Intermediate Method: 2-Look OLL/PLL
Ready to break past the beginner's plateau? The 2-Look method is the perfect stepping stone between the beginner method and full CFOP. With just 16 algorithms, you'll dramatically improve your solve times while building the foundation for advanced speedcubing.
What You'll Learn
- 2-Look OLL: Orient the last layer in just 2 steps (10 algorithms)
- 2-Look PLL: Permute the last layer efficiently (6 algorithms)
- A proven 5-day practice plan to master all algorithms
- Recognition techniques to identify cases quickly
- How to achieve consistent sub-30 second solve times
Why Learn 2-Look?
The 2-Look method offers the perfect balance between learning effort and speed improvement:
Minimal Learning Investment
Learn just 16 algorithms instead of 78 (full OLL/PLL). Most cubers master 2-Look in a week.
Immediate Speed Gains
Reduce your solve times by 30-50% compared to beginner method. Sub-30 seconds becomes achievable.
Smooth CFOP Transition
Every algorithm you learn is part of full CFOP. You're building skills, not wasting time on shortcuts.
Better Recognition Skills
Develop the pattern recognition abilities essential for advanced speedsolving.
2-Look OLL: Orient the Last Layer
Traditional beginner methods use 3+ steps for the yellow face. 2-Look OLL condenses this to just 2 steps with 10 algorithms. This is where you'll see the biggest time savings.
Step 1: Orient Edges (Yellow Cross)
Create a yellow cross on top. You'll only encounter 3 possible patterns: dot, line, or already done. Learn these 3 algorithms to handle all cases.
F R U R' U' F'- •T-shaped yellow pattern
- •Headlights on back
- •Simplest OLL algorithm
f R U R' U' R U R' U' f'- •Horizontal line of yellow on top
- •Headlights (matching colors) on front
f R U R' U' f' F R U R' U' F'- •T-shaped yellow pattern
- •P-like appearance from side
Step 2: Orient Corners (Complete Yellow Face)
Once edges are oriented, use one of 7 algorithms to orient the corners. The most common cases are Sune and Anti-Sune, which you'll use in over 50% of solves.
R U R' U R U U R'- •Headlights (matching colors) on the left
- •3 corners already oriented in a hook shape
- •Most common OLL case
R U U R' U' R U' R'- •Headlights (matching colors) on the right
- •3 corners oriented in reverse hook
- •Mirror of Sune
R U U R' U' R U' R'- •Two diagonal corners oriented
- •Vertical bar of yellow on right
R U R' U R U U R'- •Two diagonal corners oriented
- •Horizontal bar of yellow on top
R R D R' U U R D' R' U U R'- •Headlights on front
- •Two opposite corners oriented
r U R' U' r' F R F'- •One corner and one edge pair oriented
- •Chameleon pattern facing left
F' r U R' U' r' F R- •One corner and one edge pair oriented
- •Chameleon pattern facing right
2-Look PLL: Permute the Last Layer
After orienting all yellow pieces, 2-Look PLL positions them correctly in just 2 steps with 6 algorithms. This replaces the slower beginner method final steps.
Step 1: Permute Corners
Position all corners correctly using Aa or Ab algorithms. These are 3-cycle corner swaps that handle all corner permutation cases.
x R' U R' D D R U' R' D D R R- •Headlights on left
- •Three corners cycle clockwise
- •Edges already solved
x R R D D R U R' D D R U' R- •Headlights on right
- •Three corners cycle counter-clockwise
- •Mirror of Aa perm
Step 2: Permute Edges
Finish the cube by positioning edges with Ua, Ub, H, or Z algorithms. The U-perms are the most common and easiest to execute.
R U' R U R U R U' R' U' R R- •Solved block on the left
- •3 edges need to cycle clockwise
- •Headlights on back
R R U R U R' U' R' U' R' U R'- •Solved block on the right
- •3 edges need to cycle counter-clockwise
- •Headlights on front
M M U M M U U M M U M M- •Opposite edges swapped (front-back and left-right)
- •Two sets of headlights
- •No corners moved
M' U M M U M M U M' U U M M- •Adjacent edges swapped (two checkerboard patterns)
- •No headlights
- •Corners stay in place
5-Day Mastery Plan
Follow this structured plan to master 2-Look method efficiently. Most learners achieve fluency in 5-7 days with 30-60 minutes of daily practice.
1. Learn OLL 44, 45, and 51
Memorize all three edge orientation algorithms. Write them down and practice finger tricks.
2. Drill edge recognition
Practice identifying which case you have by looking at edge patterns only.
3. Full solves with new OLL step 1
Complete 20-30 solves using your new edge orientation knowledge.
- •Focus on recognition speed over execution speed
- •Track your average times to see improvement
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Practice?
Now that you understand 2-Look OLL/PLL, it's time to put it into practice. Use our online timer to track your progress, or dive deeper into the full algorithm libraries.