Verified solution
The shortest route from WADE
WADEWALEPALEPOLEPOLLPOOLPOOP
- 01WADE → WALE3rd letter, D to L
- 02WALE → PALE1st letter, W to P
- 03PALE → POLE2nd letter, A to O
- 04POLE → POLL4th letter, E to L
- 05POLL → POOL3rd letter, L to O
- 06POOL → POOP4th letter, L to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
WADE has 12 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
BADE5 leftWAKE5 leftWALE5 leftWARE5 leftWADS5 leftFADE6 leftJADE6 leftMADE6 leftWIDE6 leftWAGE6 leftWANE6 leftWAVE6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 9 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 →