Change the 3rd letter T to C, turning RATES into RACES.
Change the 4th letter E to K, turning RACES into RACKS.
Change the 1st letter R to P, turning RACKS into PACKS.
Change the 3rd letter C to R, turning PACKS into PARKS.
Change the 4th letter K to T, turning PARKS into PARTS.
Change the 2nd letter A to O, turning PARTS into PORTS.
Change the 1st letter P to S, turning PORTS into SORTS.
Change positions: pos 1: 2, pos 2: 1, pos 3: 2, pos 4: 2. Most-changed position: 1, 3, 4 (2).
Change sequence: 3, 4, 1, 3, 4, 2, 1.
Letter mix: V→V 1, V→C 1, C→V 0, C→C 5.
Word stats: 8 words, 9 unique letters. Start/target share 1 position.
Q: What is the shortest path from RATES to SORTS?
A: The optimal solution for the Word Ladder from RATES to SORTS takes exactly 7 steps.
Q: Any tips for today's puzzle?
A: This puzzle involves 5-letter words. A good strategy is to look for common intermediate words or focus on changing vowels first.
Q: Where can I play past Word Ladder puzzles?
A: You can access our complete archive by clicking the "Puzzle Archive" link at the bottom of the page.