Verified solution
The shortest route from DUET
DUETDUESDOESDOERDOORPOORPOOP
- 01DUET → DUES4th letter, T to S
- 02DUES → DOES2nd letter, U to O
- 03DOES → DOER4th letter, S to R
- 04DOER → DOOR3rd letter, E to O
- 05DOOR → POOR1st letter, D to P
- 06POOR → POOP4th letter, R to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
DUET has 6 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
DUST5 leftDUEL5 leftDUES5 leftSUET6 leftDIET6 leftDUCT6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 4 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 →