R′

PLL 15: Nb-perm

Four pairs: F left, R front, B right, and L back

Setup: same

Solution: R′ U R U′ R′ F′ U′ F R U R′ F R′ F′ R U′ R

PLL 16: V-perm

Block L F

Setup: R′ U R′ U′ y R′ F′ R2 U′ R′ U R′ F R F U′

Solution: R′ U R′ U′ y R′ F′ R2 U′ R′ U R′ F R F

Notes for V-perm:

The setup is the V-perm plus an additional U′.

PLL 17: Y-perm

Two pairs: F left and R back

Setup: same

Solution: F R U′ R′ U′ R U R′ F′ R U R′ U′ R′ F R F′

Edges Only

PLL 18: H-perm

Four headlights on all sides

Swap opposite edges.

Setup: same

Solution 1: M2 U′ M2 U2 M2 U′ M2

Solution 2: M2 U M2 U2 M2 U M2

PLL 19: Ua-perm

Bar back, three headlights on remaining sides

Cycles L, F, and R edges counterclockwise

Setup: M2

Solution: M2 U M U2 M′ U M2

Notes for U-perms:

The Ua-perm is the setup for the Ub-perm and vice versa.

PLL 20: Ub-perm

Bar back, three headlights on remaining sides

Cycles R, F, and L edges clockwise

Setup: M2 U M U2 M′ U M2

Solution: M2 U′ M U2 M′ U′ M2

PLL 21: Z-perm

Four headlights on all sides

Swaps edges, F with R and L with B

Setup: M′ U′ M2 U′ M2 U′ M′ U2 M2 U

Solution: M′ U′ M2 U′ M2 U′ M′ U2 M2

Notes for Z-perm:

The setup is the Z-perm plus an additional U.

Replacing all U′ rotations with U causes the Z-perm to swap along the other diagonal.