POOPLE ANSWERS

AUGUST 3, 2026 ยท PUZZLE #354

TILT to POOP.

One shortest route in 5 moves.

00
TILT
START
01
HILT
LETTER 1
02
HOLT
LETTER 2
03
HOOT
LETTER 3
04
HOOP
LETTER 4
05
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 5 moves

TILT 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: TILT โ†’ HILT. Near the goal, HOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.

Every letter change

  1. TILT โ†’ HILT: change letter 1 from T to H.
  2. HILT โ†’ HOLT: change letter 2 from I to O.
  3. HOLT โ†’ HOOT: change letter 3 from L to O.
  4. HOOT โ†’ HOOP: change letter 4 from T to P.
  5. HOOP โ†’ POOP: change letter 1 from H to P.