Verified solution
The shortest route from HARD
HARDWARDWORDWOODWOOLPOOLPOOP
- 01HARD → WARD1st letter, H to W
- 02WARD → WORD2nd letter, A to O
- 03WORD → WOOD3rd letter, R to O
- 04WOOD → WOOL4th letter, D to L
- 05WOOL → POOL1st letter, W to P
- 06POOL → POOP4th letter, L to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
HARD has 12 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
BARD5 leftCARD5 leftWARD5 leftHERD5 leftHAND5 leftHARE5 leftHARK5 leftHARP5 leftHART5 leftLARD6 leftYARD6 leftHARM6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 17 distinct paths at the minimum length of 6. The route shown above is one complete answer, not the only valid sequence. Any route reaching POOP in 6 moves is equally short.
Calculate a route from a different word →