CLL 2x2 is a set of algorithms that solves the whole yellow layer of the 2x2 cube in one go, once the white layer is done. Instead of making the yellow face first and then swapping the corners like the beginner method does, you look at the yellow layer, spot the case and do just one algorithm. This post has all 42 CLL cases in 8 groups, and every case has a before and after picture.
Find your case fast
Look at your cube from above and tap the picture that matches it to see how to solve it. Grey cells are stickers you can ignore.
This guide is for anyone who can already solve the 2x2 with the beginner's method for the 2x2 cube and can read cube notation. Every algorithm here has been tested on the EasyRubic 2x2 cube simulator.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
What is CLL?
CLL stands for Corners of the Last Layer. According to the SpeedSolving Wiki, solving the 2x2 with CLL takes two steps: solve one full layer as in the layer-by-layer method, then solve the other layer with one of 42 algorithms. The idea goes back to the 1980s and was put forward by Guus Razoux Schultz (SpeedSolving Wiki).
Wikipedia describes the same approach for the 2x2: make one layer, then solve the second layer in one step with one of 42 algorithms (Wikipedia).
Compared with the beginner method:
- Beginner method: first layer, then Sune (sometimes two or three times) for the yellow face, then one more algorithm to swap the corners.
- With CLL: first layer, then one CLL algorithm. After that, at most one U turn to line the top layer up with the first layer.
On the 3x3 cube, the matching set of algorithms is called COLL. COLL works like CLL but has to keep the edges oriented (SpeedSolving Wiki). The 2x2 has no edges, so CLL algorithms are freer and usually shorter.
How many CLL cases are there on the 2x2?
The SpeedSolving Wiki counts 42 cases, including two where the yellow face is already done and only the corners need swapping. According to that page, an optimal solution takes about 9.8 moves per case on average (SpeedSolving Wiki).
The cases are grouped by the shape of the yellow face, just like the corner OLL groups. The SpeedSolving Wiki CxLL page uses the group names O, U, T, L, Sune (S), Anti-Sune (-S), Pi and H (SpeedSolving Wiki). This post uses the same names:
| Group | Yellow stickers on top | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| O | 4 | 2 |
| Sune | 1 | 6 |
| Anti-Sune | 1 | 6 |
| U | 2, next to each other | 6 |
| T | 2, next to each other | 6 |
| L | 2, diagonal | 6 |
| Pi | 0 | 6 |
| H | 0 | 4 |
If you later want to go on to the EG method, CLL is the first part: according to Wikipedia, EG needs 128 algorithms, and 42 of them are the CLL algorithms (Wikipedia).
How to read the pictures and spot a case
In every picture in this post, the first layer (white) is at the bottom and the top layer (yellow) is on top. The left picture is the case to solve, the right picture is the cube after the algorithm. The pictures only show the top, front and right faces; to see the back and left, tilt the cube in your hand.
Spot a case in three steps:
1. Find the group. Count the yellow stickers on top and see where the yellow stickers on the sides are, using the description at the start of each group below. 2. Turn U so the yellow stickers sit like the picture. Only turn the top layer; the first layer stays put. 3. Compare colours using the "How to spot it" line. Don't match the exact colours in the picture: they are only an example, and your cube may be turned to different colours. Compare the relationship between two stickers instead: - same colour: the two stickers are the same colour; - opposite colours: the two colours are opposite each other on a solved cube, like red and orange, or blue and green; - adjacent colours: different but not opposite, like red and green.
Every sticker in the "How to spot it" line is on the top layer. For example, "the front sticker of the front-left corner" is the sticker on the front face of the top corner at the front left.
After the algorithm, if the top layer isn't lined up with the first layer yet, one more U turn finishes it.
O group: yellow face already done (2 cases)
All four yellow stickers are already on top, and only the corners need swapping. In O 1, exactly one side has two top-layer stickers of the same colour: that is the case where two neighbouring corners swap. In O 2, no side has two top-layer stickers of the same colour: that is the case where two diagonal corners swap.
O 1: R2 F2 R′ U′ R F2 R′ U R′
How to spot it: The front sticker of the front-left corner and the back sticker of the back-left corner are opposite colours.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
O 2: R U′ R′ U′ F2 U′ R U R′ U F2
How to spot it: The front sticker of the front-left corner and the right sticker of the back-right corner are adjacent colours.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
Sune group (6 cases)
One yellow sticker on top. Turn U so that corner is at the front left: the front-right corner has its yellow sticker on the front. Sune 1 is the same Sune algorithm as in the beginner 2x2 guide.
Sune 1: R U R′ U R U2 R′
How to spot it: The front sticker of the front-left corner and the right sticker of the front-right corner are the same colour; the front sticker of the front-left corner and the back sticker of the back-right corner are adjacent colours.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
Sune 2: R U′ R′ F R′ F′ R
How to spot it: The front sticker of the front-left corner and the right sticker of the front-right corner are adjacent colours; the front sticker of the front-left corner and the back sticker of the back-right corner are opposite colours.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
Sune 3: R′ U2 R U2 R F′ U′ F
How to spot it: The front sticker of the front-left corner and the back sticker of the back-right corner are opposite colours; the two stickers on the right are opposite colours.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
Sune 4: F R′ F′ R U2 R U2 R′
How to spot it: The front sticker of the front-left corner and the right sticker of the front-right corner are adjacent colours; the front sticker of the front-left corner and the back sticker of the back-right corner are the same colour.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
Sune 5: R2 F R U2 F U2 R′ F′ R2
How to spot it: The front sticker of the front-left corner and the right sticker of the front-right corner are opposite colours; the front sticker of the front-left corner and the back sticker of the back-right corner are the same colour.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
Sune 6: R U R′ U R′ F R F′ R U2 R′
How to spot it: The front sticker of the front-left corner and the right sticker of the front-right corner are adjacent colours; the right sticker of the front-right corner and the back sticker of the back-right corner are the same colour.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
Anti-Sune group (6 cases)
One yellow sticker on top. Turn U so that corner is at the front left: the front-right corner has its yellow sticker on the right. Anti-Sune 1 is the Sune algorithm done backwards.
Anti-Sune 1: R U2 R′ U′ R U′ R′
How to spot it: The front sticker of the front-right corner and the right sticker of the back-right corner are the same colour; the front sticker of the front-right corner and the back sticker of the back-left corner are opposite colours.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
Anti-Sune 2: R′ F R F′ R U R′
How to spot it: The front sticker of the front-right corner and the back sticker of the back-left corner are opposite colours; the two stickers on the right are adjacent colours.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
Anti-Sune 3: F′ U F R′ U2 R′ U2 R
How to spot it: The front sticker of the front-right corner and the right sticker of the back-right corner are adjacent colours; the front sticker of the front-right corner and the back sticker of the back-left corner are the same colour.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
Anti-Sune 4: R U2 R′ U2 R′ F R F′
How to spot it: The front sticker of the front-right corner and the back sticker of the back-left corner are opposite colours; the two stickers on the right are opposite colours.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
Anti-Sune 5: R2 F R U2 F′ U2 R′ F′ R2
How to spot it: The front sticker of the front-right corner and the right sticker of the back-right corner are opposite colours; the front sticker of the front-right corner and the back sticker of the back-left corner are the same colour.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
Anti-Sune 6: R F′ U2 F R′ U2 R U R2
How to spot it: The front sticker of the front-right corner and the right sticker of the back-right corner are opposite colours; the front sticker of the front-right corner and the back sticker of the back-left corner are opposite colours.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
U group (6 cases)
Two yellow stickers on top, next to each other. The other two corners have their yellow stickers on the same side.
U 1: F R U R′ U′ F′
How to spot it: The two stickers on the front are adjacent colours; the two stickers on the right are opposite colours.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
U 2: R′ U F′ R U′ R′ F2 U2 R
How to spot it: The two stickers on the right are adjacent colours; the right sticker of the front-right corner and the left sticker of the front-left corner are the same colour.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
U 3: R2 U′ F R2 F′ U R U2 R
How to spot it: The two stickers on the front are adjacent colours; the front sticker of the front-right corner and the right sticker of the back-right corner are opposite colours.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
U 4: R U′ F U′ R′ U F′ R′ F
How to spot it: The two stickers on the right are opposite colours; the right sticker of the front-right corner and the left sticker of the back-left corner are opposite colours.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
U 5: R2 U F′ U2 F U′ R′ U2 R′
How to spot it: The two stickers on the right are adjacent colours; the right sticker of the front-right corner and the left sticker of the back-left corner are the same colour.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
U 6: R F R U2 R2 U F R U2 R
How to spot it: The two stickers on the front are opposite colours; the front sticker of the front-left corner and the back sticker of the back-right corner are the same colour.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
T group (6 cases)
Two yellow stickers on top, next to each other. The other two corners have their yellow stickers on two opposite sides.
T 1: F R F′ U′ R′ U′ R
How to spot it: The front sticker of the front-right corner and the left sticker of the front-left corner are the same colour; the two stickers on the right are adjacent colours.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
T 2: R U R′ U′ R′ F R F′
How to spot it: The front sticker of the front-right corner and the left sticker of the front-left corner are opposite colours; the two stickers on the right are adjacent colours.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
T 3: R′ U2 F2 R U R′ F U′ R
How to spot it: The front sticker of the front-left corner and the right sticker of the front-right corner are the same colour; the two stickers on the right are opposite colours.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
T 4: F U′ R′ U F′ R′ F U′ R
How to spot it: The two stickers on the front are opposite colours; the front sticker of the front-left corner and the right sticker of the back-right corner are adjacent colours.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
T 5: R F′ U F R2 U2 R U R′
How to spot it: The two stickers on the front are the same colour; the front sticker of the front-left corner and the back sticker of the back-right corner are opposite colours.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
T 6: R F′ R U2 R′ U2 R′ U F R2
How to spot it: The front sticker of the front-left corner and the right sticker of the front-right corner are opposite colours; the two stickers on the right are the same colour.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
L group (6 cases)
Two yellow stickers on top, diagonal from each other.
L 1: F R′ F′ R U R U′ R′
How to spot it: The front sticker of the front-right corner and the back sticker of the back-right corner are adjacent colours; the front sticker of the front-right corner and the left sticker of the back-left corner are opposite colours.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
L 2: R2 U′ R U2 R′ U2 R U′ R2
How to spot it: The front sticker of the front-left corner and the right sticker of the front-right corner are the same colour; the two stickers on the right are adjacent colours.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
L 3: R U2 R U F′ U2 F U′ R2
How to spot it: The front sticker of the front-right corner and the back sticker of the back-right corner are opposite colours; the front sticker of the front-right corner and the left sticker of the back-left corner are opposite colours.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
L 4: F R U′ R′ U′ R U R′ F′
How to spot it: The front sticker of the front-right corner and the back sticker of the back-right corner are opposite colours; the front sticker of the front-right corner and the left sticker of the back-left corner are the same colour.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
L 5: R′ U2 R′ U′ F R2 F′ U R2
How to spot it: The two stickers on the front are adjacent colours; the front sticker of the front-left corner and the right sticker of the back-right corner are the same colour.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
L 6: R U2 R2 F R F′ R U2 R′
How to spot it: The front sticker of the front-right corner and the back sticker of the back-right corner are adjacent colours; the front sticker of the front-right corner and the left sticker of the front-left corner are opposite colours.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
Pi group (6 cases)
No yellow stickers on top. One side has two yellow stickers, and the other two yellow stickers are on two different sides.
Pi 1: F U2 R′ U2 R U2 R U2 F′
How to spot it: The right sticker of the front-right corner and the back sticker of the back-right corner are opposite colours; the right sticker of the front-right corner and the back sticker of the back-left corner are opposite colours.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
Pi 2: R2 U F2 R′ U2 R F2 U′ R2
How to spot it: The front sticker of the front-left corner and the right sticker of the front-right corner are adjacent colours; the two stickers on the right are the same colour.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
Pi 3: F R U R′ U′ R U R′ U′ F′
How to spot it: The front sticker of the front-left corner and the right sticker of the front-right corner are adjacent colours; the two stickers on the right are opposite colours.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
Pi 4: F2 U R U R′ U2 F2 R U2 R′
How to spot it: The right sticker of the front-right corner and the back sticker of the back-right corner are adjacent colours; the right sticker of the front-right corner and the back sticker of the back-left corner are the same colour.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
Pi 5: R U2 R′ F2 U2 R U′ R′ U′ F2
How to spot it: The front sticker of the front-right corner and the back sticker of the back-right corner are adjacent colours; the front sticker of the front-right corner and the left sticker of the back-left corner are the same colour.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
Pi 6: R′ F R F′ R U′ R′ U′ R U′ R′
How to spot it: The front sticker of the front-right corner and the back sticker of the back-right corner are opposite colours; the front sticker of the front-right corner and the left sticker of the back-left corner are the same colour.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
H group (4 cases)
No yellow stickers on top. Two yellow stickers are on one side, and the other two are on the opposite side.
H 1: R2 U2 R U2 R2
How to spot it: The two stickers on the right are opposite colours; the right sticker of the front-right corner and the left sticker of the back-left corner are opposite colours.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
H 2: R2 F U2 F2 R2 F R2
How to spot it: The two stickers on the front are the same colour; the front sticker of the front-left corner and the back sticker of the back-right corner are opposite colours.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
H 3: F U2 R′ U2 R′ U2 R U2 F′
How to spot it: The two stickers on the front are the same colour; the front sticker of the front-left corner and the back sticker of the back-right corner are adjacent colours.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
H 4: R′ U R F′ R2 U2 F′ R′ U R′
How to spot it: The two stickers on the right are adjacent colours; the right sticker of the front-right corner and the left sticker of the front-left corner are the same colour.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
In what order should you tackle CLL 2x2?
42 algorithms is a lot to take on at once. Here is an easy order to follow:
- The algorithms you already know. Sune 1 and Anti-Sune 1 are Sune and Sune backwards. U 1 (F R U R′ U′ F′), T 2 (R U R′ U′ R′ F R F′) and Pi 3 are also familiar sequences if you already know OLL on the 3x3 cube.
- The Sune and Anti-Sune groups. 12 cases, and each has one yellow sticker on top, so the group is easy to spot.
- The U, T and L groups. Two yellow stickers on top.
- The Pi and H groups. No yellow stickers on top, so you need to look closely at the sides.
- The O group. You can still solve these two cases with the corner-swapping algorithm from the beginner guide, so they can come last.
Until you know a case by heart, just solve that part with the beginner method. Each time it comes up again, open this page and compare the pictures; bit by bit you will spot it without looking.
The algorithms in this post were picked to be short and to use only the R, U and F faces, so they are easy with your right hand. Every case has lots of different algorithms; if another one feels better in your hands, go ahead and use it, as long as it solves that case correctly.
See it in 3D, before and after
- You start with (input)
- After the formula
Video
Want to see it in motion? The short video below from the Scooch Cubing channel on YouTube shows more of what this post covers. The video belongs to that channel and is embedded straight from YouTube.
Frequently asked questions
How many CLL algorithms are there for the 2x2?
42 algorithms. Two of them are for cases where the yellow face is already done and only the corners need swapping.
What do I need to know before starting CLL 2x2?
You need to be able to solve the first layer of the 2x2 quickly and reliably, and read the notation R, U, F. If you can't yet, read the beginner's guide to solving the 2x2 cube first.
How is CLL different from the Ortega method?
With CLL, you solve the whole first layer, including the colours on the sides, then do one algorithm for the top layer. With the Ortega method, you only need to make one colour face on the bottom, then the top face, then swap the corners on both layers. According to Wikipedia, Ortega needs 12 algorithms, while solving with CLL needs 42.
Are CLL 2x2 and COLL 3x3 the same?
Same idea: solve the last-layer corners in one go. But COLL on the 3x3 cube has to keep the edges oriented, so not every CLL algorithm works for COLL.
Why are the algorithms here different from the ones on other sites?
Every case has many correct algorithms. The ones in this post were picked to be short, use only R, U and F, and have been tested on the simulator. They average under 9 moves each.