SEPTEMBER 9, 2026 · PUZZLE #391
HYPE to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
HYPE
START01
HOPE
LETTER 202
HOME
LETTER 303
POME
LETTER 104
POMP
LETTER 405
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
HYPE and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 1 additional move; the third letter changes more than once.
Start by changing the second letter: HYPE → HOPE. Near the goal, POMP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its third letter.
Every letter change
- HYPE → HOPE: change letter 2 from Y to O.
- HOPE → HOME: change letter 3 from P to M.
- HOME → POME: change letter 1 from H to P.
- POME → POMP: change letter 4 from E to P.
- POMP → POOP: change letter 3 from M to O.
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