Verified solution
The shortest route from GALE
GALEPALEPOLEPOLLPOOLPOOP
- 01GALE → PALE1st letter, G to P
- 02PALE → POLE2nd letter, A to O
- 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?
GALE has 19 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
PALE4 leftGALL4 leftBALE5 leftDALE5 leftHALE5 leftKALE5 leftMALE5 leftSALE5 leftTALE5 leftVALE5 leftWALE5 leftGAME5 leftGALA5 leftGALS5 leftGAGE6 leftGAPE6 leftGATE6 leftGAVE6 leftGAZE6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 4 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 →