Verified solution
The shortest route from REAL
REALDEALDELLDOLLPOLLPOOLPOOP
- 01REAL → DEAL1st letter, R to D
- 02DEAL → DELL3rd letter, A to L
- 03DELL → DOLL2nd letter, E to O
- 04DOLL → POLL1st letter, D to P
- 05POLL → POOL3rd letter, L to O
- 06POOL → POOP4th letter, L to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
REAL has 15 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
DEAL5 leftPEAL5 leftTEAL5 leftRIAL5 leftREEL5 leftREAD5 leftREAM5 leftREAR5 leftHEAL6 leftMEAL6 leftSEAL6 leftVEAL6 leftWEAL6 leftZEAL6 leftREAP6 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 →