Verified solution
The shortest route from NEXT
NEXTNEATBEATBOATBOOTBOOPPOOP
- 01NEXT → NEAT3rd letter, X to A
- 02NEAT → BEAT1st letter, N to B
- 03BEAT → BOAT2nd letter, E to O
- 04BOAT → BOOT3rd letter, A to O
- 05BOOT → BOOP4th letter, T to P
- 06BOOP → POOP1st letter, B to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
NEXT has 4 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
NEAT5 leftNEST5 leftTEXT6 leftNEWT6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 5 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 →