POOPLE ANSWERS

JULY 16, 2026 ยท PUZZLE #336

WARM to POOP.

One shortest route in 6 moves.

00
WARM
START
01
WARD
LETTER 4
02
WORD
LETTER 2
03
WOOD
LETTER 3
04
GOOD
LETTER 1
05
GOOP
LETTER 4
06
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 6 moves

WARM and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 2 additional moves; the first and fourth letters change more than once.

Start by changing the fourth letter: WARM โ†’ WARD. Near the goal, GOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.

Every letter change

  1. WARM โ†’ WARD: change letter 4 from M to D.
  2. WARD โ†’ WORD: change letter 2 from A to O.
  3. WORD โ†’ WOOD: change letter 3 from R to O.
  4. WOOD โ†’ GOOD: change letter 1 from W to G.
  5. GOOD โ†’ GOOP: change letter 4 from D to P.
  6. GOOP โ†’ POOP: change letter 1 from G to P.