#142 · Monday, 27 April 2026

Ladder answer

• LEAVE 5 letters
• ELEVATE 7 letters — adds two letters to the rung below
• VEGETABLE 9 letters — adds two letters to the rung below

LEAVE sits inside ELEVATE, which sits inside VEGETABLE — the two letters added at each rung are the whole puzzle. Scrambles shown that day: ALEVE · EAETVLE · VEAEBLEGT.

LockCode answer: 7356

The clues and what each one tells you:

1. 2456: 2 in the right place, 0 in the wrong place — 2 of 2, 4, 5, 6 are in the code.
2. 9765: 0 in the right place, 3 in the wrong place — 3 of 9, 7, 6, 5 are in the code.
3. 7931: 1 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 2 of 7, 9, 3, 1 are in the code.
4. 7681: 1 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 2 of 7, 6, 8, 1 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.