Phase

OLL Cross Tutorial — Rubik's Cube (LBL)

Recap

The second layer placed the four middle edges — the bottom two layers are done. Only the top face remains. This step flips the four top edges yellow-up, forming a yellow cross on top.

This step uses one trigger: F R U R' U' F' (the "edge-flip trigger"). U / U' / U2 and F / R are basic notation — see Fundamentals if rusty; assumes you've finished the second layer.

Goal

Second layer done: top edges not yet flipped

Yellow cross: four top edges yellow-up

The yellow cross = all four top edges yellow-up, forming a cross. Note: this step only cares about orientation (yellow up), not position — which slot an edge sits in doesn't matter; the four corners are ignored for now.

How

Just one trigger: F R U R' U' F' (the edge-flip trigger). Each application advances the top-edge shape one step: dot → L → line → cross. Identify the shape, hold it by the rule, apply the trigger, re-identify — repeat until the cross forms.

The trigger re-orients the top edges, advancing the top-face shape one step (dot → L → line → cross). The key is to hold it right before each trigger — rotate the whole cube (or do a U) so the top shape matches its case picture below: line horizontal, L as ⅃, dot any way. After each trigger, re-identify the shape, re-hold, and trigger again until the cross forms (a wrong hold spins in place, or even regresses to a dot). The three case pictures below show only the yellow-up edges with corners greyed — recognize the shape from those 4 edges.

Line

Hold it horizontal as shown (two yellow edges left & right) → one trigger → cross.

L-shape

Hold it as ⅃ as shown (two yellow edges adjacent) → one trigger → line → one more → cross. Other orientations (L/┌/⅂): U-align to ⅃ first.

Dot

Only the center is yellow. Any hold → one trigger → L-shape (two more to cross).

DotFRUR'U'F'（edge-flip）
L-shapeFRUR'U'F'U（edge-flip + U adjust）
LineFRUR'U'F'（edge-flip）
Cross

The same move, repeated: identify → rotate to the right hold (U or cube turn) → trigger → re-identify, until the cross appears.

0 / 19

Playback: from a dot, three edge-flip triggers — dot → L → line → cross. Note the U at the end of group ②: it rotates the line horizontal so the final trigger can advance to the cross.

Recognition

Recognition looks only at the four top edges' yellow-up state — ignore the corners and side colors entirely. A corner may already be yellow-up (orienting corners is the next step); don't let it fool your count — a line with two yellow corners beside it can look like a plus, but you count edges only.

Count how many edges are yellow-up: none = dot; two — check their relative position: opposite (left–right or front–back) = line, adjacent = L; four = cross done.

Pitfalls

A few classic traps:

Holding the line vertical: the trigger regresses to a dot. Hold it horizontal (yellow left & right) to advance.
Holding the L the wrong way: the trigger leaves the shape unchanged (spins in place). Recognize it as ⅃ (two adjacent yellow edges) and apply the trigger.
Trying to position the edges: this step only flips orientation — which slot doesn't matter. Positioning is PLL's job, later.

Practice

Take a scrambled cube up through the second layer, then stop at the top. Drill the loop "identify → hold right → trigger" from all three shapes until each reaches the yellow cross. Once the cross is up, the next step orients the four top corners yellow-up.

Practice the yellow cross