POOPLE ANSWERS

JUNE 16, 2026 · PUZZLE #306

ARTS to POOP.

One shortest route in 8 moves.

00
ARTS
START
01
ANTS
LETTER 2
02
ANDS
LETTER 3
03
AIDS
LETTER 2
04
BIDS
LETTER 1
05
BODS
LETTER 2
06
BOOS
LETTER 3
07
BOOP
LETTER 4
08
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 8 moves

ARTS and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 4 additional moves; the first and second and third letters change more than once.

Start by changing the second letter: ARTS → ANTS. Near the goal, BOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.

Every letter change

  1. ARTS → ANTS: change letter 2 from R to N.
  2. ANTS → ANDS: change letter 3 from T to D.
  3. ANDS → AIDS: change letter 2 from N to I.
  4. AIDS → BIDS: change letter 1 from A to B.
  5. BIDS → BODS: change letter 2 from I to O.
  6. BODS → BOOS: change letter 3 from D to O.
  7. BOOS → BOOP: change letter 4 from S to P.
  8. BOOP → POOP: change letter 1 from B to P.
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