POOPLE ANSWERS

SEPTEMBER 25, 2025 ยท PUZZLE #42

TURF to POOP.

One shortest route in 6 moves.

00
TURF
START
01
TURN
LETTER 4
02
BURN
LETTER 1
03
BORN
LETTER 2
04
BOON
LETTER 3
05
BOOP
LETTER 4
06
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 6 moves

TURF and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 2 additional moves; the first and fourth letters change more than once.

Start by changing the fourth letter: TURF โ†’ TURN. Near the goal, BOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.

Every letter change

  1. TURF โ†’ TURN: change letter 4 from F to N.
  2. TURN โ†’ BURN: change letter 1 from T to B.
  3. BURN โ†’ BORN: change letter 2 from U to O.
  4. BORN โ†’ BOON: change letter 3 from R to O.
  5. BOON โ†’ BOOP: change letter 4 from N to P.
  6. BOOP โ†’ POOP: change letter 1 from B to P.