POOPLE ANSWERS

JUNE 11, 2026 ยท PUZZLE #301

TUNE to POOP.

One shortest route in 5 moves.

00
TUNE
START
01
TONE
LETTER 2
02
TOME
LETTER 3
03
POME
LETTER 1
04
POMP
LETTER 4
05
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 5 moves

TUNE 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 second letter: TUNE โ†’ TONE. Near the goal, POMP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its third letter.

Every letter change

  1. TUNE โ†’ TONE: change letter 2 from U to O.
  2. TONE โ†’ TOME: change letter 3 from N to M.
  3. TOME โ†’ POME: change letter 1 from T to P.
  4. POME โ†’ POMP: change letter 4 from E to P.
  5. POMP โ†’ POOP: change letter 3 from M to O.