JUNE 4, 2026 · PUZZLE #294
NAIL to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
NAIL
START01
FAIL
LETTER 102
FOIL
LETTER 203
FOOL
LETTER 304
POOL
LETTER 105
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
NAIL 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: NAIL → FAIL. Near the goal, POOL is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its fourth letter.
Every letter change
- NAIL → FAIL: change letter 1 from N to F.
- FAIL → FOIL: change letter 2 from A to O.
- FOIL → FOOL: change letter 3 from I to O.
- FOOL → POOL: change letter 1 from F to P.
- POOL → POOP: change letter 4 from L to P.
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