Verified solution
The shortest route from TICS
TICSTICKLICKLOCKLOOKLOOPPOOP
- 01TICS → TICK4th letter, S to K
- 02TICK → LICK1st letter, T to L
- 03LICK → LOCK2nd letter, I to O
- 04LOCK → LOOK3rd letter, C to O
- 05LOOK → LOOP4th letter, K to P
- 06LOOP → POOP1st letter, L to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
TICS has 8 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
TINS5 leftTIPS5 leftTITS5 leftTICK5 leftMICS6 leftPICS6 leftSICS6 leftTIES6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 17 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 →