FEBRUARY 16, 2026 · PUZZLE #186
LAIR to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
LAIR
START01
LAIN
LETTER 402
LOIN
LETTER 203
LOON
LETTER 304
LOOP
LETTER 405
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
LAIR and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 1 additional move; the fourth letter changes more than once.
Start by changing the fourth letter: LAIR → LAIN. Near the goal, LOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.
Every letter change
- LAIR → LAIN: change letter 4 from R to N.
- LAIN → LOIN: change letter 2 from A to O.
- LOIN → LOON: change letter 3 from I to O.
- LOON → LOOP: change letter 4 from N to P.
- LOOP → POOP: change letter 1 from L to P.
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