OCTOBER 10, 2026 · PUZZLE #422
GEMS to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 6 moves.
00
GEMS
START01
GAMS
LETTER 202
CAMS
LETTER 103
CAMP
LETTER 404
COMP
LETTER 205
COOP
LETTER 306
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 6 moves
GEMS and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 2 additional moves; the first and second letters change more than once.
Start by changing the second letter: GEMS → GAMS. Near the goal, COOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.
Every letter change
- GEMS → GAMS: change letter 2 from E to A.
- GAMS → CAMS: change letter 1 from G to C.
- CAMS → CAMP: change letter 4 from S to P.
- CAMP → COMP: change letter 2 from A to O.
- COMP → COOP: change letter 3 from M to O.
- COOP → POOP: change letter 1 from C to P.
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