Poople #388 Answer: ITCH to POOP
September 6, 2026 · Hard · 10 moves
Full solution
Reveal one hint at a time to keep the challenge, or jump straight to the full shortest path from ITCH to POOP.
About this puzzle
Par 10 of 11. Rated Hard.
20 or more distinct shortest paths from ITCH to POOP.
ITCH connects to 2 other valid words.
The shortest routes split after move 4 and never agree again before POOP.
Harder than #387 (TINS, par 5) by 5 move(s). #387 TINS
How the routes branch
Right after MACH, 4 different words keep the route just as short: MACE, MASH, MATH, MUCH. None of them rejoin the others before POOP.(Based on the 20+ shortest routes we found; more may exist.)
This puzzle starts with ITCH and every solution goes through MACH. From there, it branches out into several paths, including a unique one through MATH and CATS that ends in COOP before POOP.
Bridge words
- ITCH(noun)
- An uncomfortable sensation on the skin that causes a desire to scratch.
- ETCH(verb)
- To engrave a design onto a surface with acid or a sharp tool.
- EACH(determiner)
- Every one of two or more people or things, regarded individually.
- MACH(noun)
- The ratio of the speed of an object to the speed of sound.
- MUCH(adjective)
- a large amount or great extent of something
- MUCK(noun)
- dirt, filth, or waste matter; to remove dirt or refuse
- BUCK(noun)
- A male deer, or a sudden jump made by a horse.
- BOCK(noun)
- A strong dark German lager traditionally brewed for spring.
- BOOK(noun)
- A set of printed pages bound together for reading.
- BOOP(noun)
- A gentle playful tap, especially on the nose.
First moves from ITCH
ITCH has 2 legal first moves. Only one of them stays on a shortest path to POOP.
Stays on the shortest path: 9 moves left to POOP.
Costs two extra moves: 12 moves total to POOP.
Solve stats
490 solves were recorded by the time this puzzle was published, and 26% of them finished exactly on par.
Each row below groups solves by how many extra moves beyond par they took, from 0 (exactly on par) up to 6 or more. The number on each bar is that group's solve count, followed by its share of the total.
Median solve time: 4m 24s
Stuck on a different word?
Enter your current 4-letter word for the shortest path to POOP.
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Play todayFAQ
What is the Poople #388 answer?
The #388 start word is ITCH. One shortest path to POOP takes 10 moves: ITCH -> ETCH -> EACH -> MACH -> MUCH -> MUCK -> BUCK -> BOCK -> BOOK -> BOOP -> POOP.
Why does ITCH seem to have so few first moves?
ITCH has only two valid first moves, ETCH and INCH, which is a very small number for a starting word. This means that most players will be forced into the ETCH path, as INCH costs two extra moves to reach POOP. The limited options at the start make the initial steps of this puzzle quite constrained.
Is it true that all solutions for ITCH go through MACH?
Yes, every known solution for this puzzle passes through MACH. After ITCH and ETCH, the path leads to EACH, then MACH, creating a bottleneck in the solution paths. From MACH, the solutions then branch out into different routes, such as through MACE, MASH, MATH, or MUCH.
How many solutions are there for this ITCH puzzle?
There are at least 20 solutions for this ITCH puzzle. While the provided list shows 20, the actual count may be higher as the search for solutions was capped. The solutions demonstrate a wide variety of paths after the initial common steps through MACH.
Are there any unusual or less obvious paths in this puzzle?
Yes, one interesting path goes through MATH and CATS. This route, ITCH -> ETCH -> EACH -> MACH -> MATH -> MATS -> CATS -> COTS -> COOS -> COOP -> POOP, is distinct from the others. It offers a unique sequence of words that diverge significantly after MACH.