1. Lock Shared Letters Early
If the start and target share letters in the same position, keep those fixed while changing the others.
2. Favor High-Branch Words
Choose words that can branch to many neighbors. They reduce dead ends and preserve flexibility.
3. Avoid Immediate Backtracking
If you reverse your previous move, you are spending a turn without net progress. Use undo only to recover hard dead ends.
4. Compare Against Perfect Path Pace
Track your move count against the target. If you drift too far above it, reset early and attempt a cleaner line.