FEBRUARY 26, 2026 · PUZZLE #196
WEST to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
WEST
START01
HEST
LETTER 102
HOST
LETTER 203
HOOT
LETTER 304
HOOP
LETTER 405
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
WEST 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: WEST → HEST. Near the goal, HOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.
Every letter change
- WEST → HEST: change letter 1 from W to H.
- HEST → HOST: change letter 2 from E to O.
- HOST → HOOT: change letter 3 from S to O.
- HOOT → HOOP: change letter 4 from T to P.
- HOOP → POOP: change letter 1 from H to P.
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