Verified solution
The shortest route from VEAL
VEALDEALDELLDOLLPOLLPOOLPOOP
- 01VEAL → DEAL1st letter, V to D
- 02DEAL → DELL3rd letter, A to L
- 03DELL → DOLL2nd letter, E to O
- 04DOLL → POLL1st letter, D to P
- 05POLL → POOL3rd letter, L to O
- 06POOL → POOP4th letter, L to P
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
VEAL has 11 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
DEAL5 leftPEAL5 leftTEAL5 leftHEAL6 leftMEAL6 leftREAL6 leftSEAL6 leftWEAL6 leftZEAL6 leftVIAL6 leftVEIL7 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 6 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 →