Verified solution
The shortest route from NAIL
NAILFAILFOILFOOLPOOLPOOP
- 01NAIL → FAIL1st letter, N to F
- 02FAIL → FOIL2nd letter, A to O
- 03FOIL → FOOL3rd letter, I to O
- 04FOOL → POOL1st letter, F to P
- 05POOL → POOP4th letter, L to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
NAIL has 10 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
FAIL4 leftPAIL4 leftTAIL4 leftBAIL5 leftHAIL5 leftJAIL5 leftMAIL5 leftRAIL5 leftSAIL5 leftWAIL5 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 3 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 →