Verified solution
The shortest route from LATE
LATELACELACKLOCKLOOKLOOPPOOP
- 01LATE → LACE3rd letter, T to C
- 02LACE → LACK4th letter, E to K
- 03LACK → LOCK2nd letter, A to O
- 04LOCK → LOOK3rd letter, C to O
- 05LOOK → LOOP4th letter, K to P
- 06LOOP → POOP1st letter, L to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
LATE has 17 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
DATE5 leftPATE5 leftSATE5 leftLITE5 leftLACE5 leftLAME5 leftLATS5 leftFATE6 leftGATE6 leftHATE6 leftMATE6 leftRATE6 leftLUTE6 leftLAKE6 leftLANE6 leftLAVE6 leftLAZE6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 27 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 →