#136 · Tuesday, 21 April 2026

Ladder answer

• NOVEL 5 letters
• INVOLVE 7 letters — adds two letters to the rung below
• REVOLVING 9 letters — adds two letters to the rung below

NOVEL sits inside INVOLVE, which sits inside REVOLVING — the two letters added at each rung are the whole puzzle. Scrambles shown that day: LVOEN · VLEIONV · OIRNLGVVE.

LockCode answer: 9254

The clues and what each one tells you:

1. 2548: 0 in the right place, 3 in the wrong place — 3 of 2, 5, 4, 8 are in the code.
2. 9078: 1 in the right place, 0 in the wrong place — 1 of 9, 0, 7, 8 are in the code.
3. 0749: 0 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 2 of 0, 7, 4, 9 are in the code.
4. 9623: 1 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 2 of 9, 6, 2, 3 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.