#148 · Sunday, 3 May 2026

Ladder answer

• TRADE 5 letters
• RELATED 7 letters — adds two letters to the rung below
• TOLERATED 9 letters — adds two letters to the rung below

TRADE sits inside RELATED, which sits inside TOLERATED — the two letters added at each rung are the whole puzzle. Scrambles shown that day: ADTRE · TAELRED · DELRTOEAT.

LockCode answer: 4023

The clues and what each one tells you:

1. 4237: 1 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 3 of 4, 2, 3, 7 are in the code.
2. 9125: 1 in the right place, 0 in the wrong place — 1 of 9, 1, 2, 5 are in the code.
3. 9241: 0 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 2 of 9, 2, 4, 1 are in the code.
4. 2418: 0 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 2 of 2, 4, 1, 8 are in the code.
5. After all clues, 8 codes remain possible.

With 8 candidates left, a good second guess splits them by feedback so the third guess is forced. Read the LockCode strategy guide for the method.