#260 · Sunday, 23 August 2026

Ladder answer

• MINOR 5 letters
• MORNING 7 letters — adds two letters to the rung below
• INFORMING 9 letters — adds two letters to the rung below

MINOR sits inside MORNING, which sits inside INFORMING — the two letters added at each rung are the whole puzzle. Scrambles shown that day: NRIMO · MGIORNN · IFMIOGNNR.

LockCode answer: 1875

The clues and what each one tells you:

1. 1745: 2 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 3 of 1, 7, 4, 5 are in the code.
2. 5486: 0 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 2 of 5, 4, 8, 6 are in the code.
3. 5637: 0 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 2 of 5, 6, 3, 7 are in the code.
4. 7352: 0 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 2 of 7, 3, 5, 2 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.

Lumen answer: BRIDGE