MARCH 14, 2026 · PUZZLE #212
YELP to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 6 moves.
00
YELP
START01
HELP
LETTER 102
HELD
LETTER 403
HOLD
LETTER 204
HOOD
LETTER 305
HOOP
LETTER 406
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 6 moves
YELP and POOP differ in 3 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 3 additional moves; the first and fourth letters change more than once.
Start by changing the first letter: YELP → HELP. Near the goal, HOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.
Every letter change
- YELP → HELP: change letter 1 from Y to H.
- HELP → HELD: change letter 4 from P to D.
- HELD → HOLD: change letter 2 from E to O.
- HOLD → HOOD: change letter 3 from L to O.
- HOOD → HOOP: change letter 4 from D to P.
- HOOP → POOP: change letter 1 from H to P.
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