AUGUST 18, 2026 · PUZZLE #369
PERT to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
PERT
START01
PEAT
LETTER 302
PLAT
LETTER 203
PLAP
LETTER 404
PLOP
LETTER 305
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
PERT and POOP differ in 3 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 2 additional moves; the second and third letters change more than once.
Start by changing the third letter: PERT → PEAT. Near the goal, PLOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its second letter.
Every letter change
- PERT → PEAT: change letter 3 from R to A.
- PEAT → PLAT: change letter 2 from E to L.
- PLAT → PLAP: change letter 4 from T to P.
- PLAP → PLOP: change letter 3 from A to O.
- PLOP → POOP: change letter 2 from L to O.
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