Ua Perm (PLL): Recognition and Practice

Before you start

The top is yellow, the first two layers are solved and the top corners are aligned.

How to hold your cube

Yellow up. Rotate the whole cube to put the completely solved side at the back.

1. Separate corner and edge recognition

PLL means permuting the last layer by moving oriented pieces into their correct positions. In this lesson, you’ll practise the three-edge cycle from the beginner course. The lesson covers this one case within the full PLL catalogue.

Check the two top corner stickers on every side. They must match their side centre. If they do not, complete corner positioning first.

2. Find the fixed edge

One side should be completely solved. Rotate the whole cube sideways to put that side at the back. The other three top edges need to cycle through the remaining positions. Using U here would move the aligned corners, so keep the layers in place as you regrip.

Before turning, name where each edge belongs using its side colour. This trains recognition beyond merely counting wrong stickers.

3. Execute and inspect the cycle

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

In the prepared case, performing the sequence once solves the edges. If the cycle goes the opposite way, perform the same sequence twice. Keep the same side at the back for the second application.

If no side is solved, perform the sequence once to create a solved side. Regrip to put it at the back, then continue with one or two cycles. This is a different starting case, so check the cube between applications.

4. Practise recognition before working on speed

Copy the prepared setup on a solved cube and name the three destinations before turning. Repeat with the algorithm itself as your setup to create the opposite cycle direction.

Once you can recognise the cycle consistently, shorten the pauses between moves. Add new PLL cases gradually using a dedicated reference such as J Perm’s beginner PLL collection.

Need a reminder of the move notation?

R right · L left · U top · D bottom · F front · B back. A plain letter means a 90° clockwise turn as you look directly at that face. An apostrophe (′) reverses the turn. A 2 means a 180° turn. Keep the same face towards you throughout the algorithm.

Watch, then try

Work through an example

Start by stepping through the example one move at a time. This example demonstrates a specific action. Use the lesson’s setup instructions to recognise when that action applies to your own scramble.

Watch one worked example

Track the three moving edge pieces and the back edge that stays put. This is a recognition drill for the same cycle used at the end of the beginner method.

Example grip: yellow up · blue front · red right at the start. Follow any written whole-cube rotations.

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Loading 3D cube…

Drag to inspect other faces. When the cube has focus, use the arrow keys to rotate the view.

Copy this exact example on your own cube

Start with a solved 3×3, with yellow on top and blue facing you. Follow the setup moves below from left to right to recreate the example’s starting position. Keep this example separate from the scramble you’re solving throughout the course.

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

Then follow the lesson sequence. If your cube has a different colour scheme, use your own colours to identify the corresponding pieces.

Compare the starting position and the result

Before the example

After the full sequence

Drag each cube to inspect its other faces.

Explain it to yourself

Check your understanding

Now use your own cube

Your turn

Identify the solved side and name the three misplaced top edges before playing the example. Then solve the opposite cycle by applying the same sequence twice.

Open a 3×3 Digital Cube for practice

The Digital Cube opens in a new tab so you can keep this lesson open while you practise. Check for yourself whether you’ve met the lesson goal, as the Digital Cube doesn’t assess your result.

If you get stuck

I cannot find a solved side.

Check the corners first. Once they’re aligned, perform one edge cycle, find the side it solves and put that side at the back before continuing.

Before moving on

Check your result

Your cube at this stage

All six faces solved

Every face is one colour. Check the back and bottom as well as the faces you can see here.

Confirm these on your cube. Watching the animation alone does not complete the lesson.

I check corner alignment before deciding the remaining problem is an edge cycle.I keep the solved side at the back without turning U.I can solve a cycle in either direction by performing the sequence once or twice.

Tick each item when you can do it yourself.