2x2 Cube (Pocket Cube)

The 2x2 might look easy, but it can be tricky. It’s essentially a 3x3 without edges or centers—just corners.

The Method: Ortega

Professional 2x2 solvers use the Ortega Method. It has 3 steps.

Step 1: Face Building

Build one solid face (e.g., White) at the bottom.

• Note: Unlike 3x3, the side colors don’t need to match yet! Just get all white stickers on the bottom.

Step 2: OLL (Orient Last Layer)

Make the top face (Yellow) solid.

• You use the same algorithms as 3x3 corner orientation (Sune, Anti-Sune, Headlights, etc.).

Step 3: PBL (Permute Both Layers)

This is the magic of Ortega. We solve the side colors of both the top and bottom layers at the same time.

Case 1: Bar on Bottom, Bar on Top

You have two solved adjacent pieces (a “bar”) on the bottom layer and on the top layer.

• Hold bars at the Back.

R2

U'

B2

U2

R2

U'

R2

Case 2: No Bars (Diagonal Swap)

No side colors match on top or bottom.

R2

F2

R2

Case 3: Bar on Bottom, No Bar on Top

R

U'

R

F2

R'

U

R'

(There are 5 PBL algorithms total, but these cover most cases).