#29 · Sunday, 4 January 2026

Ladder answer

• UNCLE 5 letters
• INCLUDE 7 letters — adds two letters to the rung below
• EXCLUDING 9 letters — adds two letters to the rung below

UNCLE sits inside INCLUDE, which sits inside EXCLUDING — the two letters added at each rung are the whole puzzle. Scrambles shown that day: NCEUL · ECDUINL · IUGNLXEDC.

LockCode answer: 8947

The clues and what each one tells you:

1. 8541: 2 in the right place, 0 in the wrong place — 2 of 8, 5, 4, 1 are in the code.
2. 8153: 1 in the right place, 0 in the wrong place — 1 of 8, 1, 5, 3 are in the code.
3. 1853: 0 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 1 of 1, 8, 5, 3 are in the code.
4. 9314: 0 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 2 of 9, 3, 1, 4 are in the code.
5. After all clues, 8 codes remain possible.

With 8 candidates left, a good second guess splits them by feedback so the third guess is forced. Read the LockCode strategy guide for the method.