Verified solution
The shortest route from NEST
NESTLESTLOSTLOOTLOOPPOOP
- 01NEST → LEST1st letter, N to L
- 02LEST → LOST2nd letter, E to O
- 03LOST → LOOT3rd letter, S to O
- 04LOOT → LOOP4th letter, T to P
- 05LOOP → POOP1st letter, L to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
NEST has 14 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
HEST4 leftLEST4 leftBEST5 leftFEST5 leftJEST5 leftPEST5 leftREST5 leftTEST5 leftVEST5 leftWEST5 leftZEST5 leftNEAT5 leftNEWT6 leftNEXT6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 2 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 →