POOPLE ANSWERS

APRIL 17, 2026 · PUZZLE #246

ALES to POOP.

One shortest route in 8 moves.

00
ALES
START
01
ALMS
LETTER 3
02
AIMS
LETTER 2
03
AIDS
LETTER 3
04
BIDS
LETTER 1
05
BODS
LETTER 2
06
BOOS
LETTER 3
07
BOOP
LETTER 4
08
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 8 moves

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

Start by changing the third letter: ALES → ALMS. Near the goal, BOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.

Every letter change

  1. ALES → ALMS: change letter 3 from E to M.
  2. ALMS → AIMS: change letter 2 from L to I.
  3. AIMS → AIDS: change letter 3 from M to D.
  4. AIDS → BIDS: change letter 1 from A to B.
  5. BIDS → BODS: change letter 2 from I to O.
  6. BODS → BOOS: change letter 3 from D to O.
  7. BOOS → BOOP: change letter 4 from S to P.
  8. BOOP → POOP: change letter 1 from B to P.
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