Verified solution
The shortest route from DYES
DYESDOESDOERDOORPOORPOOP
- 01DYES → DOES2nd letter, Y to O
- 02DOES → DOER4th letter, S to R
- 03DOER → DOOR3rd letter, E to O
- 04DOOR → POOR1st letter, D to P
- 05POOR → POOP4th letter, R to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
DYES has 8 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
DOES4 leftDYER4 leftDIES5 leftDUES5 leftDYED5 leftBYES6 leftEYES6 leftLYES6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 2 distinct paths at the minimum length of 5. The route shown above is one complete answer, not the only valid sequence. Any route reaching POOP in 5 moves is equally short.
Calculate a route from a different word →