MAY 27, 2026 · PUZZLE #286
CAKE to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
CAKE
START01
CAME
LETTER 302
CAMP
LETTER 403
COMP
LETTER 204
COOP
LETTER 305
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
CAKE and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 1 additional move; the third letter changes more than once.
Start by changing the third letter: CAKE → CAME. Near the goal, COOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.
Every letter change
- CAKE → CAME: change letter 3 from K to M.
- CAME → CAMP: change letter 4 from E to P.
- CAMP → COMP: change letter 2 from A to O.
- COMP → COOP: change letter 3 from M to O.
- COOP → POOP: change letter 1 from C to P.
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