POOPLE ANSWERS

FEBRUARY 1, 2026 · PUZZLE #171

WAIT to POOP.

One shortest route in 6 moves.

00
WAIT
START
01
WAIL
LETTER 4
02
FAIL
LETTER 1
03
FOIL
LETTER 2
04
FOOL
LETTER 3
05
POOL
LETTER 1
06
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 6 moves

WAIT 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 fourth letter: WAIT → WAIL. Near the goal, POOL is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its fourth letter.

Every letter change

  1. WAIT → WAIL: change letter 4 from T to L.
  2. WAIL → FAIL: change letter 1 from W to F.
  3. FAIL → FOIL: change letter 2 from A to O.
  4. FOIL → FOOL: change letter 3 from I to O.
  5. FOOL → POOL: change letter 1 from F to P.
  6. POOL → POOP: change letter 4 from L to P.
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