Verified solution
The shortest route from OWNS
OWNSOWLSOILSOILYWILYWILLPILLPOLLPOOLPOOP
- 01OWNS → OWLS3rd letter, N to L
- 02OWLS → OILS2nd letter, W to I
- 03OILS → OILY4th letter, S to Y
- 04OILY → WILY1st letter, O to W
- 05WILY → WILL4th letter, Y to L
- 06WILL → PILL1st letter, W to P
- 07PILL → POLL2nd letter, I to O
- 08POLL → POOL3rd letter, L to O
- 09POOL → POOP4th letter, L to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
OWNS has 3 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
AWNS8 leftOWES8 leftOWLS8 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 15 distinct paths at the minimum length of 9. The route shown above is one complete answer, not the only valid sequence. Any route reaching POOP in 9 moves is equally short.
Calculate a route from a different word →