Verified solution
The shortest route from MUTE
MUTECUTECOTECOMECOMPCOOPPOOP
- 01MUTE → CUTE1st letter, M to C
- 02CUTE → COTE2nd letter, U to O
- 03COTE → COME3rd letter, T to M
- 04COME → COMP4th letter, E to P
- 05COMP → COOP3rd letter, M to O
- 06COOP → POOP1st letter, C to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
MUTE has 9 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
CUTE5 leftMOTE5 leftMULE5 leftLUTE6 leftMATE6 leftMETE6 leftMITE6 leftMUSE6 leftMUTT6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 18 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 →