#270 · Wednesday, 2 September 2026

Ladder answer

• PLATE 5 letters
• APOSTLE 7 letters — adds two letters to the rung below
• POSTULATE 9 letters — adds two letters to the rung below

PLATE sits inside APOSTLE, which sits inside POSTULATE — the two letters added at each rung are the whole puzzle. Scrambles shown that day: APLTE · EAOLPST · AUTELSPTO.

LockCode answer: 5819

The clues and what each one tells you:

1. 9821: 1 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 3 of 9, 8, 2, 1 are in the code.
2. 7806: 1 in the right place, 0 in the wrong place — 1 of 7, 8, 0, 6 are in the code.
3. 8907: 0 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 2 of 8, 9, 0, 7 are in the code.
4. 7938: 0 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 2 of 7, 9, 3, 8 are in the code.
5. After all clues, 12 codes remain possible.

With 12 candidates left, a good second guess splits them by feedback so the third guess is forced. Read the LockCode strategy guide for the method.

7 players finished LockCode; 100% solved it, averaging 3.3 guesses.

Lumen answer: FISH

8 players finished Lumen; 100% solved it, averaging 1 guesses.