POOPLE ANSWERS

JULY 18, 2026 · PUZZLE #338

TECH to POOP.

One shortest route in 8 moves.

00
TECH
START
01
MECH
LETTER 1
02
MESH
LETTER 3
03
MESS
LETTER 4
04
MOSS
LETTER 2
05
BOSS
LETTER 1
06
BOOS
LETTER 3
07
BOOP
LETTER 4
08
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 8 moves

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

Start by changing the first letter: TECH → MECH. Near the goal, BOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.

Every letter change

  1. TECH → MECH: change letter 1 from T to M.
  2. MECH → MESH: change letter 3 from C to S.
  3. MESH → MESS: change letter 4 from H to S.
  4. MESS → MOSS: change letter 2 from E to O.
  5. MOSS → BOSS: change letter 1 from M to B.
  6. BOSS → BOOS: change letter 3 from S to O.
  7. BOOS → BOOP: change letter 4 from S to P.
  8. BOOP → POOP: change letter 1 from B to P.
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