Verified solution
The shortest route from YELP
YELPHELPHELDHOLDHOODHOOPPOOP
- 01YELP → HELP1st letter, Y to H
- 02HELP → HELD4th letter, P to D
- 03HELD → HOLD2nd letter, E to O
- 04HOLD → HOOD3rd letter, L to O
- 05HOOD → HOOP4th letter, D to P
- 06HOOP → POOP1st letter, H to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
YELP has 3 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
HELP5 leftKELP5 leftYELL5 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 7 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 →