Verified solution
The shortest route from HATE
HATEHALEHOLEPOLEPOLLPOOLPOOP
- 01HATE → HALE3rd letter, T to L
- 02HALE → HOLE2nd letter, A to O
- 03HOLE → POLE1st letter, H to P
- 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?
HATE has 13 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
DATE5 leftPATE5 leftSATE5 leftHALE5 leftHARE5 leftHATS5 leftFATE6 leftGATE6 leftLATE6 leftMATE6 leftRATE6 leftHAVE6 leftHAZE6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 22 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 →