Verified solution
The shortest route from PIER
PIERPEERPEEPPREPPROPPOOP
- 01PIER → PEER2nd letter, I to E
- 02PEER → PEEP4th letter, R to P
- 03PEEP → PREP2nd letter, E to R
- 04PREP → PROP3rd letter, E to O
- 05PROP → POOP2nd letter, R to O
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
PIER has 6 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
PEER4 leftPIED4 leftPIES5 leftBIER6 leftTIER6 leftVIER6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 2 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 →