#100 · Monday, 16 March 2026

Ladder answer

• COUNT 5 letters
• CONDUCT 7 letters — adds two letters to the rung below
• ACCOUNTED 9 letters — adds two letters to the rung below

COUNT sits inside CONDUCT, which sits inside ACCOUNTED — the two letters added at each rung are the whole puzzle. Scrambles shown that day: NTCUO · OCNTUDC · UNCEATDCO.

LockCode answer: 5178

The clues and what each one tells you:

1. 5208: 2 in the right place, 0 in the wrong place — 2 of 5, 2, 0, 8 are in the code.
2. 8417: 0 in the right place, 3 in the wrong place — 3 of 8, 4, 1, 7 are in the code.
3. 3714: 0 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 2 of 3, 7, 1, 4 are in the code.
4. 1589: 0 in the right place, 3 in the wrong place — 3 of 1, 5, 8, 9 are in the code.
5. After all clues, 2 codes remain possible.

With 2 candidates left, a good second guess splits them by feedback so the third guess is forced. Read the LockCode strategy guide for the method.