FEBRUARY 25, 2026 · PUZZLE #195
MODE to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
MODE
START01
BODE
LETTER 102
BODS
LETTER 403
BOOS
LETTER 304
BOOP
LETTER 405
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
MODE and POOP differ in 3 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 2 additional moves; the first and fourth letters change more than once.
Start by changing the first letter: MODE → BODE. Near the goal, BOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.
Every letter change
- MODE → BODE: change letter 1 from M to B.
- BODE → BODS: change letter 4 from E to S.
- BODS → BOOS: change letter 3 from D to O.
- BOOS → BOOP: change letter 4 from S to P.
- BOOP → POOP: change letter 1 from B to P.
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