Answers for Daily #3

The starting word was

First moves

12 words are one letter away from HOCK.

DOCK: noun Any of the genus Rumex of coarse weedy plants with small green flowers related to buckwheat, especially bitter dock (Rumex obtusifolius), and used as potherbs and in folk…
JOCK: noun A common man.
LOCK: noun Something used for fastening, which can only be opened with a key or combination.
MOCK: noun An imitation, usually of lesser quality.
POCK: noun A pus-filled swelling on the surface on the skin caused by an eruptive disease.
ROCK: noun The naturally occurring aggregate of solid mineral matter that constitutes a significant part of the earth's crust.

Also: SOCK, HACK, HECK, HICK, HONK, HOOK

HOCK → MOCK → MONK → MONO

Once the words before it are used, nobody can change MONO: a dead end, worth 3 extra points.

Every Daily hides one golden word a few moves from the start. This one was RACK.

From HOCK, 2,140 words can be reached one letter at a time.

Definitions from Wiktionary