AUGUST 22, 2025 · PUZZLE #8
NEAT to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
NEAT
START01
BEAT
LETTER 102
BOAT
LETTER 203
BOOT
LETTER 304
BOOP
LETTER 405
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
NEAT 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: NEAT → BEAT. Near the goal, BOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.
Every letter change
- NEAT → BEAT: change letter 1 from N to B.
- BEAT → BOAT: change letter 2 from E to O.
- BOAT → BOOT: change letter 3 from A to O.
- BOOT → BOOP: change letter 4 from T to P.
- BOOP → POOP: change letter 1 from B to P.
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