#163 · Monday, 18 May 2026

Ladder answer

• PRICE 5 letters
• RECEIPT 7 letters — adds two letters to the rung below
• PREDICTED 9 letters — adds two letters to the rung below

PRICE sits inside RECEIPT, which sits inside PREDICTED — the two letters added at each rung are the whole puzzle. Scrambles shown that day: ECPRI · IPCERET · DIEPDCRTE.

LockCode answer: 1405

The clues and what each one tells you:

1. 6054: 0 in the right place, 3 in the wrong place — 3 of 6, 0, 5, 4 are in the code.
2. 4071: 0 in the right place, 3 in the wrong place — 3 of 4, 0, 7, 1 are in the code.
3. 8953: 0 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 1 of 8, 9, 5, 3 are in the code.
4. 2135: 1 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 2 of 2, 1, 3, 5 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.