JUNE 28, 2026 · PUZZLE #318
LATE to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 6 moves.
00
LATE
START01
DATE
LETTER 102
DAME
LETTER 303
DOME
LETTER 204
POME
LETTER 105
POMP
LETTER 406
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 6 moves
LATE and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 2 additional moves; the first and third letters change more than once.
Start by changing the first letter: LATE → DATE. Near the goal, POMP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its third letter.
Every letter change
- LATE → DATE: change letter 1 from L to D.
- DATE → DAME: change letter 3 from T to M.
- DAME → DOME: change letter 2 from A to O.
- DOME → POME: change letter 1 from D to P.
- POME → POMP: change letter 4 from E to P.
- POMP → POOP: change letter 3 from M to O.
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