#240 · Monday, 3 August 2026

Ladder answer

• NEWER 5 letters
• NOWHERE 7 letters — adds two letters to the rung below
• HOMEOWNER 9 letters — adds two letters to the rung below

NEWER sits inside NOWHERE, which sits inside HOMEOWNER — the two letters added at each rung are the whole puzzle. Scrambles shown that day: ERWEN · WREHOEN · HMORNOWEE.

LockCode answer: 6503

The clues and what each one tells you:

1. 9508: 2 in the right place, 0 in the wrong place — 2 of 9, 5, 0, 8 are in the code.
2. 9376: 0 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 2 of 9, 3, 7, 6 are in the code.
3. 2954: 0 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 1 of 2, 9, 5, 4 are in the code.
4. 4816: 0 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 1 of 4, 8, 1, 6 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.