Rung #25: BETA to TOUR — the solution

The Rung ladder from September 8, 2026: BETA to TOUR, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 5, with one two-letter leap in hand.

The puzzle

Climb from BETA to TOUR. Par is the shortest climb through the whole accepted dictionary, counting the leap — two letters changed in one move, once, at the cost of two rungs, so it cannot be beaten. The leap does not shorten this one: 5 rungs is the shortest climb with or without it.

The walkthrough

A climb that makes par, one of 19 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. BETA → BOTA — the second letter, E becomes O.
2. BOTA → BORA — the third letter, T becomes R.
3. BORA → TORA — the first letter, B becomes T.
4. TORA → TORR — the fourth letter, A becomes R.
5. TORR → TOUR — the third letter, R becomes U.

Other routes as short: BETA · BOTA · BOTT · BOUT · TOUT · TOUR; BETA · BORA · TORA · TORR · TOUR; BETA · BOTT · BOUT · TOUT · TOUR; and more.

The answer

BETA · BOTA · BORA · TORA · TORR · TOUR — 5 rungs.

Previous: Rung #24 (Mon, Sep 7) · Next: Rung #26 (Wed, Sep 9)

About Rung

Rung is Noggin’s daily word ladder: four letters, one changed at a time, par set by the shortest climb there is. Any real word is a rung; a two-letter leap is yours once a day. How to play Rung, or play today’s.