#256 · Wednesday, 19 August 2026

Ladder answer

• STORE 5 letters
• PROTEST 7 letters — adds two letters to the rung below
• SPECTATOR 9 letters — adds two letters to the rung below

STORE sits inside PROTEST, which sits inside SPECTATOR — the two letters added at each rung are the whole puzzle. Scrambles shown that day: ETSOR · TSPEORT · OPASECRTT.

LockCode answer: 7380

The clues and what each one tells you:

1. 8036: 0 in the right place, 3 in the wrong place — 3 of 8, 0, 3, 6 are in the code.
2. 9316: 1 in the right place, 0 in the wrong place — 1 of 9, 3, 1, 6 are in the code.
3. 6893: 0 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 2 of 6, 8, 9, 3 are in the code.
4. 5286: 1 in the right place, 0 in the wrong place — 1 of 5, 2, 8, 6 are in the code.
5. After all clues, 4 codes remain possible.

With 4 candidates left, a good second guess splits them by feedback so the third guess is forced. Read the LockCode strategy guide for the method.