How to solve a Word Ladder

In a word ladder, a start and an end word are provided, and the solution consists of the steps or rungs between the words. Each step is itself a common, non-capitalized word, formed by changing the previous word according to a set of rules. Plurals and other forms of words are acceptable. There are several possible rule sets for changing words.

A Lewis Carroll word ladder is named for its inventor. To change each rung of the ladder, one can add a letter, remove a letter, change a letter, or anagram the word.

Example: From GO to STOP (3 rungs)
GO
1. GOT (added a letter)
2. POT (changed a letter)
3. POTS (added a letter)
STOP (anagrammed)

In a constricted word ladder, the only legal change is to change a letter of the word.

Example: From EASY to HARD (4 rungs)
EASY
1. EAST
2. CAST
3. CART
4. CARD
HARD
Example taken from Wikipedia

Although technically these are open solution puzzles, since there may be more than one series of rungs, ordinarily there is a single solution. If you find a solution with fewer rungs than specified, you will get an additional win point for beating the puzzle-maker.