#274 · Sunday, 6 September 2026

Ladder answer

• LODGE 5 letters
• OBLIGED 7 letters — adds two letters to the rung below
• OBLIGATED 9 letters — adds two letters to the rung below

LODGE sits inside OBLIGED, which sits inside OBLIGATED — the two letters added at each rung are the whole puzzle. Scrambles shown that day: LOGDE · LGBODEI · OEALTIDBG.

LockCode answer: 2401

The clues and what each one tells you:

1. 2851: 2 in the right place, 0 in the wrong place — 2 of 2, 8, 5, 1 are in the code.
2. 1806: 1 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 2 of 1, 8, 0, 6 are in the code.
3. 6218: 0 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 2 of 6, 2, 1, 8 are in the code.
4. 3256: 0 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 1 of 3, 2, 5, 6 are in the code.
5. After all clues, 9 codes remain possible.

With 9 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: TREE