Verified solution
The shortest route from PADS
PADSPALSPALLPOLLPOOLPOOP
- 01PADS → PALS3rd letter, D to L
- 02PALS → PALL4th letter, S to L
- 03PALL → POLL2nd letter, A to O
- 04POLL → POOL3rd letter, L to O
- 05POOL → POOP4th letter, L to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
PADS has 16 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
CADS4 leftPODS4 leftPALS4 leftDADS5 leftFADS5 leftLADS5 leftRADS5 leftSADS5 leftWADS5 leftPANS5 leftPAPS5 leftPARS5 leftPASS5 leftPATS5 leftPAWS5 leftPAYS5 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 4 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 →