AUGUST 11, 2026 · PUZZLE #362
SWIM to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
SWIM
START01
SLIM
LETTER 202
SLIP
LETTER 403
SLOP
LETTER 304
PLOP
LETTER 105
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
SWIM and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 1 additional move; the second letter changes more than once.
Start by changing the second letter: SWIM → SLIM. Near the goal, PLOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its second letter.
Every letter change
- SWIM → SLIM: change letter 2 from W to L.
- SLIM → SLIP: change letter 4 from M to P.
- SLIP → SLOP: change letter 3 from I to O.
- SLOP → PLOP: change letter 1 from S to P.
- PLOP → POOP: change letter 2 from L to O.
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