AUGUST 17, 2026 · PUZZLE #368
JAYS to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
JAYS
START01
BAYS
LETTER 102
BOYS
LETTER 203
BOOS
LETTER 304
BOOP
LETTER 405
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
JAYS 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: JAYS → BAYS. Near the goal, BOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.
Every letter change
- JAYS → BAYS: change letter 1 from J to B.
- BAYS → BOYS: change letter 2 from A to O.
- BOYS → BOOS: change letter 3 from Y to O.
- BOOS → BOOP: change letter 4 from S to P.
- BOOP → POOP: change letter 1 from B to P.
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