Verified solution
The shortest route from SAND
SANDBANDBANKBONKBOOKBOOPPOOP
- 01SAND → BAND1st letter, S to B
- 02BAND → BANK4th letter, D to K
- 03BANK → BONK2nd letter, A to O
- 04BONK → BOOK3rd letter, N to O
- 05BOOK → BOOP4th letter, K to P
- 06BOOP → POOP1st letter, B to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
SAND has 11 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
BAND5 leftHAND5 leftSAID5 leftSANE5 leftSANK5 leftSANS5 leftLAND6 leftRAND6 leftWAND6 leftSEND6 leftSANG6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 9 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 →