POOPLE ANSWERS

AUGUST 26, 2025 ยท PUZZLE #12

SAKE to POOP.

One shortest route in 5 moves.

00
SAKE
START
01
SAME
LETTER 3
02
SOME
LETTER 2
03
POME
LETTER 1
04
POMP
LETTER 4
05
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 5 moves

SAKE 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: SAKE โ†’ SAME. Near the goal, POMP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its third letter.

Every letter change

  1. SAKE โ†’ SAME: change letter 3 from K to M.
  2. SAME โ†’ SOME: change letter 2 from A to O.
  3. SOME โ†’ POME: change letter 1 from S to P.
  4. POME โ†’ POMP: change letter 4 from E to P.
  5. POMP โ†’ POOP: change letter 3 from M to O.