Verified solution
The shortest route from TOES
TOESDOESDOERDOORPOORPOOP
- 01TOES → DOES1st letter, T to D
- 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?
TOES has 17 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
DOES4 leftHOES4 leftWOES4 leftTOMS4 leftTONS4 leftTOPS4 leftTOSS4 leftTOTS4 leftTOWS4 leftTOYS4 leftTOED4 leftFOES5 leftGOES5 leftNOES5 leftROES5 leftTEES5 leftTIES6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 17 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 →