MARCH 11, 2026 · PUZZLE #209
TIDE to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
TIDE
START01
TIME
LETTER 302
TOME
LETTER 203
POME
LETTER 104
POMP
LETTER 405
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
TIDE and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 1 additional move; the third letter changes more than once.
Start by changing the third letter: TIDE → TIME. Near the goal, POMP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its third letter.
Every letter change
- TIDE → TIME: change letter 3 from D to M.
- TIME → TOME: change letter 2 from I to O.
- TOME → POME: change letter 1 from T to P.
- POME → POMP: change letter 4 from E to P.
- POMP → POOP: change letter 3 from M to O.
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