#149 · Monday, 4 May 2026

Ladder answer

• IMAGE 5 letters
• IMAGINE 7 letters — adds two letters to the rung below
• EXAMINING 9 letters — adds two letters to the rung below

IMAGE sits inside IMAGINE, which sits inside EXAMINING — the two letters added at each rung are the whole puzzle. Scrambles shown that day: AMEIG · GAENIIM · GMNANEIXI.

LockCode answer: 9543

The clues and what each one tells you:

1. 3295: 0 in the right place, 3 in the wrong place — 3 of 3, 2, 9, 5 are in the code.
2. 8743: 2 in the right place, 0 in the wrong place — 2 of 8, 7, 4, 3 are in the code.
3. 5209: 0 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 2 of 5, 2, 0, 9 are in the code.
4. 5783: 1 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 2 of 5, 7, 8, 3 are in the code.
5. After all clues, 3 codes remain possible.

With 3 candidates left, a good second guess splits them by feedback so the third guess is forced. Read the LockCode strategy guide for the method.