Verified solution
The shortest route from PING
PINGPINEPILEPILLPOLLPOOLPOOP
- 01PING → PINE4th letter, G to E
- 02PINE → PILE3rd letter, N to L
- 03PILE → PILL4th letter, E to L
- 04PILL → POLL2nd letter, I to O
- 05POLL → POOL3rd letter, L to O
- 06POOL → POOP4th letter, L to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
PING has 14 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
PONG5 leftPINE5 leftPINS5 leftDING6 leftSING6 leftTING6 leftPANG6 leftPINA6 leftPINK6 leftPINT6 leftKING7 leftRING7 leftWING7 leftZING7 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 9 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 →