Cubeathon

How to practise PLL online

Cubeathon guide · Reviewed October 2026

PLL is the last step of CFOP: the top face is done and the pieces just need moving into place. There are 21 cases, and the PLL page has every one with recognition notes, how to hold it, a 3D player and a shuffled drill.

This guide covers how to practise with them. New to PLL? The beginner PLL lesson and 2-look PLL (below) come first.

All 21 cases, in five groups

The page groups the cases by what moves, which is also the easiest way to learn them:

Edges only
Ua, Ub, H, Z — the corners are already placed.
Corners only
Aa, Ab, E — the edges are already placed.
Adjacent corner swap
T, F, Ja, Jb, Ra, Rb — two neighbouring corners swap, with two edges.
Diagonal corner swap
V, Y, Na, Nb — two opposite corners swap, with two edges.
G perms
Ga, Gb, Gc, Gd — three corners and three edges cycle together.

Every algorithm is checked on Cubeathon's cube simulator.

Recognise a PLL

Look at the side stickers of the top layer, two sides at a time:

  • Headlights — the two corner stickers on one side match, with a different colour between them.
  • A bar — all three stickers on one side match.
  • A block — a corner and its neighbouring edge match.

Every case card has a Spot it line (for example, T: “Headlights on one side, and a block of two on each of the sides next to it”) and a Hold itline saying where to put the headlights or bar before you start, so you don't need an extra turn first.

Drill recognition

  1. Press Start drill. All 21 cases come up shuffled as diagrams.
  2. Name the case and recall its algorithm, then press Reveal (Space).
  3. Mark it Knew it (1) or Again (2). Misses return until you have them.

Short, frequent rounds

A few minutes a day beats an hour once a week. Learn one group at a time with the player, then let the drill mix them, which is how they turn up in real solves.

Watch and print

  • Play on the cube runs a case on the 3D cube; Slow lets you follow each turn and the finger tricks.
  • Each algorithm has a copy button.
  • Print sheet gives you all 21 on paper, with a QR code back to the page.

Just starting? 2-look PLL

2-look PLL solves the step in two looks with six algorithms: place the corners, then the edges. It's on the 2-look pagewith its own drill. Learn the four edge cases (Ua, Ub, H, Z) first: they're short, come up often, and are already part of full PLL.

Use it in real solves

On the timer, a session set to the Algorithm drilltraining mode (drawer → Session) keeps the solves where you're trying new cases apart from your normal averages, and links straight back to the PLL drill.

Want a fair test of your last layer against a friend? Send them your scramble with a same-scramble challenge.