Verified solution
The shortest route from WAND
WANDWARDWORDWOODWOOLPOOLPOOP
- 01WAND → WARD3rd letter, N to R
- 02WARD → WORD2nd letter, A to O
- 03WORD → WOOD3rd letter, R to O
- 04WOOD → WOOL4th letter, D to L
- 05WOOL → POOL1st letter, W to P
- 06POOL → POOP4th letter, L to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
WAND has 11 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
BAND5 leftHAND5 leftWARD5 leftWANK5 leftLAND6 leftRAND6 leftSAND6 leftWEND6 leftWIND6 leftWANE6 leftWANT6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 9 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 →