Verified solution
The shortest route from WARD
WARDWORDWOODWOOLPOOLPOOP
- 01WARD → WORD2nd letter, A to O
- 02WORD → WOOD3rd letter, R to O
- 03WOOD → WOOL4th letter, D to L
- 04WOOL → POOL1st letter, W to P
- 05POOL → POOP4th letter, L to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
WARD has 14 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
WORD4 leftBARD5 leftCARD5 leftWARE5 leftWARN5 leftWARP5 leftHARD6 leftLARD6 leftYARD6 leftWAND6 leftWARM6 leftWARS6 leftWART6 leftWARY6 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 →