Ortega method for 2×2 — 7 OLL + 5 PBL algorithms

Ortega is a popular intermediate method for the 2×2: solve one face, use OLL to make the opposite face one color, then PBL to permute the corners of both layers. Just 12 algorithms in total (7 OLL + 5 PBL). Cube Resolver lists all 12 from the JPerm Algorithm Trainer, with recognition diagrams and 3D demos at /2x2/oll and /2x2/pbl.

The 3 steps of Ortega

Solve one face (usually white, held on the bottom). Only the 4 white stickers need to match — the side stickers don't, which makes it easier than a full first layer.
OLL (7 cases): make the top face yellow. Recognize by how many yellow corners are on top: 1 (Sune, Antisune), 2 (L, U, T), 0 (Pi, H).
PBL (5 cases): permute the corners of both layers at once. Each layer is either solved, adjacent (exactly one pair of matching side stickers), or diagonal (no pair). If only the bottom is wrong, flip the cube (z2 or x2) and use the top-layer case.

How Ortega compares to the beginner method and CLL

The beginner method builds a full first layer (white face + matching side stickers) before touching the top. Ortega only solves a face and fixes the bottom layer during PBL — a faster first step, with just 12 algorithms.

If you know 2-look OLL on the 3×3, Ortega's 7 OLL cases share the recognition shapes of its second-look corner cases, and the Sune and Antisune algs carry over unchanged.

The next step is 2×2 CLL (42 cases): build a full first layer, then finish the cube in one algorithm and skip PBL.

What's on Cube Resolver

7 OLL + 5 PBL from the JPerm Algorithm Trainer (jperm.net/algs/2x2); every alg is run against the cube model at build time.
Recognition diagrams: OLL shows the top face; PBL shows both the top and bottom layers.
Step-by-step 3D demo for every algorithm at /2x2/oll and /2x2/pbl.
Practice with 2×2 scrambles on the timer.

All 12 Ortega 2×2 algorithms (OLL 7 · PBL 5)

OLL · 1 yellow corner (2)

Case	Primary algorithm
Sune	`R U R' U R U2 R'`
Antisune	`R U2 R' U' R U' R'`

OLL · 2 yellow corners (3)

Case	Primary algorithm
L	`F R' F' R U R U' R'`
U	`F R U R' U' F'`
T	`R U R' U' R' F R F'`

OLL · 0 yellow corners (2)

Case	Primary algorithm
Pi	`R U2 (R2 U' R2 U' R2) U2 R`
H	`R2 U2 R U2 R2`

PBL · Bottom solved (2)

Case	Primary algorithm
Adj U — Top: adjacent · Bottom: solved	`R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U' R U R' F'`
Diag U — Top: diagonal · Bottom: solved	`F R U' R' U' R U R' F' R U R' U' R' F R F'`

PBL · Bottom adjacent (1)

Case	Primary algorithm
Adj/Adj — Top: adjacent · Bottom: adjacent	`R2 U' B2 U2 R2 U' R2`

PBL · Bottom diagonal (2)

Case	Primary algorithm
Adj/Diag — Top: adjacent · Bottom: diagonal	`R U' R F2 R' U R'`
Diag/Diag — Top: diagonal · Bottom: diagonal	`R2 F2 R2`

FAQ

What is the Ortega method for 2×2?

Ortega (also called Varasano) is a 3-step 2×2 method: solve one face, OLL to make the opposite face one color (7 cases), then PBL to permute the corners of both layers (5 cases). Cube Resolver has all 12 algorithms with 3D demos at /2x2/oll.

How many algorithms does Ortega have?

12 algorithms: 7 OLL (Sune, Antisune, L, U, T, Pi, H) and 5 PBL (Adj U, Diag U, Adj/Adj, Adj/Diag, Diag/Diag).

How do I recognize adjacent vs diagonal in PBL?

Check each layer: if all 4 sides have a matching pair, the layer is solved; if exactly one side has a matching pair, it is adjacent (swap two neighboring corners); if no side does, it is diagonal (swap two opposite corners).

Should I learn Ortega or CLL first?

Ortega first: only 12 algorithms, and the first step is just a face. Once comfortable, learn CLL (42 cases) to finish in one algorithm. Both use the same yellow-face shape recognition.

Where do Cube Resolver's Ortega algorithms come from?

From the JPerm Algorithm Trainer (jperm.net/algs/2x2). Each algorithm is verified on the cube model before it appears on /2x2/oll and /2x2/pbl.

More speedcubing guides

Open Ortega 2×2 in the app →