Verified solution
The shortest route from GEMS
GEMSGELSGELDGOLDGOODGOOPPOOP
- 01GEMS → GELS3rd letter, M to L
- 02GELS → GELD4th letter, S to D
- 03GELD → GOLD2nd letter, E to O
- 04GOLD → GOOD3rd letter, L to O
- 05GOOD → GOOP4th letter, D to P
- 06GOOP → POOP1st letter, G to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
GEMS has 9 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
HEMS5 leftGAMS5 leftGUMS5 leftGEES5 leftGELS5 leftGETS5 leftFEMS6 leftGYMS6 leftGENS6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 14 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 →