POOPLE ANSWERS

MAY 14, 2026 ยท PUZZLE #273

PITY to POOP.

One shortest route in 6 moves.

00
PITY
START
01
PITS
LETTER 4
02
BITS
LETTER 1
03
BOTS
LETTER 2
04
BOOS
LETTER 3
05
BOOP
LETTER 4
06
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 6 moves

PITY and POOP differ in 3 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 3 additional moves; the first and fourth letters change more than once.

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

Every letter change

  1. PITY โ†’ PITS: change letter 4 from Y to S.
  2. PITS โ†’ BITS: change letter 1 from P to B.
  3. BITS โ†’ BOTS: change letter 2 from I to O.
  4. BOTS โ†’ BOOS: change letter 3 from T to O.
  5. BOOS โ†’ BOOP: change letter 4 from S to P.
  6. BOOP โ†’ POOP: change letter 1 from B to P.