Verified solution
The shortest route from HUES
HUESHUMSHUMPPUMPPOMPPOOP
- 01HUES → HUMS3rd letter, E to M
- 02HUMS → HUMP4th letter, S to P
- 03HUMP → PUMP1st letter, H to P
- 04PUMP → POMP2nd letter, U to O
- 05POMP → POOP3rd letter, M to O
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
HUES has 10 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
HOES4 leftHUMS4 leftHUED4 leftCUES5 leftDUES5 leftRUES5 leftSUES5 leftHUBS5 leftHUGS5 leftHUTS5 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 3 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 →