Verified solution
The shortest route from LAKE
LAKELACELACKLOCKLOOKLOOPPOOP
- 01LAKE → LACE3rd letter, K to C
- 02LACE → LACK4th letter, E to K
- 03LACK → LOCK2nd letter, A 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?
LAKE has 15 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
CAKE5 leftSAKE5 leftTAKE5 leftWAKE5 leftLIKE5 leftLACE5 leftLAME5 leftBAKE6 leftFAKE6 leftMAKE6 leftRAKE6 leftLANE6 leftLATE6 leftLAVE6 leftLAZE6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 31 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 →