FEBRUARY 4, 2026 · PUZZLE #174
SHAM to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
SHAM
START01
SLAM
LETTER 202
SLAP
LETTER 403
PLAP
LETTER 104
PLOP
LETTER 305
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
SHAM and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 1 additional move; the second letter changes more than once.
Start by changing the second letter: SHAM → SLAM. Near the goal, PLOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its second letter.
Every letter change
- SHAM → SLAM: change letter 2 from H to L.
- SLAM → SLAP: change letter 4 from M to P.
- SLAP → PLAP: change letter 1 from S to P.
- PLAP → PLOP: change letter 3 from A to O.
- PLOP → POOP: change letter 2 from L to O.
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