SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 · PUZZLE #386
RACK to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
RACK
START01
BACK
LETTER 102
BOCK
LETTER 203
BOOK
LETTER 304
BOOP
LETTER 405
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
RACK 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: RACK → BACK. Near the goal, BOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.
Every letter change
- RACK → BACK: change letter 1 from R to B.
- BACK → BOCK: change letter 2 from A to O.
- BOCK → BOOK: change letter 3 from C to O.
- BOOK → BOOP: change letter 4 from K to P.
- BOOP → POOP: change letter 1 from B to P.
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