Verified solution
The shortest route from SALT
SALTHALTHOLTHOOTHOOPPOOP
- 01SALT → HALT1st letter, S to H
- 02HALT → HOLT2nd letter, A to O
- 03HOLT → HOOT3rd letter, L to O
- 04HOOT → HOOP4th letter, T to P
- 05HOOP → POOP1st letter, H to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
SALT has 4 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
HALT4 leftMALT5 leftSILT5 leftSALE5 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 1 distinct path 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 →