A WORD LADDER FOR A FRIEND ·
Challenge a friend: Poople #176
How few moves can you use to turn BUOY into POOP?
Starting word: BUOY. Target: POOP.
Shared move counts are casual, unverified results. Compare your routes for fun.
A little help, if you need it
These hints reveal the minimum length and one first step. The complete solution stays on the answer page.
01A gentle nudgeReveal the minimum move count.
The minimum is 6 moves. Count each one-letter change; the starting word costs no move.
02A little more directionFind the first position to change.
One shortest route begins by changing letter 3 of BUOY. Keep the other three positions fixed.
03Your first stepping stoneReveal one next word.
Try BURY. From there, a shortest route has 5 moves remaining.
04A strategy to keep goingA solving idea, without the rest of the route.
Try changing each letter position in turn, keeping the other three letters fixed. If one branch stalls, work backward from POOP and look for a connection. A useful move can temporarily look less like the target. Check that every word is accepted before counting the move.
Keep it simple
Change exactly one letter at a time and use an accepted four-letter word at every step. The challenge opens in our independent practice game; this page does not start a game or submit an official score.
You can use as much or as little help as you like. A shared move count is an invitation to try the same puzzle, not a verified ranking.