Verified solution
The shortest route from FAWN
FAWNFAINFAILFOILFOOLPOOLPOOP
- 01FAWN → FAIN3rd letter, W to I
- 02FAIN → FAIL4th letter, N to L
- 03FAIL → FOIL2nd letter, A to O
- 04FOIL → FOOL3rd letter, I to O
- 05FOOL → POOL1st letter, F to P
- 06POOL → POOP4th letter, L to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
FAWN has 6 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
DAWN5 leftLAWN5 leftSAWN5 leftFAIN5 leftPAWN6 leftYAWN6 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 →