Verified solution
The shortest route from TIRE
TIRETIMETOMEPOMEPOMPPOOP
- 01TIRE → TIME3rd letter, R to M
- 02TIME → TOME2nd letter, I to O
- 03TOME → POME1st letter, T to P
- 04POME → POMP4th letter, E to P
- 05POMP → POOP3rd letter, M to O
First moves
What happens after the opening word?
TIRE has 14 legal one-letter moves. These are the best routes after move one:
TORE4 leftTIME4 leftDIRE5 leftFIRE5 leftLIRE5 leftMIRE5 leftSIRE5 leftWIRE5 leftTARE5 leftTYRE5 leftTIDE5 leftTILE5 leftTINE5 leftHIRE6 left
Answer notes
Why there can be more than one answer.
This opening has 3 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 →