MAY 30, 2026 · PUZZLE #289
GRAY to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
GRAY
START01
CRAY
LETTER 102
CRAP
LETTER 403
CROP
LETTER 304
COOP
LETTER 205
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
GRAY 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 first letter: GRAY → CRAY. Near the goal, COOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.
Every letter change
- GRAY → CRAY: change letter 1 from G to C.
- CRAY → CRAP: change letter 4 from Y to P.
- CRAP → CROP: change letter 3 from A to O.
- CROP → COOP: change letter 2 from R to O.
- COOP → POOP: change letter 1 from C to P.
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