Verified solution
The shortest route from PACE
PACEPALEPOLEPOLLPOOLPOOP
- 01PACE → PALE3rd letter, C to L
- 02PALE → POLE2nd letter, A to O
- 03POLE → POLL4th letter, E to L
- 04POLL → POOL3rd letter, L to O
- 05POOL → POOP4th letter, L to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
PACE has 13 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
PALE4 leftPARE4 leftLACE5 leftPUCE5 leftPAGE5 leftPANE5 leftPATE5 leftPAVE5 leftPACK5 leftFACE6 leftMACE6 leftRACE6 leftPACT6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 4 distinct paths 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 →