JUNE 23, 2026 · PUZZLE #313
LARK to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
LARK
START01
LACK
LETTER 302
LOCK
LETTER 203
LOOK
LETTER 304
LOOP
LETTER 405
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
LARK 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 third letter: LARK → LACK. Near the goal, LOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.
Every letter change
- LARK → LACK: change letter 3 from R to C.
- LACK → LOCK: change letter 2 from A to O.
- LOCK → LOOK: change letter 3 from C to O.
- LOOK → LOOP: change letter 4 from K to P.
- LOOP → POOP: change letter 1 from L to P.
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