Verified solution
The shortest route from GIGS
GIGSCIGSCOGSCOOSCOOPPOOP
- 01GIGS → CIGS1st letter, G to C
- 02CIGS → COGS2nd letter, I to O
- 03COGS → COOS3rd letter, G to O
- 04COOS → COOP4th letter, S to P
- 05COOP → POOP1st letter, C to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
GIGS has 12 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
CIGS4 leftDIGS5 leftFIGS5 leftJIGS5 leftPIGS5 leftRIGS5 leftWIGS5 leftGAGS5 leftGIBS5 leftGIFS6 leftGINS6 leftGIGA6 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 →