Verified solution
The shortest route from FAST
FASTLASTLOSTLOOTLOOPPOOP
- 01FAST → LAST1st letter, F to L
- 02LAST → LOST2nd letter, A to O
- 03LOST → LOOT3rd letter, S to O
- 04LOOT → LOOP4th letter, T to P
- 05LOOP → POOP1st letter, L to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
FAST has 11 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
CAST4 leftLAST4 leftBAST5 leftEAST5 leftMAST5 leftPAST5 leftVAST5 leftFEST5 leftFIST5 leftFART5 leftFACT6 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 →