Verified solution
The shortest route from SANE
SANESAMESOMEPOMEPOMPPOOP
- 01SANE → SAME3rd letter, N to M
- 02SAME → SOME2nd letter, A to O
- 03SOME → POME1st letter, S to P
- 04POME → POMP4th letter, E to P
- 05POMP → POOP3rd letter, M to O
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
SANE has 19 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
SAME4 leftBANE5 leftCANE5 leftPANE5 leftSAFE5 leftSAGE5 leftSAKE5 leftSALE5 leftSATE5 leftSAVE5 leftSANK5 leftSANS5 leftLANE6 leftMANE6 leftVANE6 leftWANE6 leftSINE6 leftSAND6 leftSANG6 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 →