Verified solution
The shortest route from HART
HARTHALTHOLTHOOTHOOPPOOP
- 01HART → HALT3rd letter, R to L
- 02HALT → HOLT2nd letter, A to O
- 03HOLT → HOOT3rd letter, L to O
- 04HOOT → HOOP4th letter, T to P
- 05HOOP → POOP1st letter, H to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
HART has 16 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
HALT4 leftCART5 leftFART5 leftPART5 leftTART5 leftHAFT5 leftHARE5 leftHARK5 leftHARP5 leftDART6 leftKART6 leftMART6 leftWART6 leftHURT6 leftHARD6 leftHARM6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 1 distinct path 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 →