POOPLE ANSWERS

FEBRUARY 7, 2026 · PUZZLE #177

ETCH to POOP.

One shortest route in 9 moves.

00
ETCH
START
01
EACH
LETTER 2
02
MACH
LETTER 1
03
MACE
LETTER 4
04
LACE
LETTER 1
05
LACK
LETTER 4
06
LOCK
LETTER 2
07
LOOK
LETTER 3
08
LOOP
LETTER 4
09
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 9 moves

ETCH and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 5 additional moves; the first and second and fourth letters change more than once.

Start by changing the second letter: ETCH → EACH. Near the goal, LOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.

Every letter change

  1. ETCH → EACH: change letter 2 from T to A.
  2. EACH → MACH: change letter 1 from E to M.
  3. MACH → MACE: change letter 4 from H to E.
  4. MACE → LACE: change letter 1 from M to L.
  5. LACE → LACK: change letter 4 from E to K.
  6. LACK → LOCK: change letter 2 from A to O.
  7. LOCK → LOOK: change letter 3 from C to O.
  8. LOOK → LOOP: change letter 4 from K to P.
  9. LOOP → POOP: change letter 1 from L to P.
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