This post collects every OLL algorithm for the 3x3 Rubik's Cube: 57 cases, each with a picture and an algorithm. The cases are sorted by the shape the yellow stickers make on the top face, which is exactly how speedcubers spot them. Every algorithm has been tested on the EasyRubic cube simulator.

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.

  • Case 1

    FRUR′U′RUR′U′RUR′U′F′

    F R U R' U' R U R' U' R U R' U' F'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 2

    RU2R2U′R2U′R2U2R

    R U2 R2 U' R2 U' R2 U2 R

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 3

    R2DR′U2RD′R′U2R′

    R2 D R' U2 R D' R' U2 R'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 4

    RwUR′U′Rw′FRF′

    Rw U R' U' Rw' F R F'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 5

    F′RwUR′U′Rw′FR

    F' Rw U R' U' Rw' F R

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 6

    RU2R′U′RU′R′

    R U2 R' U' R U' R'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 7

    RUR′URU2R′

    R U R' U R U2 R'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 8

    RwUR′U′Rw′RURU′R′

    Rw U R' U' Rw' R U R U' R'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 9

    RUR′U′RwR′URU′Rw′

    R U R' U' Rw R' U R U' Rw'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 10

    RUR′U′R′FRF′

    R U R' U' R' F R F'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 11

    FRUR′U′F′

    F R U R' U' F'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 12

    R′U′FURU′R′F′R

    R' U' F U R U' R' F' R

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 13

    RUB′U′R′URBR′

    R U B' U' R' U R B R'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 14

    R′U′F′UFR

    R' U' F' U F R

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 15

    FURU′R′F′

    F U R U' R' F'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 16

    RUR2U′R′FRURU′F′

    R U R2 U' R' F R U R U' F'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 17

    R′U′R′FRF′UR

    R' U' R' F R F' U R

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 18

    L′U′LU′L′ULULF′L′F

    L' U' L U' L' U L U L F' L' F

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 19

    RUR′URU′R′U′R′FRF′

    R U R' U R U' R' U' R' F R F'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 20

    Lw′U2LUL′ULw

    Lw' U2 L U L' U Lw

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 21

    RwU2R′U′RU′Rw′

    Rw U2 R' U' R U' Rw'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 22

    RwUR′URU2Rw′

    Rw U R' U R U2 Rw'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 23

    Lw′U′LU′L′U2Lw

    Lw' U' L U' L' U2 Lw

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 24

    RwUR′UR′FRF′RU2Rw′

    Rw U R' U R' F R F' R U2 Rw'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 25

    FRUR′U′F′UFRUR′U′F′

    F R U R' U' F' U F R U R' U' F'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 26

    LF′L′U′LUFU′L′

    L F' L' U' L U F U' L'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 27

    R′FRUR′U′F′UR

    R' F R U R' U' F' U R

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 28

    RUR′U′R′FR2UR′U′F′

    R U R' U' R' F R2 U R' U' F'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 29

    RUR′UR′FRF′RU2R′

    R U R' U R' F R F' R U2 R'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 30

    RU2R2FRF′RU2R′

    R U2 R2 F R F' R U2 R'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 31

    FR′F′RURU′R′

    F R' F' R U R U' R'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 32

    FURU2R′U′RUR′F′

    F U R U2 R' U' R U R' F'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 33

    R′FRUR′F′RFU′F′

    R' F R U R' F' R F U' F'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 34

    Lw′U′LwL′U′LULw′ULw

    Lw' U' Lw L' U' L U Lw' U Lw

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 35

    RwURw′RUR′U′RwU′Rw′

    Rw U Rw' R U R' U' Rw U' Rw'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 36

    RUR′U′RU′R′F′U′FRUR′

    R U R' U' R U' R' F' U' F R U R'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 37

    FURU2R′U′RU2R′U′F′

    F U R U2 R' U' R U2 R' U' F'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 38

    RUR′URU2R′FRUR′U′F′

    R U R' U R U2 R' F R U R' U' F'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 39

    R′U′RU′R′U2RFRUR′U′F′

    R' U' R U' R' U2 R F R U R' U' F'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 40

    FR′F′RU2RU′R′URU2R′

    F R' F' R U2 R U' R' U R U2 R'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 41

    FRUR′U′RUR′U′F′

    F R U R' U' R U R' U' F'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 42

    RwU′Rw2URw2URw2U′Rw

    Rw U' Rw2 U Rw2 U Rw2 U' Rw

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 43

    R′FR2B′R2F′R2BR′

    R' F R2 B' R2 F' R2 B R'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 44

    Lw′U′LU′L′ULU′L′U2Lw

    Lw' U' L U' L' U L U' L' U2 Lw

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 45

    RwUR′URU′R′URU2Rw′

    Rw U R' U R U' R' U R U2 Rw'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 46

    FURU′R′URU′R′F′

    F U R U' R' U R U' R' F'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 47

    RUR′URU′BU′B′R′

    R U R' U R U' B U' B' R'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 48

    R′FRURU′R2F′R2U′R′URUR′

    R' F R U R U' R2 F' R2 U' R' U R U R'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 49

    RwURw′URU′R′URU′R′RwU′Rw′

    Rw U Rw' U R U' R' U R U' R' Rw U' Rw'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 50

    RU2R2FRF′U2R′FRF′

    R U2 R2 F R F' U2 R' F R F'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 51

    FRUR′U′F′FwRUR′U′Fw′

    F R U R' U' F' Fw R U R' U' Fw'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 52

    FwRUR′U′Fw′U′FRUR′U′F′

    Fw R U R' U' Fw' U' F R U R' U' F'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 53

    FwRUR′U′Fw′UFRUR′U′F′

    Fw R U R' U' Fw' U F R U R' U' F'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 54

    RUR′UR′FRF′U2R′FRF′

    R U R' U R' F R F' U2 R' F R F'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 55

    RwUR′URU2Rw2U′RU′R′U2Rw

    Rw U R' U R U2 Rw2 U' R U' R' U2 Rw

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 56

    Rw′RURUR′U′RwR2FRF′

    Rw' R U R U R' U' Rw R2 F R F'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →
  • Case 57

    Rw′RURUR′U′Rw2R2URU′Rw′

    Rw' R U R U R' U' Rw2 R2 U R U' Rw'

    1. You start with (input)
    2. After the formula
    See it in the post →

This is part seven of the CFOP series, right after 2-look OLL. If you can't solve the yellow face with 2-look OLL yet, read that post first: its 9 algorithms are the base for this one too.

What is full OLL?

OLL (Orientation of the Last Layer) is the third step of CFOP. The goal is to make the whole top face yellow. Where the pieces sit doesn't matter yet; the PLL step after it takes care of that.

With 2-look OLL you do this in two goes: flip the edges, then twist the corners. Full OLL does it in one go, with one algorithm for each pattern on the top face. According to the SpeedSolving Wiki there are 57 of these patterns, and the step was proposed by Hans Dockhorn, Anneke Treep and Jessica Fridrich in 1981 (SpeedSolving Wiki). Ruwix says it plainly too: to finish OLL in one step you need all 57 algorithms (Ruwix).

The main gain is one less pause to look and one less algorithm. The SpeedSolving Wiki says the set used for speedsolving averages about 9.7 moves.

How to read the pictures and notation

  • Yellow on top, green in front. In the pictures the right face is orange. The bottom two layers are already solved (F2L is done).
  • Each picture shows two cubes: on the left is the case you have, on the right is the cube after the algorithm. Only the top layer is coloured.
  • In OLL you only need to look at the yellow stickers. The other colours on the top layer don't matter yet, and on a real cube the sides are usually still mixed up after OLL.
  • The pictures only show the front and right faces. So under each case there is a line counting the yellow stickers in the top row of each side (front, right, back, left), so you can check the two hidden sides as well.
  • Before doing the algorithm, turn the top face (U, U' or U2) so your cube looks like the left-hand picture.

Notation: Rw, Lw and Fw mean turning two layers at once (the outer layer and the middle slice) on the right, left and front. Many sites write these moves in lower case: r, l, f. This post doesn't use the middle-slice moves M or S: algorithms that have M or S are rewritten with equivalent moves. If the notation is new to you, see Rubik's Cube notation for beginners.

How are the 57 cases grouped?

The first thing to check when spotting a case is the four edges on the top face:

  1. All four edges yellow on top (you already have a cross): 7 cases. These are the 7 corner cases from 2-look OLL.
  2. Two edges yellow on top: 42 cases. These are split up further by shape: T, P, C, W, square, lightning bolt, fish, knight, L, line and a few shapes that are hard to name.
  3. No edges yellow on top (just the centre dot): 8 cases.

The grouping and the numbering from OLL 1 to OLL 57 in this post follow the SpeedSolving Wiki. Ruwix also sorts the cases by the shape of the yellow stickers (dot, line, cross, four corners, C, L, P, T, W and so on). The names of the groups are our own.

Group 1: yellow cross already done

All four edges are yellow; only the corners are still wrong. If you already know 2-look OLL, you know all 7 of these algorithms; they are the same ones as in the previous post.

No yellow corners on top: OLL 21 and OLL 22

OLL 21 (H). Yellow stickers on the sides: front 2, right 0, back 2, left 0.

F R U R' U' R U R' U' R U R' U' F'

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 22 (Pi). Yellow stickers on the sides: front 1, right 0, back 1, left 2.

R U2 R2 U' R2 U' R2 U2 R

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

Two yellow corners on top: OLL 23, 24, 25

OLL 23 (headlights). Yellow stickers on the sides: front 2, right 0, back 0, left 0.

R2 D R' U2 R D' R' U2 R'

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 24 (T). Yellow stickers on the sides: front 1, right 0, back 1, left 0.

Rw U R' U' Rw' F R F'

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 25 (bowtie). Yellow stickers on the sides: front 1, right 0, back 0, left 1.

F' Rw U R' U' Rw' F R

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

One yellow corner on top: OLL 26 and OLL 27

OLL 26 (Antisune). Yellow stickers on the sides: front 1, right 1, back 0, left 1.

R U2 R' U' R U' R'

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 27 (Sune). Yellow stickers on the sides: front 1, right 1, back 1, left 0.

R U R' U R U2 R'

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

Group 2: two yellow edges on top

This is the biggest group. The two yellow edges are either next to each other (together with the centre they make a small L) or in a line (together with the centre they make a straight line). Then count the yellow corners on top, and finally look at the overall shape.

Four yellow corners: OLL 28 and OLL 57

All four corners are already yellow; only two edges are wrong. In OLL 28 the two yellow edges are next to each other; in OLL 57 they are in a line.

OLL 28. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 1, right 1, back 0, left 0.

Rw U R' U' Rw' R U R U' R'

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 57. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 1, right 0, back 1, left 0.

R U R' U' Rw R' U R U' Rw'

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

T shapes: OLL 33 and OLL 45

The two edges are in a line and the two yellow corners sit at one end of it, making a T lying on its side. OLL 45 is the same as the line algorithm from 2-look OLL.

OLL 33. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 2, right 0, back 2, left 0.

R U R' U' R' F R F'

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 45. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 1, right 0, back 1, left 2.

F R U R' U' F'

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

P shapes: OLL 31, 32, 43, 44

The two edges are next to each other and the two yellow corners sit either side of the same yellow edge: one side of the top has all three stickers yellow, and with the centre and the other edge it looks like a P. OLL 44 is the same as the L algorithm from 2-look OLL.

OLL 31. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 2, right 0, back 1, left 1.

R' U' F U R U' R' F' R

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 32. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 1, right 0, back 2, left 1.

R U B' U' R' U R B R'

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 43. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 3, right 1, back 0, left 0.

R' U' F' U F R

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 44. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 1, right 3, back 0, left 0.

F U R U' R' F'

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

C shapes: OLL 34 and OLL 46

The two edges are in a line, and the two yellow corners sit along one side parallel to the line, making a C.

OLL 34. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 1, right 1, back 1, left 1.

R U R2 U' R' F R U R U' F'

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 46. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 0, right 3, back 0, left 1.

R' U' R' F R F' U R

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

W shapes: OLL 36 and OLL 38

The two edges are next to each other and the two yellow corners sit diagonally like a staircase, making a W.

OLL 36. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 1, right 0, back 1, left 2.

L' U' L U' L' U L U L F' L' F

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 38. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 1, right 2, back 1, left 0.

R U R' U R U' R' U' R' F R F'

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

Squares: OLL 5 and OLL 6

The two edges are next to each other and one yellow corner sits between them, making a 2x2 square in one corner of the top face.

OLL 5. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 2, right 2, back 0, left 1.

Lw' U2 L U L' U Lw

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 6. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 2, right 1, back 0, left 2.

Rw U2 R' U' R U' Rw'

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

Small lightning bolts: OLL 7, 8, 11, 12

The two edges are next to each other and one yellow corner sits beside a yellow edge but not between the two edges, making a lightning bolt.

OLL 7. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 2, right 2, back 1, left 0.

Rw U R' U R U2 Rw'

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 8. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 2, right 0, back 1, left 2.

Lw' U' L U' L' U2 Lw

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 11. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 2, right 1, back 1, left 1.

Rw U R' U R' F R F' R U2 Rw'

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 12. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 1, right 1, back 1, left 2.

F R U R' U' F' U F R U R' U' F'

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

Big lightning bolts: OLL 39 and OLL 40

The two edges are in a line and the two yellow corners sit diagonally at the two ends of it, making a long lightning bolt.

OLL 39. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 1, right 1, back 2, left 0.

L F' L' U' L U F U' L'

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 40. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 1, right 0, back 2, left 1.

R' F R U R' U' F' U R

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

Fish: OLL 9, 10, 35, 37

The two edges are next to each other and the yellow stickers look like a fish: there is always one yellow corner in the corner opposite the small L (the centre and the two yellow edges).

OLL 9. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 2, right 1, back 1, left 1.

R U R' U' R' F R2 U R' U' F'

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 10. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 1, right 1, back 2, left 1.

R U R' U R' F R F' R U2 R'

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 35. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 1, right 1, back 1, left 1.

R U2 R2 F R F' R U2 R'

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 37. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 2, right 2, back 0, left 0.

F R' F' R U R U' R'

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

Knights: OLL 13, 14, 15, 16

The two edges are in a line and one yellow corner sits at one end, like the L-shaped move of a knight in chess.

OLL 13. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 2, right 1, back 2, left 0.

F U R U2 R' U' R U R' F'

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 14. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 2, right 0, back 2, left 1.

R' F R U R' F' R F U' F'

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 15. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 2, right 1, back 1, left 1.

Lw' U' Lw L' U' L U Lw' U Lw

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 16. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 2, right 1, back 1, left 1.

Rw U Rw' R U R' U' Rw U' Rw'

See it in 3D, before and after
  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

Hard-to-name shapes: OLL 29, 30, 41, 42

The two edges are next to each other and there are two yellow corners, but they don't make a P, a W or a fish. This is the easiest group to mix up, so rely on the count of yellow stickers on the sides.

OLL 29. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 2, right 1, back 1, left 0.

R U R' U' R U' R' F' U' F R U R'

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  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 30. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 1, right 2, back 0, left 1.

F U R U2 R' U' R U2 R' U' F'

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  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 41. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 1, right 1, back 2, left 0.

R U R' U R U2 R' F R U R' U' F'

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  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 42. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 2, right 1, back 1, left 0.

R' U' R U' R' U2 R F R U R' U' F'

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  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 41 is just Sune (OLL 27) followed by the T algorithm (OLL 45), and OLL 42 ends with the same T algorithm, so they are very easy to remember if you already know 2-look OLL.

L shapes: OLL 47, 48, 49, 50, 53, 54

The two edges are next to each other and there are no yellow corners on top: the top face only has the small L made by the centre and the two edges.

OLL 47. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 1, right 2, back 2, left 1.

F R' F' R U2 R U' R' U R U2 R'

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  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 48. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 2, right 1, back 1, left 2.

F R U R' U' R U R' U' F'

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  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 49. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 2, right 0, back 1, left 3.

Rw U' Rw2 U Rw2 U Rw2 U' Rw

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  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 50. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 2, right 3, back 1, left 0.

R' F R2 B' R2 F' R2 B R'

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  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 53. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 1, right 3, back 0, left 2.

Lw' U' L U' L' U L U' L' U2 Lw

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  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 54. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 1, right 2, back 0, left 3.

Rw U R' U R U' R' U R U2 Rw'

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  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

Lines: OLL 51, 52, 55, 56

The two edges are in a line and there are no yellow corners on top: the top face only has a straight line through the centre.

OLL 51. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 2, right 2, back 2, left 0.

F U R U' R' U R U' R' F'

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  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 52. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 1, right 3, back 1, left 1.

R U R' U R U' B U' B' R'

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  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 55. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 3, right 0, back 3, left 0.

R' F R U R U' R2 F' R2 U' R' U R U R'

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  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 56. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 1, right 2, back 1, left 2.

Rw U Rw' U R U' R' U R U' R' Rw U' Rw'

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  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

Group 3: just the centre dot

No edges are yellow on top. The SpeedSolving Wiki calls these the dot cases and says they are usually long and harder to do fast, so many cubers try to avoid them. Leave this group until last; until then, the 2-look OLL way still solves them.

No yellow corners on top: OLL 1 and OLL 2

OLL 1. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 1, right 3, back 1, left 3.

R U2 R2 F R F' U2 R' F R F'

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  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 2. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 2, right 1, back 2, left 3.

F R U R' U' F' Fw R U R' U' Fw'

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  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

One yellow corner on top: OLL 3 and OLL 4

OLL 3. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 1, right 2, back 2, left 2.

Fw R U R' U' Fw' U' F R U R' U' F'

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  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 4. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 2, right 2, back 1, left 2.

Fw R U R' U' Fw' U F R U R' U' F'

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  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

Two yellow corners on top: OLL 17, 18, 19

OLL 17. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 1, right 1, back 2, left 2.

R U R' U R' F R F' U2 R' F R F'

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  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 18. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 3, right 1, back 1, left 1.

Rw U R' U R U2 Rw2 U' R U' R' U2 Rw

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  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

OLL 19. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 1, right 2, back 1, left 2.

Rw' R U R U R' U' Rw R2 F R F'

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  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

Four yellow corners on top: OLL 20

Only the four corners and the centre are yellow, like the five on a dice.

OLL 20. Yellow stickers on the sides: front 1, right 1, back 1, left 1.

Rw' R U R U R' U' Rw2 R2 U R U' Rw'

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  1. You start with (input)
  2. After the formula

Which cases come up most often?

We counted on the simulator. The last layer has 216 different orientation patterns (8 for the edges times 27 for the corners), and when the cube is scrambled at random, every pattern is equally likely. Each OLL case is made up of the patterns that look the same once you turn the top face:

CasePatterns out of 216Chance of getting it
The other 51 cases41/54 each
OLL 1, 21, 55, 56, 5721/108 each
OLL 2011/216
Top already yellow (OLL skip)11/216

In other words, no case is so rare that you can skip it altogether. The five symmetrical cases (such as H and OLL 57) come up half as often, and OLL 20 is the rarest.

In what order should you tackle the 57 OLL algorithms?

J Perm advises against taking on too many algorithms at once (J Perm). There is no fixed order; here is the order we suggest, starting from what you already know:

  1. The seven cross cases (OLL 21 to 27) and OLL 44 and 45. These are the 2-look OLL algorithms, so you already know them.
  2. Short, familiar algorithms: OLL 33, 43, 37, 28, 57, 51, 48. Most of them are built from pieces you have done many times in F2L and 2-look OLL.
  3. Two yellow corners, two yellow edges: the P, C and W shapes, the big lightning bolts and the hard-to-name shapes (OLL 29 to 42). For these cases you are currently doing two 2-look algorithms, so you save time as soon as you know them.
  4. One yellow corner: squares, small lightning bolts, fish and knights.
  5. No yellow corners: L shapes and lines.
  6. The dot group (OLL 1 to 4, 17 to 20) last.

A few algorithms a week is plenty. How to practise a new algorithm:

  • From a solved cube, do the algorithm backwards (read it from the end, and turn each move the other way) to set up the case, then solve it.
  • Count the yellow stickers on the sides like the line under each picture, until you can spot the case just by looking at the front and right faces.
  • Once a group feels solid, solve whole cubes and time yourself on the 3x3 timer.

Common mistakes

  • Mixing up cases in the two-edge group. Always check in this order: are the edges next to each other or in a line, how many yellow corners are on top, and only then the shape.
  • Forgetting to turn the top face before the algorithm. If you hold the right case but a quarter turn off (except OLL 20, which looks the same from every side), the top face still won't be fully yellow after the algorithm.
  • Mixing up Rw with R, Lw with L, or Fw with F. A two-layer move takes the middle slice with it; if you only turn one layer, the whole top layer gets jumbled.
  • Worrying when F2L gets broken halfway through. Many algorithms (like OLL 23 with its D move, or the ones with Rw) lift bottom pieces up for a moment. Finish the algorithm and they go back.

Next step

After OLL comes PLL: moving the top-layer pieces into place. The What is CFOP post has the overall roadmap, and the earlier posts in this series cover the cross, intuitive F2L and the 41 F2L algorithms.

With the EasyRubic app you can scan your real cube with the camera and follow the solution step by step on a 3D cube. Get EasyRubic to practise each OLL case on your own cube.

Video

Want to see it in motion? The short video below from the Việt Roux 2 channel on YouTube (in Vietnamese) shows more of what this post covers. The video belongs to that channel and is embedded straight from YouTube.

Cách giải mặt vàng OLL mà không cần học 57 công thức | Việt Roux 2Video · Việt Roux 2 · YouTube

Sources

Frequently asked questions

How many OLL algorithms are there?

Full OLL has 57 cases, each with one algorithm. There is one more pattern where the top face is already yellow, and then you don't need any algorithm.

Do I need all 57 OLL algorithms?

No, you don't have to. 2-look OLL solves every case, just a little more slowly. Full OLL saves you one pause to look, and it helps most once your other steps are already fast.

How long does it take to get the hang of full OLL?

It depends on the person. At a few algorithms a week, plus time to go over the old ones, it takes many weeks rather than a few days. Put spotting cases quickly ahead of knowing lots of algorithms.

What if the OLL algorithms here differ from other sites?

Each case has many correct algorithms. This post picks popular ones, avoids the middle-slice moves M and S, and has tested every algorithm. If you are already used to a different algorithm for the same case, keep yours.

Why are the sides still mixed up after OLL?

OLL only makes the top face one colour. Moving the pieces into place is the job of the PLL step.

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