Rung #61: BASIN to CARDS — the solution

The Rung ladder from October 14, 2026: BASIN to CARDS, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 6: the shortest climb there is takes 4 rungs, and par gives you 2 to spare.

The puzzle

Climb from BASIN to CARDS. The shortest climb through the whole accepted dictionary, counting the leap — two letters changed in one move, once, at the cost of two rungs — is 4 rungs; par is 2 more, so the shortest route comes in under it. Without the leap the shortest climb is 5 rungs; the leap saves 1.

The walkthrough

A climb under par, the only one that short: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. BASIN → BASIS — the fifth letter, N becomes S.
2. BASIS → BARDS — the leap: S becomes R and I becomes D, two letters in one move for two rungs.
3. BARDS → CARDS — the first letter, B becomes C.

The answer

BASIN · BASIS · BARDS · CARDS — 4 rungs, the leap landing on the word in italics.

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About Rung

Rung is Noggin’s daily word ladder: five 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, and a hint when you are stuck. How to play Rung, or play today’s.