POOPLE ANSWERS

MARCH 22, 2026 ยท PUZZLE #220

LAND to POOP.

One shortest route in 6 moves.

00
LAND
START
01
BAND
LETTER 1
02
BANK
LETTER 4
03
BONK
LETTER 2
04
BOOK
LETTER 3
05
BOOP
LETTER 4
06
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 6 moves

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

Start by changing the first letter: LAND โ†’ BAND. Near the goal, BOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.

Every letter change

  1. LAND โ†’ BAND: change letter 1 from L to B.
  2. BAND โ†’ BANK: change letter 4 from D to K.
  3. BANK โ†’ BONK: change letter 2 from A to O.
  4. BONK โ†’ BOOK: change letter 3 from N to O.
  5. BOOK โ†’ BOOP: change letter 4 from K to P.
  6. BOOP โ†’ POOP: change letter 1 from B to P.