Verified solution
The shortest route from HALE
HALEHOLEPOLEPOLLPOOLPOOP
- 01HALE → HOLE2nd letter, A to O
- 02HOLE → POLE1st letter, H to P
- 03POLE → POLL4th letter, E to L
- 04POLL → POOL3rd letter, L to O
- 05POOL → POOP4th letter, L to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
HALE has 19 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
PALE4 leftHOLE4 leftHALL4 leftHALT4 leftBALE5 leftDALE5 leftGALE5 leftKALE5 leftMALE5 leftSALE5 leftTALE5 leftVALE5 leftWALE5 leftHARE5 leftHALF5 leftHALO5 leftHATE6 leftHAVE6 leftHAZE6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 10 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 →