Verified solution
The shortest route from MICE
MICEMILEMILLPILLPOLLPOOLPOOP
- 01MICE → MILE3rd letter, C to L
- 02MILE → MILL4th letter, E to L
- 03MILL → PILL1st letter, M to P
- 04PILL → POLL2nd letter, I to O
- 05POLL → POOL3rd letter, L to O
- 06POOL → POOP4th letter, L to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
MICE has 14 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
DICE5 leftLICE5 leftMIKE5 leftMILE5 leftMIME5 leftMIRE5 leftNICE6 leftRICE6 leftVICE6 leftMACE6 leftMINE6 leftMITE6 leftMICS6 leftMICA7 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 14 distinct paths at the minimum length of 6. The route shown above is one complete answer, not the only valid sequence. Any route reaching POOP in 6 moves is equally short.
Calculate a route from a different word →