OCTOBER 2, 2025 · PUZZLE #49
SALE to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
SALE
START01
PALE
LETTER 102
PALL
LETTER 403
POLL
LETTER 204
POOL
LETTER 305
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
SALE and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 1 additional move; the fourth letter changes more than once.
Start by changing the first letter: SALE → PALE. Near the goal, POOL is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its fourth letter.
Every letter change
- SALE → PALE: change letter 1 from S to P.
- PALE → PALL: change letter 4 from E to L.
- PALL → POLL: change letter 2 from A to O.
- POLL → POOL: change letter 3 from L to O.
- POOL → POOP: change letter 4 from L to P.
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