Verified solution
The shortest route from TIPS
TIPSTOPSCOPSCOOSCOOPPOOP
- 01TIPS → TOPS2nd letter, I to O
- 02TOPS → COPS1st letter, T to C
- 03COPS → COOS3rd letter, P to O
- 04COOS → COOP4th letter, S to P
- 05COOP → POOP1st letter, C to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
TIPS has 15 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
TOPS4 leftHIPS5 leftLIPS5 leftPIPS5 leftSIPS5 leftTAPS5 leftTINS5 leftTITS5 leftDIPS6 leftNIPS6 leftRIPS6 leftYIPS6 leftZIPS6 leftTICS6 leftTIES6 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 →