MAY 22, 2026 · PUZZLE #281
SHIM to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
SHIM
START01
SHIP
LETTER 402
CHIP
LETTER 103
CHOP
LETTER 304
COOP
LETTER 205
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
SHIM and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 1 additional move; the first letter changes more than once.
Start by changing the fourth letter: SHIM → SHIP. Near the goal, COOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.
Every letter change
- SHIM → SHIP: change letter 4 from M to P.
- SHIP → CHIP: change letter 1 from S to C.
- CHIP → CHOP: change letter 3 from I to O.
- CHOP → COOP: change letter 2 from H to O.
- COOP → POOP: change letter 1 from C to P.
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