Verified solution
The shortest route from MUST
MUSTMOSTLOSTLOOTLOOPPOOP
- 01MUST → MOST2nd letter, U to O
- 02MOST → LOST1st letter, M to L
- 03LOST → LOOT3rd letter, S to O
- 04LOOT → LOOP4th letter, T to P
- 05LOOP → POOP1st letter, L to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
MUST has 15 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
LUST4 leftMOST4 leftBUST5 leftDUST5 leftGUST5 leftJUST5 leftOUST5 leftRUST5 leftMAST5 leftMIST5 leftMUSS5 leftMUTT6 leftMUSE6 leftMUSH6 leftMUSK6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 9 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 →