POOPLE ANSWERS

JUNE 25, 2026 ยท PUZZLE #315

KIDS to POOP.

One shortest route in 5 moves.

00
KIDS
START
01
BIDS
LETTER 1
02
BODS
LETTER 2
03
BOOS
LETTER 3
04
BOOP
LETTER 4
05
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 5 moves

KIDS 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: KIDS โ†’ BIDS. Near the goal, BOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.

Every letter change

  1. KIDS โ†’ BIDS: change letter 1 from K to B.
  2. BIDS โ†’ BODS: change letter 2 from I to O.
  3. BODS โ†’ BOOS: change letter 3 from D to O.
  4. BOOS โ†’ BOOP: change letter 4 from S to P.
  5. BOOP โ†’ POOP: change letter 1 from B to P.