OCTOBER 6, 2025 · PUZZLE #53
NECK to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
NECK
START01
BECK
LETTER 102
BOCK
LETTER 203
BOOK
LETTER 304
BOOP
LETTER 405
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
NECK and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 1 additional move; the first letter changes more than once.
Start by changing the first letter: NECK → BECK. Near the goal, BOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.
Every letter change
- NECK → BECK: change letter 1 from N to B.
- BECK → BOCK: change letter 2 from E to O.
- BOCK → BOOK: change letter 3 from C to O.
- BOOK → BOOP: change letter 4 from K to P.
- BOOP → POOP: change letter 1 from B to P.
ADVERTISEMENT