JANUARY 27, 2026 · PUZZLE #166
ATOM to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
ATOM
START01
ATOP
LETTER 402
STOP
LETTER 103
SLOP
LETTER 204
PLOP
LETTER 105
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
ATOM and POOP differ in 3 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 2 additional moves; the first and second letters change more than once.
Start by changing the fourth letter: ATOM → ATOP. Near the goal, PLOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its second letter.
Every letter change
- ATOM → ATOP: change letter 4 from M to P.
- ATOP → STOP: change letter 1 from A to S.
- STOP → SLOP: change letter 2 from T to L.
- SLOP → PLOP: change letter 1 from S to P.
- PLOP → POOP: change letter 2 from L to O.
ADVERTISEMENT