Verified solution
The shortest route from LACE
LACELACKLOCKLOOKLOOPPOOP
- 01LACE → LACK4th letter, E to K
- 02LACK → LOCK2nd letter, A to O
- 03LOCK → LOOK3rd letter, C to O
- 04LOOK → LOOP4th letter, K to P
- 05LOOP → POOP1st letter, L to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
LACE has 13 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
LACK4 leftPACE5 leftLICE5 leftLAME5 leftLACY5 leftFACE6 leftMACE6 leftRACE6 leftLAKE6 leftLANE6 leftLATE6 leftLAVE6 leftLAZE6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 1 distinct path 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 →