Verified solution
The shortest route from NIPS
NIPSTIPSTOPSCOPSCOOSCOOPPOOP
- 01NIPS → TIPS1st letter, N to T
- 02TIPS → TOPS2nd letter, I to O
- 03TOPS → COPS1st letter, T to C
- 04COPS → COOS3rd letter, P to O
- 05COOS → COOP4th letter, S to P
- 06COOP → POOP1st letter, C to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
NIPS has 13 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
HIPS5 leftLIPS5 leftPIPS5 leftSIPS5 leftTIPS5 leftNAPS5 leftNIBS5 leftNITS5 leftDIPS6 leftRIPS6 leftYIPS6 leftZIPS6 leftNILS6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 17 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 →