Verified solution
The shortest route from PICS
PICSPICKLICKLOCKLOOKLOOPPOOP
- 01PICS → PICK4th letter, S to K
- 02PICK → LICK1st letter, P to L
- 03LICK → LOCK2nd letter, I to O
- 04LOCK → LOOK3rd letter, C to O
- 05LOOK → LOOP4th letter, K to P
- 06LOOP → POOP1st letter, L to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
PICS has 11 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
PECS5 leftPIES5 leftPIGS5 leftPINS5 leftPIPS5 leftPITS5 leftPICK5 leftMICS6 leftSICS6 leftTICS6 leftPISS6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 18 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 →