MAY 1, 2026 · PUZZLE #260
EELS to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 6 moves.
00
EELS
START01
GELS
LETTER 102
GELD
LETTER 403
GOLD
LETTER 204
GOOD
LETTER 305
GOOP
LETTER 406
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 6 moves
EELS and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 2 additional moves; the first and fourth letters change more than once.
Start by changing the first letter: EELS → GELS. Near the goal, GOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.
Every letter change
- EELS → GELS: change letter 1 from E to G.
- GELS → GELD: change letter 4 from S to D.
- GELD → GOLD: change letter 2 from E to O.
- GOLD → GOOD: change letter 3 from L to O.
- GOOD → GOOP: change letter 4 from D to P.
- GOOP → POOP: change letter 1 from G to P.
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