Verified solution
The shortest route from TEAK
TEAKTEALTELLTOLLTOOLPOOLPOOP
- 01TEAK → TEAL4th letter, K to L
- 02TEAL → TELL3rd letter, A to L
- 03TELL → TOLL2nd letter, E to O
- 04TOLL → TOOL3rd letter, L to O
- 05TOOL → POOL1st letter, T to P
- 06POOL → POOP4th letter, L to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
TEAK has 9 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
BEAK5 leftLEAK5 leftPEAK5 leftTEAL5 leftTEAM5 leftTEAR5 leftTEAT5 leftWEAK6 leftTEAS6 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 →