POOPLE ANSWERS

OCTOBER 31, 2025 ยท PUZZLE #78

GONE to POOP.

One shortest route in 5 moves.

00
GONE
START
01
BONE
LETTER 1
02
BONK
LETTER 4
03
BOOK
LETTER 3
04
BOOP
LETTER 4
05
POOP
GOAL

Why this route takes 5 moves

GONE and POOP differ in 3 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 2 additional moves; the first and fourth letters change more than once.

Start by changing the first letter: GONE โ†’ BONE. Near the goal, BOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.

Every letter change

  1. GONE โ†’ BONE: change letter 1 from G to B.
  2. BONE โ†’ BONK: change letter 4 from E to K.
  3. BONK โ†’ BOOK: change letter 3 from N to O.
  4. BOOK โ†’ BOOP: change letter 4 from K to P.
  5. BOOP โ†’ POOP: change letter 1 from B to P.