MAY 25, 2026 · PUZZLE #284
VIAL to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 6 moves.
00
VIAL
START01
DIAL
LETTER 102
DILL
LETTER 303
DOLL
LETTER 204
POLL
LETTER 105
POOL
LETTER 306
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 6 moves
VIAL 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: VIAL → DIAL. Near the goal, POOL is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its fourth letter.
Every letter change
- VIAL → DIAL: change letter 1 from V to D.
- DIAL → DILL: change letter 3 from A to L.
- DILL → DOLL: change letter 2 from I to O.
- DOLL → POLL: change letter 1 from D to P.
- POLL → POOL: change letter 3 from L to O.
- POOL → POOP: change letter 4 from L to P.
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