Word Search

def exist(board, word):
    rows, cols = len(board), len(board[0])
    visited = [[False] * cols for _ in range(rows)]

    def dfs(r, c, i):
        # Can word[i:] be traced starting at cell (r, c)?
        if r < 0 or r >= rows or c < 0 or c >= cols:
            return False
        if visited[r][c] or board[r][c] != word[i]:
            return False
        if i == len(word) - 1:
            return True
        visited[r][c] = True   # mark: the current path owns this cell
        found = (dfs(r + 1, c, i + 1) or dfs(r - 1, c, i + 1)
                 or dfs(r, c + 1, i + 1) or dfs(r, c - 1, i + 1))
        visited[r][c] = False  # restore: other paths may use it
        return found

    for r in range(rows):
        for c in range(cols):
            if dfs(r, c, 0):
                return True
    return False

from collections import Counter


def exist(board, word):
    rows, cols = len(board), len(board[0])

    # Pruning 1: the board must hold every letter as many times as the word uses it.
    have = Counter("".join(board))
    for letter, need in Counter(word).items():
        if have[letter] < need:
            return False

    # Pruning 2: a path read backwards is the same path, so start from the
    # end whose letter is rarer on the board: fewer cells begin a search.
    if have[word[0]] > have[word[-1]]:
        word = word[::-1]

    grid = [list(row) for row in board]

    def dfs(r, c, i):
        # Can word[i:] be traced starting at cell (r, c)?
        if grid[r][c] != word[i]:
            return False
        if i == len(word) - 1:
            return True
        grid[r][c] = "#"  # mark: "#" matches no letter, so this path cannot reuse the cell
        found = False
        for nr, nc in ((r + 1, c), (r - 1, c), (r, c + 1), (r, c - 1)):
            if 0 <= nr < rows and 0 <= nc < cols and dfs(nr, nc, i + 1):
                found = True
                break
        grid[r][c] = word[i]  # restore the letter for other paths
        return found

    for r in range(rows):
        for c in range(cols):
            if dfs(r, c, 0):
                return True
    return False