#263 · Wednesday, 26 August 2026

Ladder answer

• UNTIL 5 letters
• OUTLINE 7 letters — adds two letters to the rung below
• LONGITUDE 9 letters — adds two letters to the rung below

UNTIL sits inside OUTLINE, which sits inside LONGITUDE — the two letters added at each rung are the whole puzzle. Scrambles shown that day: UNLIT · IOEUTLN · EDILNGUOT.

LockCode answer: 6917

The clues and what each one tells you:

1. 6317: 3 in the right place, 0 in the wrong place — 3 of 6, 3, 1, 7 are in the code.
2. 7132: 0 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 2 of 7, 1, 3, 2 are in the code.
3. 3178: 0 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 2 of 3, 1, 7, 8 are in the code.
4. 1278: 0 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 2 of 1, 2, 7, 8 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.

Lumen answer: CUP