#146 · Friday, 1 May 2026

Ladder answer

• SINCE 5 letters
• LICENSE 7 letters — adds two letters to the rung below
• SINCERELY 9 letters — adds two letters to the rung below

SINCE sits inside LICENSE, which sits inside SINCERELY — the two letters added at each rung are the whole puzzle. Scrambles shown that day: NECIS · ELSINCE · LYECIERNS.

LockCode answer: 1296

The clues and what each one tells you:

1. 1249: 2 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 3 of 1, 2, 4, 9 are in the code.
2. 2054: 0 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 1 of 2, 0, 5, 4 are in the code.
3. 7524: 0 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 1 of 7, 5, 2, 4 are in the code.
4. 5320: 0 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 1 of 5, 3, 2, 0 are in the code.
5. After all clues, 7 codes remain possible.

With 7 candidates left, a good second guess splits them by feedback so the third guess is forced. Read the LockCode strategy guide for the method.