DECEMBER 15, 2025 · PUZZLE #123
DUES to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
DUES
START01
DOES
LETTER 202
DOER
LETTER 403
DOOR
LETTER 304
POOR
LETTER 105
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
DUES and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 1 additional move; the fourth letter changes more than once.
Start by changing the second letter: DUES → DOES. Near the goal, POOR is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its fourth letter.
Every letter change
- DUES → DOES: change letter 2 from U to O.
- DOES → DOER: change letter 4 from S to R.
- DOER → DOOR: change letter 3 from E to O.
- DOOR → POOR: change letter 1 from D to P.
- POOR → POOP: change letter 4 from R to P.
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