STARTING-WORD GUIDE

BIDS to POOP.

A reusable word-ladder guide, rather than a dated daily puzzle. Every move below changes exactly one letter.

4minimum moves
1shortest route
Easydistance-based rating

A shortest path from BIDS.

BIDS reaches POOP in 4 moves. The list includes 5 words because the starting position costs no move.

  1. StartBIDSThe starting word; no move used
  2. Move 1BODSReplace I with O in position 2
  3. Move 2BOOSReplace D with O in position 3
  4. Move 3BOOPReplace S with P in position 4
  5. Move 4POOPReplace B with P in position 1

There is exactly one shortest route in this checked word list.

Which first moves work?

One next word keeps you on a shortest route from BIDS: BODS.

The table lists all 13 accepted one-letter neighbors. “Moves remaining” starts after that first move. “Total via this word” includes it, so you can compare that choice with the 4-move minimum.

Next wordMoves remainingTotal via this wordResult
AIDS56Longer route
BEDS45Longer route
BIAS45Longer route
BIBS45Longer route
BIDE56Longer route
BINS56Longer route
BITS45Longer route
BODS34Shortest route
BUDS45Longer route
KIDS56Longer route
LIDS56Longer route
RIDS56Longer route
VIDS56Longer route

Why 4 moves is the minimum.

BIDS differs from POOP in 4 letter positions, so any route needs at least 4 changes. This route meets that lower bound.

The solver searches the checked word graph in distance order. It reaches every word one move away before trying two moves, then continues until it reaches POOP. The minimum applies to this word list; another game or dictionary may accept different connections.

Our Easy label uses distance only: up to 5 moves is Easy, 6 is Moderate, 7 is Tricky, 8 is Hard, and 9 or more is Expert. It does not measure how familiar you will find each word.

Try BIDS with a different target or read the verification method.

More 4-move ladders.

These starting words have the same shortest distance to POOP in the checked list.