How to Do Two‐Look OLL to Help Solve a Rubik's Cube

Editor

posted on 8 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

24
views

Two-look OLL (Orientation of the Last Layer) is a part of the CFOP (Cross, First 2 Layers, Orientation, Permutation) method used by most speedcubers. Two-look refers to the technique of doing this maneuver in two parts, which gives you 11 algorithms to learn, as opposed to the 57 algorithms for traditional OLL. The goal of OLL is to make sure the last face is complete. This does not mean the cube is solved, as the last layer is still scrambled. After you have done OLL, you must do PLL (Permutation of the Last Layer) to completely solve the cube.[1]
X
Research source

Steps

Making the Cross on Top

Hold the cube so the unsolved face is on top. Most people start with white, so their last face will be yellow, which we will use in this how-to. If you see yellow, but your unsolved face is e.g. blue, just replace yellow with blue.

Look at your cube and determine which scenario you have. Below are how the unsolved face looks from above, for each of the four possibilities. The yellow squares indicate that they are already the right colour, the white squares could be any other colour. The corners could also be yellow, but that doesn't matter (for now, at least). The bottom side is the side facing you. These are the possibilities: The DotRubik's_Cube_Dot.png The HookRubik's_Cube_Hook.png The BarRubik's_Cube_Bar.png The Cross (the ideal scenario) Rubik's_Cube_Cross.png Below is the solution for each case, find the one you have and follow the instructions. If you already have a cross, proceed with the next part: solving the corners. Note that one or more corners may or may not be solved. This doesn't affect the following steps.

Keep holding the unsolved face on top unless specifically stated otherwise.

Hold the cube any way you look, as long as the unsolved face is on top.

Apply the following algorithm: F R U R' U' F' f R U R' U' f'. This should give you a cross on top, now you're ready to go to the next part: solving the corners.

Hold the cube so one "leg" of the hook is pointing right and the other pointing towards you.

Apply the following algorithm: f R U R' U' f'. This should give you a cross on top, now you're ready to go to the next part: solving the corners.

Hold the cube so the bar is horizontal.

Apply the following algorithm: F R U R' U' F'. This should give you a cross on top, now you're ready to go to the next part: solving the corners.

Solving the Corners

Hold the unsolved face on top.

Look at your cube and determine which scenario you have. This is how the unsolved face looks from above. The yellow squares indicate that they are already the right colour, the white squares could be any other colour. A line on the side of a square means that yellow is not on top, but on the side. The bottom side is the side facing you. These are the possibilities: The SuneRubik's_Cube_Sune.png The Anti-SuneRubik's_Cube_Anti Sune.png The HRubik's_Cube_H.png The PiRubik's_Cube_Pi.png The HeadlightsRubik's_Cube_Headlights.png The ChameleonRubik's_Cube_Chameleon.png The BowtieRubik's_Cube_Bowtie.png Below is the solution for each case, find the one you have and follow the instructions