Verified solution
The shortest route from DUCT
DUCTDUCKLUCKLOCKLOOKLOOPPOOP
- 01DUCT → DUCK4th letter, T to K
- 02DUCK → LUCK1st letter, D to L
- 03LUCK → LOCK2nd letter, U to O
- 04LOCK → LOOK3rd letter, C to O
- 05LOOK → LOOP4th letter, K to P
- 06LOOP → POOP1st letter, L to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
DUCT has 3 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
DUST5 leftDUCK5 leftDUET6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 8 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 →