ZZ Method Tutorial
Beginner’s Variation
Step 1 – EO + Line:
Theory:
 An Oriented/Good edge does not require the use
of a F/B turn in order to become solved.
 An Unoriented/Bad edge requires the use of a F/B
turn in order to become Oriented.
 F/B turns switch the Orientation of all edges in
that layer. Bad -> Good and vice versa.
 Cube Rotations affect edge orientation because
the F/B layers change.
Recognizing Bad Edges:
 Choose one position to be used throughout the
entire solve (ex: Yellow in U, Green in F)
 Scanning order
1. U Layer
2. D Layer
3. F Layer (2 edges in E slice)
4. B Layer (2 edges in E slice)
 Rules: Bad edges either have a
1. a R/L color (ex: Orange/Red) facing up
OR
2. a U/D color (ex: Yellow/White) on the side.
Edge Orientation Strategy:
 General Approach: Fill a F/B layer with four bad
edges. Then F/B turn to eliminate/orient them.
 Easy Cases
o 4 Bad Edges: Fill either F/B with the 4
edges, then turn that F/B layer to
eliminate them all.
o 8 Bad Edges: Strategy for 4, twice.
o 12 Bad Edges: Strategy for 4, three times.
 Complex Cases
o 2 Bad Edges: Put one bad edge in F/B,
then turn that F/B layer to create three
new bad edges for a new total of 4.
Strategy for 4.
o 10 Bad Edges: Strategy for 8 followed by
strategy for 2.
o 6 Bad Edges: Either…
 Strategy for 4 followed by strategy
for 2.
 Put three bad edges in F/B. Turn
that F/B layer to create one new
bad edge for a new total of 4.
Strategy for 4
Forming the Line: Largely intuitive. One strategy is to get
one line edge in the R Layer and the other in the L Layer.
Rotate R and L so both edges are in D. Turn D to form line.
Step 2 – F2L:
Blockbuilding: The strategy for solving pieces on a Rubik’s
Cube that involves matching up individual pieces to form
small blocks that are combined with other small blocks to
form bigger and bigger blocks. This will be used for solving
F2L in the ZZ method.
Types of Blocks:
 Buckle: An edge matched with a center
 Pair: A corner matched with an edge
 Shield: a Buckle matched with a Pair
 Wall: a Shield matched with one final Pair
 F2L: a Wall built on each side of the EOLine.
Building Pairs:
 A Pair is comprised of any corner that is matched
up with an edge sharing two colors with the
corner. This is a highly intuitive step that is best
figured out on your own.
 If you wish to see specific examples check out the
following links.
o Conrad Rider’s ZZ F2L (Great! Specifically
for ZZ users)
http://cube.crider.co.uk/zz.php?p=f2l
o Speedsolving Wiki’s F2L (Watch out for
some cases that may change EO)
https://www.speedsolving.com/wiki/inde
x.php/F2L
Strategies for Blockbuilding F2L:
1. Build one complete wall followed by the other.
2. Build a shield on each side of the line and expand
them into walls.
Note: This guide is intended as a supplement to Problem
Solved’s ZZ Tutorial on YouTube, NOT as a standalone
tutorial. Congrats if you can use it as such though! 
https://youtu.be/4Wrm2MGrRS8
This guide was created by Problem Solved and may be
freely distributed in its current form.
The OLL and PLL diagrams are free to use and reproduce
(including for commercial purposes) without attribution.
goo.gl/v4VRzq
Step 3 - OLL: In this step you will create a solid face on the top of the cube. There are 7 cases as depicted below. Find the
one you have. Hold the cube in the same position as the diagram. Execute the algorithm to complete OLL.

Sune Double Headlights

Alg: R U R’ U R U2 R’ Alg: R U R’ U R (U’ R’ U R) U2 R’
This algorithm should be familiar This is the Sune, but with (four
from the beginner’s method. moves) added in.

Anti-Sune
Alg: L’ U’ L U’ L’ U2 L’ Pi/Bruno
This is Sune from the executed from Alg: R U2 R2' U' R2 U' R2' U2 R
the left side of the cube. No Comment. Just memorize it.

Headlights
Alg: R2 D’ R U2 R’ D R U2 R
Sidewinder
No Comment. Just memorize it.
Alg: l’ U R D’ R’ U’ R D
The lowercase “l” means grab two
layers when doing L.
Hammerhead
Alg: (r U r’ U’) (r’ F r F’)
The lowercase “r” means grab two
Note: This site has more algorithms for each case.
layers when doing R. https://www.speedsolving.com/wiki/index.php/OLL

Step 4 - 2Look PLL: In this step you will permute (solve) the edges with one algorithm, then the corners with another
algorithm. There are 4 cases for edges and 3 cases for corners as depicted below. Find the one you have. Hold the cube in
the same position as the diagram. Execute the algorithm to complete OLL.

Edge Permutations:

H
Ua Alg: M2 U’ M2 U2 M2 U’ M2
Alg: R2 U' R' U' R U R U R U' R The M slice is the layer between R
No Comment. Just memorize it. and L

Ub Z
Alg: R' U R' U' R' U' R' U R U R2 Alg: M2 U’ M2 U’ M’ U2 M2 U2 M’
This is the inverse of Ua. Just Notation for the M slice matches L.
memorize it M’ goes the same direction as L’.

Corner Permutations:

Aa E
Alg: l' U R' D2 R U' R' D2 R2 Alg: (R U' R' D) (R U R' D') (R U R' D)
Remember “l” means grab two (R U' R' D')
layers when doing an L turn. I’ll let you figure out the pattern 

Ab
Alg: r U’ L D2 L’ U L D2 L2
This is Aa executed from the left. Note: This site has more algorithms for each case.
Remember “r” grabs two layers https://www.speedsolving.com/wiki/index.php/PLL