JULY 3, 2026 · PUZZLE #323
HUES to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
HUES
START01
HOES
LETTER 202
HOED
LETTER 403
HOOD
LETTER 304
HOOP
LETTER 405
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
HUES and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 1 additional move; the fourth letter changes more than once.
Start by changing the second letter: HUES → HOES. Near the goal, HOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.
Every letter change
- HUES → HOES: change letter 2 from U to O.
- HOES → HOED: change letter 4 from S to D.
- HOED → HOOD: change letter 3 from E to O.
- HOOD → HOOP: change letter 4 from D to P.
- HOOP → POOP: change letter 1 from H to P.
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