MARCH 28, 2026 · PUZZLE #226
HAZY to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 7 moves.
00
HAZY
START01
HAZE
LETTER 402
DAZE
LETTER 103
DAME
LETTER 304
DOME
LETTER 205
POME
LETTER 106
POMP
LETTER 407
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 7 moves
HAZY and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 3 additional moves; the first and third and fourth letters change more than once.
Start by changing the fourth letter: HAZY → HAZE. Near the goal, POMP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its third letter.
Every letter change
- HAZY → HAZE: change letter 4 from Y to E.
- HAZE → DAZE: change letter 1 from H to D.
- DAZE → DAME: change letter 3 from Z to M.
- DAME → DOME: change letter 2 from A to O.
- DOME → POME: change letter 1 from D to P.
- POME → POMP: change letter 4 from E to P.
- POMP → POOP: change letter 3 from M to O.
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