Verified solution
The shortest route from ARTS
ARTSARMSAIMSAIDSBIDSBODSBOOSBOOPPOOP
- 01ARTS → ARMS3rd letter, T to M
- 02ARMS → AIMS2nd letter, R to I
- 03AIMS → AIDS3rd letter, M to D
- 04AIDS → BIDS1st letter, A to B
- 05BIDS → BODS2nd letter, I to O
- 06BODS → BOOS3rd letter, D to O
- 07BOOS → BOOP4th letter, S to P
- 08BOOP → POOP1st letter, B to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
ARTS has 6 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
ANTS7 leftAPTS7 leftARKS7 leftARMS7 leftACTS8 leftARCS8 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 13 distinct paths at the minimum length of 8. The route shown above is one complete answer, not the only valid sequence. Any route reaching POOP in 8 moves is equally short.
Calculate a route from a different word →