POOPLE ANSWERS

OCTOBER 26, 2025 ยท PUZZLE #73

LACY to POOP.

One shortest route in 5 moves.

00
LACY
START
01
LACK
LETTER 4
02
LOCK
LETTER 2
03
LOOK
LETTER 3
04
LOOP
LETTER 4
05
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 5 moves

LACY 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 fourth letter: LACY โ†’ LACK. Near the goal, LOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.

Every letter change

  1. LACY โ†’ LACK: change letter 4 from Y to K.
  2. LACK โ†’ LOCK: change letter 2 from A to O.
  3. LOCK โ†’ LOOK: change letter 3 from C to O.
  4. LOOK โ†’ LOOP: change letter 4 from K to P.
  5. LOOP โ†’ POOP: change letter 1 from L to P.