JUNE 29, 2026 · PUZZLE #319
WARD to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
WARD
START01
WORD
LETTER 202
WOOD
LETTER 303
GOOD
LETTER 104
GOOP
LETTER 405
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
WARD 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 second letter: WARD → WORD. Near the goal, GOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.
Every letter change
- WARD → WORD: change letter 2 from A to O.
- WORD → WOOD: change letter 3 from R to O.
- WOOD → GOOD: change letter 1 from W to G.
- GOOD → GOOP: change letter 4 from D to P.
- GOOP → POOP: change letter 1 from G to P.
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