Verified solution
The shortest route from KIDS
KIDSBIDSBODSBOOSBOOPPOOP
- 01KIDS → BIDS1st letter, K to B
- 02BIDS → BODS2nd letter, I to O
- 03BODS → BOOS3rd letter, D to O
- 04BOOS → BOOP4th letter, S to P
- 05BOOP → POOP1st letter, B to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
KIDS has 8 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
BIDS4 leftAIDS5 leftLIDS5 leftRIDS5 leftVIDS5 leftKITS5 leftKINS6 leftKISS6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 1 distinct path 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 →