POOPLE ANSWERS

DECEMBER 16, 2025 ยท PUZZLE #124

SASH to POOP.

One shortest route in 6 moves.

00
SASH
START
01
BASH
LETTER 1
02
BASS
LETTER 4
03
BOSS
LETTER 2
04
BOOS
LETTER 3
05
BOOP
LETTER 4
06
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 6 moves

SASH and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 2 additional moves; the first and fourth letters change more than once.

Start by changing the first letter: SASH โ†’ BASH. Near the goal, BOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.

Every letter change

  1. SASH โ†’ BASH: change letter 1 from S to B.
  2. BASH โ†’ BASS: change letter 4 from H to S.
  3. BASS โ†’ BOSS: change letter 2 from A to O.
  4. BOSS โ†’ BOOS: change letter 3 from S to O.
  5. BOOS โ†’ BOOP: change letter 4 from S to P.
  6. BOOP โ†’ POOP: change letter 1 from B to P.