Verified solution
The shortest route from PERT
PERTPORTPOUTPOURPOORPOOP
- 01PERT → PORT2nd letter, E to O
- 02PORT → POUT3rd letter, R to U
- 03POUT → POUR4th letter, T to R
- 04POUR → POOR3rd letter, U to O
- 05POOR → POOP4th letter, R to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
PERT has 10 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
PORT4 leftPEAT4 leftPERP4 leftPART5 leftPELT5 leftPENT5 leftPEST5 leftPERK5 leftPERM5 leftVERT6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 5 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 →