Verified solution
The shortest route from NEAT
NEATBEATBOATBOOTBOOPPOOP
- 01NEAT → BEAT1st letter, N to B
- 02BEAT → BOAT2nd letter, E to O
- 03BOAT → BOOT3rd letter, A to O
- 04BOOT → BOOP4th letter, T to P
- 05BOOP → POOP1st letter, B to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
NEAT has 12 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
BEAT4 leftPEAT4 leftFEAT5 leftHEAT5 leftMEAT5 leftSEAT5 leftTEAT5 leftNEST5 leftNEAR5 leftNEWT6 leftNEXT6 leftNEAP6 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 →