POOPLE ANSWERS

AUGUST 31, 2025 · PUZZLE #17

THUG to POOP.

One shortest route in 8 moves.

00
THUG
START
01
THUS
LETTER 4
02
THIS
LETTER 3
03
THIN
LETTER 4
04
CHIN
LETTER 1
05
CHIP
LETTER 4
06
CHOP
LETTER 3
07
COOP
LETTER 2
08
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 8 moves

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

Start by changing the fourth letter: THUG → THUS. Near the goal, COOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.

Every letter change

  1. THUG → THUS: change letter 4 from G to S.
  2. THUS → THIS: change letter 3 from U to I.
  3. THIS → THIN: change letter 4 from S to N.
  4. THIN → CHIN: change letter 1 from T to C.
  5. CHIN → CHIP: change letter 4 from N to P.
  6. CHIP → CHOP: change letter 3 from I to O.
  7. CHOP → COOP: change letter 2 from H to O.
  8. COOP → POOP: change letter 1 from C to P.
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