POOPLE ANSWERS

AUGUST 7, 2026 ยท PUZZLE #358

SUED to POOP.

One shortest route in 5 moves.

00
SUED
START
01
HUED
LETTER 1
02
HOED
LETTER 2
03
HOOD
LETTER 3
04
HOOP
LETTER 4
05
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 5 moves

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

Every letter change

  1. SUED โ†’ HUED: change letter 1 from S to H.
  2. HUED โ†’ HOED: change letter 2 from U to O.
  3. HOED โ†’ HOOD: change letter 3 from E to O.
  4. HOOD โ†’ HOOP: change letter 4 from D to P.
  5. HOOP โ†’ POOP: change letter 1 from H to P.