APRIL 4, 2026 · PUZZLE #233
SWAN to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
SWAN
START01
SWAP
LETTER 402
SLAP
LETTER 203
PLAP
LETTER 104
PLOP
LETTER 305
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
SWAN 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 fourth letter: SWAN → SWAP. Near the goal, PLOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its second letter.
Every letter change
- SWAN → SWAP: change letter 4 from N to P.
- SWAP → SLAP: change letter 2 from W to L.
- SLAP → PLAP: change letter 1 from S to P.
- PLAP → PLOP: change letter 3 from A to O.
- PLOP → POOP: change letter 2 from L to O.
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