Verified solution
The shortest route from CRUX
CRUXCRUDCREDCREWCROWCROPPROPPOOP
- 01CRUX → CRUD4th letter, X to D
- 02CRUD → CRED3rd letter, U to E
- 03CRED → CREW4th letter, D to W
- 04CREW → CROW3rd letter, E to O
- 05CROW → CROP4th letter, W to P
- 06CROP → PROP1st letter, C to P
- 07PROP → POOP2nd letter, R to O
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
CRUX has 1 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
CRUD6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 4 distinct paths at the minimum length of 7. The route shown above is one complete answer, not the only valid sequence. Any route reaching POOP in 7 moves is equally short.
Calculate a route from a different word →