POOPLE ANSWERS

MARCH 29, 2026 ยท PUZZLE #227

SWAG to POOP.

One shortest route in 5 moves.

00
SWAG
START
01
SLAG
LETTER 2
02
SLAP
LETTER 4
03
PLAP
LETTER 1
04
PLOP
LETTER 3
05
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 5 moves

SWAG and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 1 additional move; the second letter changes more than once.

Start by changing the second letter: SWAG โ†’ SLAG. Near the goal, PLOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its second letter.

Every letter change

  1. SWAG โ†’ SLAG: change letter 2 from W to L.
  2. SLAG โ†’ SLAP: change letter 4 from G to P.
  3. SLAP โ†’ PLAP: change letter 1 from S to P.
  4. PLAP โ†’ PLOP: change letter 3 from A to O.
  5. PLOP โ†’ POOP: change letter 2 from L to O.