FEBRUARY 22, 2026 · PUZZLE #192
REAR to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
REAR
START01
BEAR
LETTER 102
BOAR
LETTER 203
BOOR
LETTER 304
BOOP
LETTER 405
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
REAR and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 1 additional move; the first letter changes more than once.
Start by changing the first letter: REAR → BEAR. Near the goal, BOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.
Every letter change
- REAR → BEAR: change letter 1 from R to B.
- BEAR → BOAR: change letter 2 from E to O.
- BOAR → BOOR: change letter 3 from A to O.
- BOOR → BOOP: change letter 4 from R to P.
- BOOP → POOP: change letter 1 from B to P.
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