Getting Started with 1-look OLL

With countless algorithms, confusing orientations, and an absolutely insane canonical order, the most challenging aspect of 1-look OLL is figuring out where to start. Don’t worry. This article covers 19 easy-to-identify scenarios. That seems like a lot, but you already know the seven edges-solved cases, and two other cases are the algorithms you’re already using for edge orientation. The remaining 10 are similar to others you know and easy to memorize. After you work your way through this article, you’ll have tackled one-third of the 57 total 1-look OLL algorithms, and you can immediately deploy them as part of your solving arsenal.

The first step in 1-look OLL is to feel the U side of your cube and identify the shape formed by the pieces with their U textures pointing up. But this is rarely enough to identify the scenario. You’ll also need to feel along the top edge of the sides, looking for pairs, bars, and headlights formed by pieces with their U texture pointing to the sides.

You could also identify the scenario by identifying both the edge case and the corner case, as if you were solving 2-look OLL. In fact, the 1-look OLL page includes this information. But during a competitive solve, it’s faster to look for shapes, pairs, bars, and headlights.,

It’s less confusing than it sounds. Let’s start by looking at the two T Shape cases.

T Shapes

In a T shape, the U textures form a latin letter T, composed of two edge pieces at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock, and the two right corners (R U F and R U B). There are two ways to get a T shape, one with U corners and headlights pointing left, and the other with T corners and the legs pointing right.

OLL 45

This is the U corners case. Besides the T shape on the U side, this scenario has  top texture headlights on the left, and there are no pairs along the front and back top edges.

Setup: F U R U′ R′ F′

Solution: F R U R′ U′ F′

That algorithm should seem very familiar, as it was covered in the Solve It! Book beginner method. It’s one of the 2-look OLL edge flip algorithms. Fifty-seven algorithms seems like a lot, until you realize how many of them you already know.

OLL 33

This is the T corners case, and it feels a little different. Along the top front edge, you’ll feel a top texture pair on F left, with a matching pair on B left.

Setup: F R′ F′ R U R U′ R′

Solution: R U R′ U′ R′ F R F′

While this algorithm is new, its components should be familiar. The first half is a sexy move, and the second half is called sledgehammer. Both are common components of algorithms, making this OLL scenario easy to remember.

Square Shapes

In a square shape, the top center, one of the corners, and two of the edges combine to form a 2×2 block of top textures. By themselves, the two edges form an L, and the corners are either Antisune or Sune. As you might expect, the two cases are mirrors of each other.

OLL 6

This is the Antisume corners case. With the square shape in back right, you can identify this scenario with two side edge pairs, one F left and the other L back.

Setup: Rw U R′ U R U2 Rw′

Solution: Rw U2 R′ U′ R U′ Rw′

The Setup should feel familiar. It’s Sune, but with wide rotations first and last. And the solution is simply a wide Antisune. To jog your memory, note that the initial Rw rotation of the algorithm moves the square shape away from you.

OLL 5

This is the sune corners case. The canonical orientation orients the square shape in the front right. If you have the square shape in back left instead, it feels like a mirror of OLL 6. In the following solution, I force this orientation with an initial y2 reorientation. In other words, if you’ve already oriented it with the square shape in back left and a side pair located F right, then ignore the initial y2 in the solution and start with the Lw′ rotation.

Setup: Rw′ U′ R U′ R′ U2 Rw

Solution: y2 Lw′ U2 L U L′ U Lw

The solution is what ai call a left wide Antisune. It’s a right-left flip of Antisune, with wide rotations first and last. Much like the OLL 6 scenario, the initial rotation is easy to remember. It’s a wide rotation that turns the square shape away from you.

OLL 5 and OLL 6 should be easy to remember. OLL 6 is simply Antisune, but with an initial and final wide rotation. OLL 5 is simply a mirror, the same algorithm performed on the left side. In both cases, the initial wide rotation moves the entire square shape away from you.

Lightning Shapes

In a lightning shape, four U textures zigzag across the top of your cube. The pattern is formed by two edges in an L, the center, and the up-facing corner piece from Sune or Antisune. Both the Sune and Antisune corners can be arranged two different ways relative to the edges, creating four different lightning shape scenarios.

OLL 7

This lightning bolt has edges at nine and noon, and the corners are in the Sune arrangement. Look for a lightning bolt on the left half of the U side and a side edge pair on F right. A second edge pair is at R back, but is not necessary for identification. 

Setup: Rw U2 R′ U′ R U′ Rw′

Solution: Rw U R′ U R U2 Rw′

The solution is simply a wide Sune. In other words, it’s the Sune algorithm with an initial and final wide rotation. To help jog your memory, locate the F right side edge pair. The initial Rw rotation moves that pair away from you.

OLL 8

This is the mirror of OLL 7. The edges are at noon and three, and the corners are arranged like Antisune with a 90 degree y rotation.

Setup: Rw′ U2 R U R′ U Rw y2

Solution: Lw′ U′ L U′ L′ U2 Lw

The solution is a left wide Sune. In other words, it’s the mirror reflection of Sune with an initial and final wide rotation. To help jog your memory, locate the F left side edge pair. The initial Lw′ rotation moves that pair away from you.

OLL 11

In the canonical orientation, the corners are Sune and the edges are at three and six. However, a slightly different orientation makes OLL 11 and OLL 12 mirrors. I’ve compensated for this with an initial y2 in the solution. In other words, if your lightning bolt is already oriented from the L U edge to the R B U corner with a side edge pair at F right, then skip the initial y2 in the solution and start with the Rw rotation.

Setup: M U′ R U2 R′ U′ R U′ R2 Rw

Solution: y2 Rw U R′ U R′ F R F′ R U2 Rw′

The solution is simpler than it looks. It’s a wide Sune,, as with OLL 7, with a sledgehammer in the middle. That first Rw rotation moves the side edge pair away from you.

OLL 12

In the canonical orientation, edges are at three and six. But a simple y′ rotation makes this a mirror of OLL 11. Orient the U side so that the lightning bolt runs across the back half of the U side (from the R U edge to the L U B corner) and find the side edge pair at F left, then skip the initial y′ and start with the Lw′ rotation.

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

Solution: y′ Lw′ U′ L U′ L F′ L′ F L′ U2 Lw

Much like the solution for OLL 11, this is a left wide Sune with a sledgehammer mirror in the middle. The initial Lw′ rotation moves the side edge pair away from you.

Let’s review the four lightning shapes.

  • OLL 7 and OLL 8 are mirrors.
  • OLL 7 has a lightning bolt on the left half of the U side with a side edge pair at F right. The solution is a wide Sune. 
  • OLL 8 has a lightning bolt on the right half of the U side with a side edge pair at F left. The solution is a left wide Sune. 
  • All 11 and OLL 12 are mirrors. Both have a lightning bolt across the back half of the U side. 
  • OLL 11 has a side edge pair at F right. The solution is a wide Sune with a sledgehammer in the middle.
  • OLL 12 has a side edge pair at F left. The solution is a left wide Sune with a sledgehammer mirror in the middle.
  • For all four lightning shapes, the initial wide rotation moves the side edge pair away from you.

P Shapes

In a P shape, the top textures of five pieces form a latin letter P. The pieces are two edges in an L, the center piece, and two corners, as from U corners or T corners.

OLL 44

This P shape has U corners. In the canonical orientation, the P shape is upside down on the right half of the top side, the U headlights point left, and there is a bar along the left top edge. A y2 orientation facilitates a solution you already know. Orient the U side with the P shape on the left half and the bar along the right top edge. The edges will be at nine and noon. Then start the algorithm with an initial F rotation.

Setup: Fw U R U′ R′ Fw′

Solution: y2 F U R U′ R′ F′

This algorithm should be very familiar. It’s the edge flip algorithm employed in the Solve It! Beginner method.

OLL 43

This is the mirror of OLL 44. The P shape is on the left half of the U side. The edges are at six and nine. This scenario has U corners with the headlights pointing right, forming a bar across the right top edge.

Setup: Fw′ U′ L′ U L Fw

Solution: y2 F′ U′ L′ U L F

This solution mirrors the solution for OLL 44. On the main OLL page, you’ll find three solutions. Try them all and see which you prefer.

L Shapes

An L shape occurs when the edges are arranged as an L and the corners are all unsolved. The result is three pieces on the U side with their U textures pointing up—the two edges and the center piece. There are two ways for all corners to be unsolved, either Pi corners or H corners. The next two examples both have Pi corners.

OLL 48

Recognize this scenario by looking on the U side for an L shape with edges at nine and noon. On the sides, you’ll have a top texture pair at F right and headlights facing left.

Setup: F U R U′ R′ U R U′ R′ F′

Solution: F R U R′ U′ R U R′ U′ F′

The solution is less complicated than it seems. It’s an algorithm you already know, F R U R′ U′ F′, with the middle four rotations repeated. Here it is again, with parentheses to highlight the repetition.

F (R U R′ U′) (R U R′ U′) F′

OLL 47

This is the mirror of OLL 48. Recognize this scenario by looking for a U side L with edges at noon and three. On the sides, you’ll have a top texture pair at F left and headlights facing right.

Setup: F′ U′ L′ U L U′ L′ U L F

Solution: F′ L′ U′ L U L′ U′ L U F

As you would expect, the solution is the mirror of the OLL 48 solution.

OCLL Shapes

OCLL stands for orient corners of the last layer. On the 1-look OLL page, they’re listed as OLL 21 through 27. You already know these scenarios from 2-look OLL. All four edges are solved, and only the corners need to be oriented. Because you already know these scenarios and their solutions, there’s no need to describe them further. Simply use the same seven algorithms as in 2-look OLL.

Together with the T shapes, Square shapes, Lightning shapes, P shapes, and L shapes, you now know a total of 19 1-look OLL algorithms. That’s one-third of the 57 total. You can begin using these in your solves today while you continue mastering 1-look OLL.