POOPLE ANSWERS

FEBRUARY 24, 2026 ยท PUZZLE #194

PEGS to POOP.

One shortest route in 5 moves.

00
PEGS
START
01
BEGS
LETTER 1
02
BOGS
LETTER 2
03
BOOS
LETTER 3
04
BOOP
LETTER 4
05
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 5 moves

PEGS and POOP differ in 3 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 2 additional moves; the first letter changes more than once.

Start by changing the first letter: PEGS โ†’ BEGS. Near the goal, BOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.

Every letter change

  1. PEGS โ†’ BEGS: change letter 1 from P to B.
  2. BEGS โ†’ BOGS: change letter 2 from E to O.
  3. BOGS โ†’ BOOS: change letter 3 from G to O.
  4. BOOS โ†’ BOOP: change letter 4 from S to P.
  5. BOOP โ†’ POOP: change letter 1 from B to P.