JANUARY 7, 2026 · PUZZLE #146
GIFT to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
GIFT
START01
LIFT
LETTER 102
LOFT
LETTER 203
LOOT
LETTER 304
LOOP
LETTER 405
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
GIFT and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 1 additional move; the first letter changes more than once.
Start by changing the first letter: GIFT → LIFT. Near the goal, LOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.
Every letter change
- GIFT → LIFT: change letter 1 from G to L.
- LIFT → LOFT: change letter 2 from I to O.
- LOFT → LOOT: change letter 3 from F to O.
- LOOT → LOOP: change letter 4 from T to P.
- LOOP → POOP: change letter 1 from L to P.
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