FEBRUARY 15, 2026 · PUZZLE #185
TICS to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 6 moves.
00
TICS
START01
TICK
LETTER 402
HICK
LETTER 103
HOCK
LETTER 204
HOOK
LETTER 305
HOOP
LETTER 406
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 6 moves
TICS 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: TICS → TICK. Near the goal, HOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.
Every letter change
- TICS → TICK: change letter 4 from S to K.
- TICK → HICK: change letter 1 from T to H.
- HICK → HOCK: change letter 2 from I to O.
- HOCK → HOOK: change letter 3 from C to O.
- HOOK → HOOP: change letter 4 from K to P.
- HOOP → POOP: change letter 1 from H to P.
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