Verified solution
The shortest route from WAGE
WAGEPAGEPALEPOLEPOLLPOOLPOOP
- 01WAGE → PAGE1st letter, W to P
- 02PAGE → PALE3rd letter, G to L
- 03PALE → POLE2nd letter, A to O
- 04POLE → POLL4th letter, E to L
- 05POLL → POOL3rd letter, L to O
- 06POOL → POOP4th letter, L to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
WAGE has 13 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
CAGE5 leftPAGE5 leftSAGE5 leftWAKE5 leftWALE5 leftWARE5 leftWAGS5 leftGAGE6 leftMAGE6 leftRAGE6 leftWADE6 leftWANE6 leftWAVE6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 18 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 →