POOPLE ANSWERS

MAY 12, 2026 ยท PUZZLE #271

BUTT to POOP.

One shortest route in 5 moves.

00
BUTT
START
01
BUTS
LETTER 4
02
BOTS
LETTER 2
03
BOOS
LETTER 3
04
BOOP
LETTER 4
05
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 5 moves

BUTT and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 1 additional move; the fourth letter changes more than once.

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

Every letter change

  1. BUTT โ†’ BUTS: change letter 4 from T to S.
  2. BUTS โ†’ BOTS: change letter 2 from U to O.
  3. BOTS โ†’ BOOS: change letter 3 from T to O.
  4. BOOS โ†’ BOOP: change letter 4 from S to P.
  5. BOOP โ†’ POOP: change letter 1 from B to P.