Verified solution
The shortest route from WINE
WINEWILEWILLPILLPOLLPOOLPOOP
- 01WINE → WILE3rd letter, N to L
- 02WILE → WILL4th letter, E to L
- 03WILL → PILL1st letter, W to P
- 04PILL → POLL2nd letter, I to O
- 05POLL → POOL3rd letter, L to O
- 06POOL → POOP4th letter, L to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
WINE has 23 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
DINE5 leftLINE5 leftPINE5 leftTINE5 leftWILE5 leftWIPE5 leftWIRE5 leftWISE5 leftFINE6 leftKINE6 leftMINE6 leftNINE6 leftSINE6 leftVINE6 leftZINE6 leftWANE6 leftWIDE6 leftWIFE6 leftWIND6 leftWINK6 leftWINS6 leftWING7 leftWINO7 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 17 distinct paths at the minimum length of 6. The route shown above is one complete answer, not the only valid sequence. Any route reaching POOP in 6 moves is equally short.
Calculate a route from a different word →