NOVEMBER 10, 2025 · PUZZLE #88
SCUM to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 6 moves.
00
SCUM
START01
SCAM
LETTER 302
SLAM
LETTER 203
SLAP
LETTER 404
PLAP
LETTER 105
PLOP
LETTER 306
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 6 moves
SCUM and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 2 additional moves; the second and third letters change more than once.
Start by changing the third letter: SCUM → SCAM. Near the goal, PLOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its second letter.
Every letter change
- SCUM → SCAM: change letter 3 from U to A.
- SCAM → SLAM: change letter 2 from C to L.
- SLAM → SLAP: change letter 4 from M to P.
- SLAP → PLAP: change letter 1 from S to P.
- PLAP → PLOP: change letter 3 from A to O.
- PLOP → POOP: change letter 2 from L to O.
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