Verified solution
The shortest route from TIDE
TIDETIMETOMEPOMEPOMPPOOP
- 01TIDE → TIME3rd letter, D to M
- 02TIME → TOME2nd letter, I to O
- 03TOME → POME1st letter, T to P
- 04POME → POMP4th letter, E to P
- 05POMP → POOP3rd letter, M to O
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
TIDE has 11 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
TIME4 leftBIDE5 leftTILE5 leftTINE5 leftTIRE5 leftAIDE6 leftHIDE6 leftRIDE6 leftSIDE6 leftWIDE6 leftTIDY6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 1 distinct path 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 →