JULY 11, 2026 · PUZZLE #331
KICK to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
KICK
START01
HICK
LETTER 102
HOCK
LETTER 203
HOOK
LETTER 304
HOOP
LETTER 405
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
KICK 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: KICK → HICK. Near the goal, HOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.
Every letter change
- KICK → HICK: change letter 1 from K to H.
- HICK → HOCK: change letter 2 from I to O.
- HOCK → HOOK: change letter 3 from C to O.
- HOOK → HOOP: change letter 4 from K to P.
- HOOP → POOP: change letter 1 from H to P.
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