MARCH 27, 2026 · PUZZLE #225
HAWK to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
HAWK
START01
HACK
LETTER 302
HOCK
LETTER 203
HOOK
LETTER 304
HOOP
LETTER 405
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
HAWK 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: HAWK → HACK. Near the goal, HOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.
Every letter change
- HAWK → HACK: change letter 3 from W to C.
- HACK → HOCK: change letter 2 from A to O.
- HOCK → HOOK: change letter 3 from C to O.
- HOOK → HOOP: change letter 4 from K to P.
- HOOP → POOP: change letter 1 from H to P.
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