Orientation of Last Layer (OLL)

The first of the two-step Fridrich last layer, OLL is the least important of all steps in the Fridrich method. As the name suggests, OLL corrects the orientarion of all last layer pieces in one step so that every sticker on top has the top layer color.

These are my current OLL algorithms with pattern codes from JSCC, Ron van Bruchem, and Peter Jansen. The Pattern image represents the top face of the cube after F2L, where a gray square or a black bar on the side indicates a sticker with the last layer color. The algorithm is applied after placing the last face on top. Visit the Applet Page if this does not make sense. Most of these algorithms have been taken or are based on algorithms from other PLL pages. I recommend that you also try the OLL algorithms in these sites to find the best algorithm for your hands.

Recognition

The placement of the correctly oriented last-layer stickers (those already on top) are easy to see, so recognition depends on quickly differentiating between different patterns with the same configuration on top. It may help to learn to determine the pattern from from the stickers on just two of the side faces.

Learning OLL (under construction)

You should first start with 2-step OLL, which include the 7 cases with all edges oriented correctly: 21-27. Many of the rest can be split into a bunch of groups with the same structure of the algorithm.

To give you an idea:

45, 47, 48, 43, 44, 51 combination: 2, 12
Sune: 7, 8 double: 53, 54
reverse sune: 5, 6
28, 57
19, 20
same opening (RU2-R2'FRF'):
1: U2'R'FRF'
35: RU2'R'
18: U2' - end like 57

Also 3 and 4 can be in the first group.

Algorithms

Codes	Prob.	Pattern	Algorithm	Comment
1 F8 01-1	1/108		RU2'-R2'FRF'U2'-R'FRF'	Rare case. R'FRF' is done with right index and thumb both times. U2' is double trigger, left index-middle.
2 F7 07-3	1/54		F-RUR'U'-F'-Fw-RUR'U'-F'w	Do F and Fw with right index pull, and F' and F'w with right thumb push. Keep your left thumb on F center throughout the entire algorithm. This helps keep all the finger tricks easy to perform.
3 F2 10-1	1/54		R'RwU-Rw'U2-RwU-R'UR2Rw'	I don't like this one. I guess you could break up into two easier OLL. FRUR'U'F'-U-B'RBR'U'R'UR
4 F3 09-1	1/54		R'U2x-R'URU'y-R'U'R'UR'F	This one is pretty annoying, too. Lots of whole cube turns...the key is to do them while doing triggers.
5 N14 35-4	1/54		L'B2-RBR'BL	Easy-to-recognize pattern. I usually tilt the cube a little bit in direction of U, so then B2 becomes more like R2. As you are doing RBR', get your left hand ready to do the last L.
6 N21 36-1	1/54		RB2-L'B'LB'R'	Same thing as above, just mirrored.
7 N15 24-2	1/54		RwU-R'URU2'Rw'	Very easy, but not much room for improvement? U2' as U'U' with left index pull OR double trigger.
8 N18 23-2	1/54		Lw'U'-LU'L'U2Lw	Mirror of 7.
9 N19 26-3	1/54		F'U'F-LF'L'-U-LFL'	When doing the first 3 moves, you might want to tilt your cube a bit so that F face is almost in the position of L face. Then rotate the cube back to normal, and the rest is easy finger tricks. LF'L' with left index pull for F', a quick right index pull for U, and then LFL' with right index pull for F. For LF'L'U, keep your thumb on F face.
10 N16 25-2	1/54		FUF'-R'FR-U'-R'F'R	Tilt your cube a little in direction of y', then tilt it back after you have done the first three moves in a slick finger trick. Inverse of 14.
11 N17 22-1	1/54		L'R2BR'BR-B2R'BR'L	Your left hand doesn't do anything except for the first and the last moves. Mirror of #12, but different algorithm.
12 F5 21-4	1/54		F-RUR'U'-F'-y-F-RUR'U'-F'	One of the three thunderbolt patterns. Easy to learn: 45 twice with a y in between.
13 T10 29-3	1/54		LF'L'-U'-LFL'-F'UF
14 T8 30-1	1/54		R'FR-U-R'F'R-FU'F'	Mirror of #13 and inverse of #10.
15 T11 32-1	1/54		L'B'L-R'U'RU-L'BL
16 T9 31-3	1/54		RBR'-LUL'U'-RB'R'
17 F4 18-2	1/54		RUR'U-R'FRF'U2-R'FRF'	I find it easier to just use the right hand, and keep my left thumb on F face. U2 can also be done as U'U'.
18 F6 20-1	1/54		RU2-R2'FRF'-U2'RwR'URU'Rw'
19 F5 19-1	1/54		MU-RUR'U'Rw-R2'FRF'	I found this amazing algorithm on the now defunct site of Gungz. This used to be one of my slowest OLLs. Now I wouldn't mind getting it all 12 times in an average.
20 F1 05	1/216		MU-RUR'U'-Rw2R2'URU'Rw'	Credit: Lars V.
21 H7 06-1	1/108		RU-R'URU'R'UR-U2R'	#21-28 are very easy algorithms, both to remember and to perform. You shouldn't have much problem with these, but if you do, I can make more videos.... These seven are the ones where the edges are oriented correctly. By using COLL, you can fix the orientation and also fix the permutation of corners, leaving you with only the permutation of edges.... This is a lot of extra algorithms, but they're sure worth studying.
22 H6 49-1	1/54	video (won't help)	RU2'-R2'U'R2U'R2'-U2R	My friend invented a very nice FSC for this...it's called The Air Jeff...you basically hold the R layer with all five fingers, four on top and the thumb on bottom. So you do R like that, then flick flick for U2 with right index, rehold R with four on bottom and thumb on top, and keep them that way while you do U' with left index. The key is to alternate the direction of R2...try it. For the last U2, I use the whole right hands, and directly go into the last R. Watch the video, but I doubt it's gonna help much. XP.
23 H1 50-3	1/54		L2wU'R-D2-R'UR-D2R	Very easy alg...one problem is that you end up with LL on bottom.
24 H2 51-4	1/54		RwUR'U'Rw'FRF'	The mirror of this algorithm can be used for the mirror of this pattern, which is just its 180 degree rotation.
25 H3 56-2	1/54		Lw'U'L'U-RU'LUx'	It's helpful to know the other direction as well: Rw'U'RU-LU'R'Ux.
26 H5 55-1	1/54		L'U'LU'L'U2L	If you get either 26 or 27, consider yourself very lucky.... These are very easy algorithms, and it is also very easy to predict what PLL you will be getting. For 26, if the bottom right 2x2 square is already permuted correctly, use this algorithm instead: L'URU'LUR'. This usually leaves you with the easier PLL's (at least for me).
27 H4 54-2	1/54		RUR'URU2R'	(Read the explanation for 26 and mirror it over FB axis)
28 N1 57-1	1/54		RwUR'U'R-Rw'URU'R'	Inverse of 57.
29 N9 41-1	1/54		B'R'B-L'-B'R2B'-R'B2L	#29 and #30 are pretty hard. I got these algs from Master Katsu's page. I'm not good enough to give advice on this yet....
30 N8 40-1	1/54		BLB'-R-BL2B-LB2R'	This is a pretty bad one. I should get a new one, really. =(
31 N5 46-2	1/54		L'D'w-RDw-LU'L'B'L	Go slow on the first half, and speed up in the second half. Don't risk a POP. It's just OLL....
32 N4 44-2	1/54		RDw-L'D'w-R'URBR'	same advice as above, but this one should be much easier to do smoothly. The last 5-move SFC is pretty tasty. =D
33 T4 34-1	1/54		RUR'U'-R'FRF'	One of the two T-patterns. This one is the harder one... but it's still one of the easiest OLL there is. Shouldn't have any trouble with this.
34 T2 37-1	1/54		RUR'U'(x)-D'-R'UR-E'
35 N12 28-4	1/54		RU2-R2'FRF'-RU2R'
36 N11 53-1	1/54		R'U'RU'R'URU-RB'R'B
37 N13 27-1	1/54		B'RBR'-U'R'UR
38 N10 52-4	1/54		LUL'ULU'L'U'-L'BLB'
39	1/54		LF'L'U'LUFU'L'
40	1/54		R'FRUR'U'F'UR
41 N6 39-1	1/54		RU'R'U2RU(y)RU'R'U'F'
42 N7 42-1	1/54		L'ULU2L'U'(y')L'ULUF
43 N3 45-2	1/54		F'wL'U'LUFw	see 45
44 N2 43-2	1/54		FwRUR'U'F'w	see 45
45 T5 33-1	1/54		FRUR'U'F'	43-45 are the shortest algs for OLL. You are very lucky. =D This alg is probably THE fastest for most people....I can do this one in <1 sec. (But of course I don't go so fast in real solving....never ever rush on OLL, do it on PLL.)
46 T3 38-2	1/54		RU-RB'R'B-U'R'
47 N27 16-1	1/54		F'-L'U'LUL'U'LU-F	Mirror of #47, but this one is slightly harder to do. But still, as long as you don't force your cube, sub-2 should be easy.
48 N26 15-4	1/54		F-RUR'U'RUR'U'-F'	This is #45 twice without doing F and F' in the middle. How easy is that? Don't POP though....Remember, it's just OLL. If you wanna go crazy, do it on PLL.
49 N25 13-3	1/54		LwU'Lw'2ULw2ULw'2U'Lw
50 N24 14-2	1/54		Rw'URw2U'Rw2'U'R2wURw'
51 T12 17-4	1/54		F-URU'R'URU'R'-F'	This is the inverse of 48.
52 T13 08-1	1/54		R'U'RU'R'-Dw-R'URB
53 N23 12-4	1/54		Lw'U'- LU'L'ULU'L'U2-Lw	#8 twice.
54 N22 11-1	1/54		RwU-R'URU'R'URU2-Rw'	#7 twice. Be careful not to POP.
55 T15 02-1	1/108		RU2'-R2'U'RU'R'U2'-FRF'
56	1/108		F-RUR'U'RF'-RwUR'U'Rw'	I actually came up with this one by my self, though I recently found it also listed on Peter's site. Think of it as inverse of #16 twice.
57 T1 04-1	1/108		RUR'U'-Rw-R'URU'Rw'	Very nice use of double layer turns. This should be one of the fastest OLLs.

Sites with Good OLL Algorithms