Verified solution
The shortest route from NECK
NECKNOCKLOCKLOOKLOOPPOOP
- 01NECK → NOCK2nd letter, E to O
- 02NOCK → LOCK1st letter, N to L
- 03LOCK → LOOK3rd letter, C to O
- 04LOOK → LOOP4th letter, K to P
- 05LOOP → POOP1st letter, L to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
NECK has 7 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
BECK4 leftHECK4 leftNOCK4 leftDECK5 leftFECK5 leftPECK5 leftNICK5 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 →