POOPLE ANSWERS

MAY 7, 2026 ยท PUZZLE #266

MUSK to POOP.

One shortest route in 6 moves.

00
MUSK
START
01
BUSK
LETTER 1
02
BUCK
LETTER 3
03
BOCK
LETTER 2
04
BOOK
LETTER 3
05
BOOP
LETTER 4
06
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 6 moves

MUSK and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 2 additional moves; the first and third letters change more than once.

Start by changing the first letter: MUSK โ†’ BUSK. Near the goal, BOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.

Every letter change

  1. MUSK โ†’ BUSK: change letter 1 from M to B.
  2. BUSK โ†’ BUCK: change letter 3 from S to C.
  3. BUCK โ†’ BOCK: change letter 2 from U to O.
  4. BOCK โ†’ BOOK: change letter 3 from C to O.
  5. BOOK โ†’ BOOP: change letter 4 from K to P.
  6. BOOP โ†’ POOP: change letter 1 from B to P.