NOVEMBER 3, 2025 · PUZZLE #81
NEED to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
NEED
START01
HEED
LETTER 102
HOED
LETTER 203
HOOD
LETTER 304
HOOP
LETTER 405
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
NEED 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: NEED → HEED. Near the goal, HOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.
Every letter change
- NEED → HEED: change letter 1 from N to H.
- HEED → HOED: change letter 2 from E to O.
- HOED → HOOD: change letter 3 from E to O.
- HOOD → HOOP: change letter 4 from D to P.
- HOOP → POOP: change letter 1 from H to P.
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