POOPLE ANSWERS

SEPTEMBER 14, 2025 · PUZZLE #31

ARCH to POOP.

One shortest route in 9 moves.

00
ARCH
START
01
ARCS
LETTER 4
02
ARKS
LETTER 3
03
IRKS
LETTER 1
04
IRIS
LETTER 3
05
BRIS
LETTER 1
06
BROS
LETTER 3
07
BOOS
LETTER 2
08
BOOP
LETTER 4
09
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 9 moves

ARCH and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 5 additional moves; the first and third and fourth letters change more than once.

Start by changing the fourth letter: ARCH → ARCS. Near the goal, BOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.

Every letter change

  1. ARCH → ARCS: change letter 4 from H to S.
  2. ARCS → ARKS: change letter 3 from C to K.
  3. ARKS → IRKS: change letter 1 from A to I.
  4. IRKS → IRIS: change letter 3 from K to I.
  5. IRIS → BRIS: change letter 1 from I to B.
  6. BRIS → BROS: change letter 3 from I to O.
  7. BROS → BOOS: change letter 2 from R to O.
  8. BOOS → BOOP: change letter 4 from S to P.
  9. BOOP → POOP: change letter 1 from B to P.
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