POOPLE ANSWERS

JANUARY 13, 2026 ยท PUZZLE #152

GOSH to POOP.

One shortest route in 5 moves.

00
GOSH
START
01
COSH
LETTER 1
02
COST
LETTER 4
03
COOT
LETTER 3
04
COOP
LETTER 4
05
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 5 moves

GOSH and POOP differ in 3 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: GOSH โ†’ COSH. Near the goal, COOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.

Every letter change

  1. GOSH โ†’ COSH: change letter 1 from G to C.
  2. COSH โ†’ COST: change letter 4 from H to T.
  3. COST โ†’ COOT: change letter 3 from S to O.
  4. COOT โ†’ COOP: change letter 4 from T to P.
  5. COOP โ†’ POOP: change letter 1 from C to P.