Goal
Get from the start word to the target word using as few link words as possible. Match or beat par, the optimal solution length we computed for today.
Modes
Pick one before you start:
- Easy. Each link must share at least 2 distinct letters with the word above it. The dense graph means there are usually many bridges available.
- Hard. Each link must share at least 3 distinct letters. Far fewer bridges, so you have to think about which letters to keep alive across the chain.
Both modes share today's date but get different start/target pairs, so you can play both.
The rule for every link
- It must be a real English word.
- It must be exactly five letters. Same length as the start and target.
- It must share at least the required number of distinct letters with the word directly above it. For example,
BREAD and TREAD share R, E, A, D — four shared letters, easily passes either mode.
- It can't repeat any word already in your chain.
How to use the interface
- Type a candidate word into the Next link... box.
- Press Enter or click Add link. If it's accepted, it appears in the chain stack above.
- If something's wrong (not a word, not enough shared letters), you'll see a red toast and the word isn't added.
- Undo removes the last link. Reset chain wipes everything and starts over.
- Switch mode swaps you between Easy and Hard. Each mode keeps its own chain.
- You finish the moment you successfully add the target word as a link.
Worked example (Easy)
Imagine the puzzle is BREAD → STORM, par 3. One valid Easy-mode chain:
BREAD
TREAD shares R, E, A, D with BREAD (4 letters, OK)
TROOP shares T, R with TREAD (2 letters, OK)
STOMP shares T, O, P with TROOP (3 letters, OK)
STORM shares S, T, O, M with STOMP (4 letters, target hit)
That solution used 4 links. In Hard mode the TREAD → TROOP step would be invalid (only 2 shared letters), so you'd need a longer chain with richer overlaps.
Tips
- Look at the start and target together. Do they share any letters? Words sharing a vowel and a common consonant are easy bridges in Easy mode.
- In Hard mode, look for words that share whole consonant clusters (-ST, -CR, -PR) or vowel pairs.
- Don't rush. Once you submit a link, the next link has to share letters with that word, not the start. A bad link can paint you into a corner.