Complete PLL Algorithm Library
All 21 permutation cases with interactive demos and recognition strategies
What You Will Learn
- Master all 21 PLL (Permutation of Last Layer) algorithms to complete your CFOP toolkit
- Develop fast PLL recognition using headlights, solved blocks, and edge patterns
- Understand the G-perms, corner swaps, edge swaps, and diagonal swap cases
- Practice fingertrick-optimized algorithms for maximum speed and efficiency
- Use interactive 3D demonstrations to perfect execution from any angle
Try the Interactive Simulator!
Want to practice the moves? Open the simulator.Open Simulator
Prerequisites Recommended
For best results, learn all 57 OLL algorithms first. PLL is typically the final step of CFOP method. Learn All OLL Cases
PLL Recognition is Critical
Fast PLL recognition is essential for speedcubing. Unlike OLL where you look at the top face, PLL recognition requires looking at all four sides of the last layer.
- Look for headlights (two matching colors on adjacent corners)
- Check for solved blocks (2x1 bars of matching color)
- Count the number of solved sides (0, 1, or 2)
- Use the two-look PLL method first to learn recognition patterns
21 algorithms
Ua Perm
3-cycle of edges (clockwise)
#Ua
Easy
•11 moves•edges-only•adjacent-swapR 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
Ub Perm
3-cycle of edges (counter-clockwise)
#Ub
Easy
•11 moves•edges-only•adjacent-swapR 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
H Perm
Two opposite edge swaps
#H
Easy
•7 moves•edges-only•easyM 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
Z Perm
Adjacent edge swaps
#Z
Medium
•9 moves•edges-only•mediumM' U M M U M M U M' U U M M- •Adjacent edges swapped (two checkerboard patterns)
- •No headlights
- •Corners stay in place
T Perm
Adjacent corner swap + adjacent edge swap
#T
Medium
•14 moves•adjacent-swap•mediumR U R' U' R' F R R U' R' U' R U R' F'- •Headlights on front
- •One solved edge on back
- •Adjacent corners need to swap
Ja Perm
Adjacent corner swap (left bar)
#Ja
Medium
•10 moves•adjacent-swap•mediumR' U L' U U R U' R' U U R L- •Solved block (bar) on left side
- •Two headlights on the left
- •Adjacent corners swap
Jb Perm
Adjacent corner swap (right bar)
#Jb
Medium
•13 moves•adjacent-swap•mediumR U R' F' R U R' U' R' F R R U' R'- •Solved block (bar) on right side
- •Two headlights on the right
- •Mirror of Ja perm
Ra Perm
Adjacent corner swap + edge cycle
#Ra
Hard
•15 moves•adjacent-swap•hardR U R' F' R U U R' U U R' F R U R U U R'- •Solved block in back left
- •Headlights on left
- •Complex pattern
Rb Perm
Adjacent corner swap + edge cycle (reverse)
#Rb
Hard
•13 moves•adjacent-swap•hardR' U U R U U R' F R U R' U' R' F' R R- •Solved block in back right
- •Headlights on right
- •Mirror of Ra perm
F Perm
Adjacent corner swap + opposite edge swap
#F
Hard
•18 moves•adjacent-swap•hardR' U' F' R U R' U' R' F R R U' R' U' R U R' U R- •Headlights on front
- •No solved blocks
- •One of the longest PLLs
Ga Perm
Double adjacent swap (type a)
#Ga
Hard
•15 moves•adjacent-swap•hardR R U R' U R' U' R U' R R D U' R' U R D'- •Headlights on front-left
- •Solved block in back-right
- •Complex double swap
Gb Perm
Double adjacent swap (type b)
#Gb
Hard
•15 moves•adjacent-swap•hardR' U' R U D' R R U R' U R U' R U' R R D- •Headlights on front-right
- •Solved block in back-left
- •Mirror pattern to Ga
Gc Perm
Double adjacent swap (type c)
#Gc
Hard
•15 moves•adjacent-swap•hardR R U' R U' R U R' U R R D' U R U' R' D- •Headlights on back-left
- •Solved block in front-right
- •Inverse of Ga
Gd Perm
Double adjacent swap (type d)
#Gd
Hard
•15 moves•adjacent-swap•hardR U R' U' D R R U' R U' R' U R' U R R D'- •Headlights on back-right
- •Solved block in front-left
- •Inverse of Gb
Aa Perm
Adjacent corner swap (3-cycle clockwise)
#Aa
Medium
•9 moves•adjacent-swap•corners-onlyx R' U R' D D R U' R' D D R R- •Headlights on left
- •Three corners cycle clockwise
- •Edges already solved
Ab Perm
Adjacent corner swap (3-cycle counter-clockwise)
#Ab
Medium
•9 moves•adjacent-swap•corners-onlyx R R D D R U R' D D R U' R- •Headlights on right
- •Three corners cycle counter-clockwise
- •Mirror of Aa perm
E Perm
Two diagonal corner swaps
#E
Hard
•15 moves•corners-only•diagonal-swapx' R U' R' D R U R' D' R U R' D R U' R' D'- •Two sets of headlights (opposite faces)
- •Diagonal corner swap
- •No edges moved
Y Perm
Diagonal corner swap + adjacent edge swap
#Y
Hard
•17 moves•diagonal-swap•hardF R U' R' U' R U R' F' R U R' U' R' F R F'- •No headlights
- •Diagonal corner swap
- •One solved edge
V Perm
Diagonal corner swap + edge swap
#V
Hard
•14 moves•diagonal-swap•hardR' U R' U' y R' F' R R U' R' U R' F R F- •One headlight pair
- •Diagonal corner swap
- •Complex edge pattern
Na Perm
Opposite corner swap + opposite edge swap
#Na
Hard
•21 moves•diagonal-swap•hardR U R' U R U R' F' R U R' U' R' F R R U' R' U U R U' R'- •No headlights
- •All pieces out of place
- •Most complex looking PLL
Nb Perm
Opposite corner swap + opposite edge swap (reverse)
#Nb
Hard
•17 moves•diagonal-swap•hardR' U R U' R' F' U' F R U R' F R' F' R U' R- •No headlights
- •Mirror of Na perm
- •Very complex pattern
Learning Strategy
- Start with 2-look PLL (Ua, Ub, H, Z for edges; T, Ja, Jb for corners) - these 7 cases can solve any PLL
- The four G-perms (Ga, Gb, Gc, Gd) are the most challenging - save them for last
- Learn PLL recognition from all angles - rotate the cube to find the best viewing angle
- Many PLLs have faster alternative algorithms - experiment to find what works for your turning style
- Use favorites to track cases you're currently learning or want to practice more
Recognition Training
Recognizing PLL cases quickly is a skill that requires dedicated practice. Here are the key strategies:
Recognition Strategies
- Headlights: Two matching corner colors on the same face (e.g., two red corners next to each other). Headlights appear in Ua, Ub, T, Ja, Jb, Aa, Ab, and some G-perms.
- Solved Blocks: A 2x1 block of matching color on one face. Blocks are key to recognizing J-perms, R-perms, and G-perms.
- Number of Solved Sides: Count how many sides have both edges matching the center. This quickly narrows down the possibilities.
- 2-Look Recognition: Start by learning to distinguish edge-only cases (Ua, Ub, H, Z) from corner swaps. This builds the foundation for full PLL recognition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Next Steps
Congratulations on mastering all 21 PLL algorithms! Here's what to focus on next: