AUGUST 16, 2026 · PUZZLE #367
NEXT to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 6 moves.
00
NEXT
START01
NEAT
LETTER 302
BEAT
LETTER 103
BOAT
LETTER 204
BOOT
LETTER 305
BOOP
LETTER 406
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 6 moves
NEXT and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 2 additional moves; the first and third letters change more than once.
Start by changing the third letter: NEXT → NEAT. Near the goal, BOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.
Every letter change
- NEXT → NEAT: change letter 3 from X to A.
- NEAT → BEAT: change letter 1 from N to B.
- BEAT → BOAT: change letter 2 from E to O.
- BOAT → BOOT: change letter 3 from A to O.
- BOOT → BOOP: change letter 4 from T to P.
- BOOP → POOP: change letter 1 from B to P.
ADVERTISEMENT