POOPLE ANSWERS

FEBRUARY 27, 2026 · PUZZLE #197

OWNS to POOP.

One shortest route in 9 moves.

00
OWNS
START
01
AWNS
LETTER 1
02
AWLS
LETTER 3
03
AILS
LETTER 2
04
AIDS
LETTER 3
05
BIDS
LETTER 1
06
BODS
LETTER 2
07
BOOS
LETTER 3
08
BOOP
LETTER 4
09
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 9 moves

OWNS and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 5 additional moves; the first and second and third letters change more than once.

Start by changing the first letter: OWNS → AWNS. Near the goal, BOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.

Every letter change

  1. OWNS → AWNS: change letter 1 from O to A.
  2. AWNS → AWLS: change letter 3 from N to L.
  3. AWLS → AILS: change letter 2 from W to I.
  4. AILS → AIDS: change letter 3 from L to D.
  5. AIDS → BIDS: change letter 1 from A to B.
  6. BIDS → BODS: change letter 2 from I to O.
  7. BODS → BOOS: change letter 3 from D to O.
  8. BOOS → BOOP: change letter 4 from S to P.
  9. BOOP → POOP: change letter 1 from B to P.
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