Verified solution
The shortest route from MULE
MULEMOLEPOLEPOLLPOOLPOOP
- 01MULE → MOLE2nd letter, U to O
- 02MOLE → POLE1st letter, M to P
- 03POLE → POLL4th letter, E to L
- 04POLL → POOL3rd letter, L to O
- 05POOL → POOP4th letter, L to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
MULE has 8 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
MOLE4 leftMULL4 leftRULE5 leftMALE5 leftMILE5 leftYULE6 leftMUSE6 leftMUTE6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 3 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 →