A "perfect" ladder comprises five-letter words where every letter is the new letter once, no position is...

language/english/spelling/sets.of.words/perfect.ladder

Problem

A "perfect" ladder comprises five-letter words where every letter is
the new letter once, no position is changed twice in a row, and fifth
letter changes are better than fourth letter changes are better than
third letter changes, etc. (as defined by "Games" magazine, July 1993)

Show solution

The winning entry:

Score: 9, 4, 8, 1, 4

SOAPS
SOUPS        U        3
COUPS        C        1
COMPS        M        3
COMBS        B        4
COMBO        O        5
COMPO        P        4
COMPT        T        5
COMET        E        4
COMES        S        5
COXES        X        3
COXEY        Y        5
COZEY        Z        3
COZEN        N        5
COVEN        V        3
COVED        D        5
CAVED        A        2
CAVEL        L        5
JAVEL        J        1
JAVER        R        5
JAGER        G        3
WAGER        W        1
WAKER        K        3
FAKER        F        1
FAKIR        I        4
FAQIR        Q        3
FAQIH        H        5