Change the 4th letter M to E, turning FARMS into FARES.
Change the 3rd letter R to C, turning FARES into FACES.
Change the 1st letter F to R, turning FACES into RACES.
Change the 3rd letter C to T, turning RACES into RATES.
Change the 1st letter R to G, turning RATES into GATES.
Change positions: pos 1: 2, pos 3: 2, pos 4: 1. Most-changed position: 1, 3 (2).
Change sequence: 4, 3, 1, 3, 1.
Letter mix: V→V 0, V→C 0, C→V 1, C→C 4.
Word stats: 6 words, 9 unique letters. Start/target share 2 positions.
Q: What is the shortest path from FARMS to GATES?
A: The optimal solution for the Word Ladder from FARMS to GATES takes exactly 5 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.