Verified solution
The shortest route from FATS
FATSCATSCOTSCOOSCOOPPOOP
- 01FATS → CATS1st letter, F to C
- 02CATS → COTS2nd letter, A to O
- 03COTS → COOS3rd letter, T to O
- 04COOS → COOP4th letter, S to P
- 05COOP → POOP1st letter, C to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
FATS has 15 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
BATS4 leftCATS4 leftEATS5 leftHATS5 leftLATS5 leftMATS5 leftOATS5 leftPATS5 leftRATS5 leftTATS5 leftVATS5 leftFITS5 leftFADS5 leftFANS5 leftFATE6 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 →