Verified solution
The shortest route from PAIN
PAINPAILPALLPOLLPOOLPOOP
- 01PAIN → PAIL4th letter, N to L
- 02PAIL → PALL3rd letter, I 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?
PAIN has 10 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
LAIN4 leftPAIL4 leftFAIN5 leftGAIN5 leftMAIN5 leftRAIN5 leftVAIN5 leftPAID5 leftPAIR5 leftPAWN6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 2 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 →