POOPLE ANSWERS

MARCH 12, 2026 · PUZZLE #210

REAL to POOP.

One shortest route in 6 moves.

00
REAL
START
01
DEAL
LETTER 1
02
DELL
LETTER 3
03
DOLL
LETTER 2
04
POLL
LETTER 1
05
POOL
LETTER 3
06
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 6 moves

REAL and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 2 additional moves; the first and third letters change more than once.

Start by changing the first letter: REAL → DEAL. Near the goal, POOL is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its fourth letter.

Every letter change

  1. REAL → DEAL: change letter 1 from R to D.
  2. DEAL → DELL: change letter 3 from A to L.
  3. DELL → DOLL: change letter 2 from E to O.
  4. DOLL → POLL: change letter 1 from D to P.
  5. POLL → POOL: change letter 3 from L to O.
  6. POOL → POOP: change letter 4 from L to P.
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