Verified solution
The shortest route from RIFE
RIFELIFELIFTLOFTLOOTLOOPPOOP
- 01RIFE → LIFE1st letter, R to L
- 02LIFE → LIFT4th letter, E to T
- 03LIFT → LOFT2nd letter, I to O
- 04LOFT → LOOT3rd letter, F to O
- 05LOOT → LOOP4th letter, T to P
- 06LOOP → POOP1st letter, L to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
RIFE has 12 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
LIFE5 leftRILE5 leftRIME5 leftRIPE5 leftRISE5 leftRIFT5 leftFIFE6 leftWIFE6 leftRICE6 leftRIDE6 leftRITE6 leftRIFF6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 22 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 →