Verified solution
The shortest route from FOES
FOESDOESDOERDOORPOORPOOP
- 01FOES → DOES1st letter, F to D
- 02DOES → DOER4th letter, S to R
- 03DOER → DOOR3rd letter, E to O
- 04DOOR → POOR1st letter, D to P
- 05POOR → POOP4th letter, R to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
FOES has 11 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
DOES4 leftHOES4 leftWOES4 leftFOBS4 leftFOGS4 leftFOPS4 leftGOES5 leftNOES5 leftROES5 leftTOES5 leftFEES5 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 12 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 →