SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 · PUZZLE #390
NEWS to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 6 moves.
00
NEWS
START01
MEWS
LETTER 102
MOWS
LETTER 203
BOWS
LETTER 104
BOOS
LETTER 305
BOOP
LETTER 406
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 6 moves
NEWS and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 2 additional moves; the first letter changes more than once.
Start by changing the first letter: NEWS → MEWS. Near the goal, BOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.
Every letter change
- NEWS → MEWS: change letter 1 from N to M.
- MEWS → MOWS: change letter 2 from E to O.
- MOWS → BOWS: change letter 1 from M to B.
- BOWS → BOOS: change letter 3 from W to O.
- BOOS → BOOP: change letter 4 from S to P.
- BOOP → POOP: change letter 1 from B to P.
ADVERTISEMENT