Verified solution
The shortest route from DUCK
DUCKLUCKLOCKLOOKLOOPPOOP
- 01DUCK → LUCK1st letter, D to L
- 02LUCK → LOCK2nd letter, U to O
- 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?
DUCK has 14 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
BUCK4 leftHUCK4 leftLUCK4 leftDOCK4 leftMUCK5 leftPUCK5 leftSUCK5 leftTUCK5 leftYUCK5 leftDECK5 leftDICK5 leftDUNK5 leftDUSK6 leftDUCT6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 7 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 →