Verified solution
The shortest route from DUEL
DUELDULLPULLPOLLPOOLPOOP
- 01DUEL → DULL3rd letter, E to L
- 02DULL → PULL1st letter, D to P
- 03PULL → POLL2nd letter, U to O
- 04POLL → POOL3rd letter, L to O
- 05POOL → POOP4th letter, L to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
DUEL has 5 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
DULL4 leftFUEL5 leftDUAL5 leftDUES5 leftDUET6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 2 distinct paths 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 →