#232 · Sunday, 26 July 2026

Ladder answer

• PLACE 5 letters
• SPECIAL 7 letters — adds two letters to the rung below
• SKEPTICAL 9 letters — adds two letters to the rung below

PLACE sits inside SPECIAL, which sits inside SKEPTICAL — the two letters added at each rung are the whole puzzle. Scrambles shown that day: LAEPC · ICPESAL · ASPIKCETL.

LockCode answer: 8467

The clues and what each one tells you:

1. 3520 scored nothing, so 3, 5, 2, 0 are all out.
2. 9135 scored nothing, so 9, 1, 3, 5 are all out.
3. 9320 scored nothing, so 9, 3, 2, 0 are all out.
4. 7265: 1 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 2 of 7, 2, 6, 5 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.