Verified solution
The shortest route from CART
CARTCASTCOSTCOOTCOOPPOOP
- 01CART → CAST3rd letter, R to S
- 02CAST → COST2nd letter, A to O
- 03COST → COOT3rd letter, S to O
- 04COOT → COOP4th letter, T to P
- 05COOP → POOP1st letter, C to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
CART has 16 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
CAST4 leftCARP4 leftFART5 leftHART5 leftPART5 leftTART5 leftCURT5 leftCANT5 leftCARB5 leftCARD5 leftCARE5 leftCARS5 leftDART6 leftKART6 leftMART6 leftWART6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 3 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 →