Verified solution
The shortest route from REAP
REAPREADROADROODGOODGOOPPOOP
- 01REAP → READ4th letter, P to D
- 02READ → ROAD2nd letter, E to O
- 03ROAD → ROOD3rd letter, A to O
- 04ROOD → GOOD1st letter, R to G
- 05GOOD → GOOP4th letter, D to P
- 06GOOP → POOP1st letter, G to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
REAP has 7 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
HEAP5 leftLEAP5 leftREAD5 leftREAM5 leftREAR5 leftNEAP6 leftREAL6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 16 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.
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