SEPTEMBER 28, 2025 · PUZZLE #45
DUAL to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
DUAL
START01
DULL
LETTER 302
DOLL
LETTER 203
POLL
LETTER 104
POOL
LETTER 305
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
DUAL 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 third letter: DUAL → DULL. Near the goal, POOL is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its fourth letter.
Every letter change
- DUAL → DULL: change letter 3 from A to L.
- DULL → DOLL: change letter 2 from U to O.
- DOLL → POLL: change letter 1 from D to P.
- POLL → POOL: change letter 3 from L to O.
- POOL → POOP: change letter 4 from L to P.
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