Verified solution
The shortest route from SALE
SALESOLEPOLEPOLLPOOLPOOP
- 01SALE → SOLE2nd letter, A to O
- 02SOLE → POLE1st letter, S to P
- 03POLE → POLL4th letter, E to L
- 04POLL → POOL3rd letter, L to O
- 05POOL → POOP4th letter, L to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
SALE has 19 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
PALE4 leftSOLE4 leftSAME4 leftBALE5 leftDALE5 leftGALE5 leftHALE5 leftKALE5 leftMALE5 leftTALE5 leftVALE5 leftWALE5 leftSAFE5 leftSAGE5 leftSAKE5 leftSANE5 leftSATE5 leftSAVE5 leftSALT5 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 7 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 →