Verified solution
The shortest route from RACE
RACERACKROCKLOCKLOOKLOOPPOOP
- 01RACE → RACK4th letter, E to K
- 02RACK → ROCK2nd letter, A to O
- 03ROCK → LOCK1st letter, R to L
- 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?
RACE has 14 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
LACE5 leftPACE5 leftRARE5 leftRASE5 leftRACK5 leftFACE6 leftMACE6 leftRICE6 leftRAGE6 leftRAKE6 leftRATE6 leftRAVE6 leftRAZE6 leftRACY6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 20 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 →