Verified solution
The shortest route from LENT
LENTLEFTLOFTLOOTLOOPPOOP
- 01LENT → LEFT3rd letter, N to F
- 02LEFT → LOFT2nd letter, E to O
- 03LOFT → LOOT3rd letter, F to O
- 04LOOT → LOOP4th letter, T to P
- 05LOOP → POOP1st letter, L to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
LENT has 15 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
LEFT4 leftLEST4 leftBENT5 leftPENT5 leftLINT5 leftLEPT5 leftCENT6 leftDENT6 leftRENT6 leftSENT6 leftTENT6 leftVENT6 leftWENT6 leftLEND6 leftLENS6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 2 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 →