Verified solution
The shortest route from WELD
WELDHELDHOLDHOODHOOPPOOP
- 01WELD → HELD1st letter, W to H
- 02HELD → HOLD2nd letter, E to O
- 03HOLD → HOOD3rd letter, L to O
- 04HOOD → HOOP4th letter, D to P
- 05HOOP → POOP1st letter, H to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
WELD has 9 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
GELD4 leftHELD4 leftMELD5 leftVELD5 leftWILD5 leftWEED5 leftWELL5 leftWELT5 leftWEND6 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 →