DECEMBER 10, 2025 · PUZZLE #118
HART to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
HART
START01
HALT
LETTER 302
HOLT
LETTER 203
HOOT
LETTER 304
HOOP
LETTER 405
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
HART and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 1 additional move; the third letter changes more than once.
Start by changing the third letter: HART → HALT. Near the goal, HOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.
Every letter change
- HART → HALT: change letter 3 from R to L.
- HALT → HOLT: change letter 2 from A to O.
- HOLT → HOOT: change letter 3 from L to O.
- HOOT → HOOP: change letter 4 from T to P.
- HOOP → POOP: change letter 1 from H to P.
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