Looks like a simple BFS problem and it kind of is, but the board indexing gets messy fast.
Model the board as a graph where each square is a node and edges represent dice rolls (1-6) to other squares, adjusted for snakes and ladders. Use BFS to find the shortest path from square 1 to square N, as all edges have equal weight. Return the number of rolls (levels) when reaching N.
Pro tip: Clarify edge cases upfront: what if the start or end is on a snake/ladder? Also, mention that BFS is optimal because each roll costs 1, and you can optimize by precomputing the destination for each square.
Confirm the board size, dice range (1-6), and that snakes/ladders are one-time teleports. Ask if the start and end squares can have snakes/ladders.
Treat each square as a node. For each square, add directed edges to squares reachable by rolling 1-6, then apply any snake or ladder to get the final destination.
Use a queue to perform BFS from square 1. Track visited squares to avoid cycles. Each level of BFS represents one dice roll.
If the end is unreachable, return -1. Otherwise, return the number of rolls when reaching the final square. Consider optimizations like precomputing moves.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.