Verified solution
The shortest route from SWIM
SWIMSLIMSLIPSLOPPLOPPOOP
- 01SWIM → SLIM2nd letter, W to L
- 02SLIM → SLIP4th letter, M to P
- 03SLIP → SLOP3rd letter, I to O
- 04SLOP → PLOP1st letter, S to P
- 05PLOP → POOP2nd letter, L to O
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
SWIM has 7 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
SLIM4 leftSHIM5 leftSKIM5 leftSTIM5 leftSWAM5 leftSWUM6 leftSWIG6 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 →