POOPLE ANSWERS

JULY 15, 2026 ยท PUZZLE #335

TEAM to POOP.

One shortest route in 5 moves.

00
TEAM
START
01
LEAM
LETTER 1
02
LOAM
LETTER 2
03
LOOM
LETTER 3
04
LOOP
LETTER 4
05
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 5 moves

TEAM 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: TEAM โ†’ LEAM. Near the goal, LOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.

Every letter change

  1. TEAM โ†’ LEAM: change letter 1 from T to L.
  2. LEAM โ†’ LOAM: change letter 2 from E to O.
  3. LOAM โ†’ LOOM: change letter 3 from A to O.
  4. LOOM โ†’ LOOP: change letter 4 from M to P.
  5. LOOP โ†’ POOP: change letter 1 from L to P.