#237 · Friday, 31 July 2026

Ladder answer

• NOTED 5 letters
• NOTICED 7 letters — adds two letters to the rung below
• DETECTION 9 letters — adds two letters to the rung below

NOTED sits inside NOTICED, which sits inside DETECTION — the two letters added at each rung are the whole puzzle. Scrambles shown that day: NDTOE · EODCNTI · IDTECEONT.

LockCode answer: 1840

The clues and what each one tells you:

1. 2810: 2 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 3 of 2, 8, 1, 0 are in the code.
2. 6897: 1 in the right place, 0 in the wrong place — 1 of 6, 8, 9, 7 are in the code.
3. 6857: 1 in the right place, 0 in the wrong place — 1 of 6, 8, 5, 7 are in the code.
4. 0629: 0 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 1 of 0, 6, 2, 9 are in the code.
5. After all clues, 6 codes remain possible.

With 6 candidates left, a good second guess splits them by feedback so the third guess is forced. Read the LockCode strategy guide for the method.