Verified solution
The shortest route from SWAN
SWANSWAPSLAPSLOPPLOPPOOP
- 01SWAN → SWAP4th letter, N to P
- 02SWAP → SLAP2nd letter, W to L
- 03SLAP → SLOP3rd letter, A to O
- 04SLOP → PLOP1st letter, S to P
- 05PLOP → POOP2nd letter, L to O
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
SWAN has 8 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
SWAP4 leftSWAB5 leftSWAG5 leftSWAM5 leftSWAT5 leftSWAY5 leftSCAN6 leftSPAN6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 2 distinct paths 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 →