MAY 4, 2026 · PUZZLE #263
TIED to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
TIED
START01
PIED
LETTER 102
PLED
LETTER 203
PLOD
LETTER 304
PLOP
LETTER 405
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
TIED 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 first letter: TIED → PIED. Near the goal, PLOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its second letter.
Every letter change
- TIED → PIED: change letter 1 from T to P.
- PIED → PLED: change letter 2 from I to L.
- PLED → PLOD: change letter 3 from E to O.
- PLOD → PLOP: change letter 4 from D to P.
- PLOP → POOP: change letter 2 from L to O.
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