Verified solution
The shortest route from RIPE
RIPEPIPEPOPEPOMEPOMPPOOP
- 01RIPE → PIPE1st letter, R to P
- 02PIPE → POPE2nd letter, I to O
- 03POPE → POME3rd letter, P to M
- 04POME → POMP4th letter, E to P
- 05POMP → POOP3rd letter, M to O
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
RIPE has 11 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
PIPE4 leftROPE4 leftWIPE5 leftRILE5 leftRIME5 leftRISE5 leftRICE6 leftRIDE6 leftRIFE6 leftRITE6 leftRIPS6 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 →