#127 · Sunday, 12 April 2026

Ladder answer

• TIMER 5 letters
• INTERIM 7 letters — adds two letters to the rung below
• MINIATURE 9 letters — adds two letters to the rung below

TIMER sits inside INTERIM, which sits inside MINIATURE — the two letters added at each rung are the whole puzzle. Scrambles shown that day: RETIM · TIIENMR · ATRINMEUI.

LockCode answer: 0183

The clues and what each one tells you:

1. 0613: 2 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 3 of 0, 6, 1, 3 are in the code.
2. 5906: 0 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 1 of 5, 9, 0, 6 are in the code.
3. 6907: 0 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 1 of 6, 9, 0, 7 are in the code.
4. 6019: 0 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 2 of 6, 0, 1, 9 are in the code.
5. After all clues, 6 codes remain possible.

With 6 candidates left, a good second guess splits them by feedback so the third guess is forced. Read the LockCode strategy guide for the method.