ZZ Method Tutorial

Beginner’s Variation

Step 1 – EO + Line: Step 2 – F2L:

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