Verified solution
The shortest route from HATS
HATSCATSCOTSCOOSCOOPPOOP
- 01HATS → CATS1st letter, H to C
- 02CATS → COTS2nd letter, A to O
- 03COTS → COOS3rd letter, T to O
- 04COOS → COOP4th letter, S to P
- 05COOP → POOP1st letter, C to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
HATS has 19 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
BATS4 leftCATS4 leftHOTS4 leftEATS5 leftFATS5 leftLATS5 leftMATS5 leftOATS5 leftPATS5 leftRATS5 leftTATS5 leftVATS5 leftHITS5 leftHUTS5 leftHAGS5 leftHAMS5 leftHAPS5 leftHAWS5 leftHATE6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 4 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 →