Verified solution
The shortest route from LENS
LENSLESSLOSSLOSTLOOTLOOPPOOP
- 01LENS → LESS3rd letter, N to S
- 02LESS → LOSS2nd letter, E to O
- 03LOSS → LOST4th letter, S to T
- 04LOST → LOOT3rd letter, S to O
- 05LOOT → LOOP4th letter, T to P
- 06LOOP → POOP1st letter, L to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
LENS has 12 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
DENS5 leftHENS5 leftPENS5 leftTENS5 leftLEES5 leftLEGS5 leftLESS5 leftLETS5 leftLENT5 leftFENS6 leftGENS6 leftLEND6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 18 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 →