#293 · Friday, 25 September 2026

Ladder answer

• IMPLY 5 letters
• OLYMPIC 7 letters — adds two letters to the rung below
• DIPLOMACY 9 letters — adds two letters to the rung below

IMPLY sits inside OLYMPIC, which sits inside DIPLOMACY — the two letters added at each rung are the whole puzzle. Scrambles shown that day: PIYML · LYCOIMP · PLOIAMDCY.

LockCode answer: 5697

The clues and what each one tells you:

1. 5096: 2 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 3 of 5, 0, 9, 6 are in the code.
2. 3782: 0 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 1 of 3, 7, 8, 2 are in the code.
3. 7381: 0 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 1 of 7, 3, 8, 1 are in the code.
4. 5431: 1 in the right place, 0 in the wrong place — 1 of 5, 4, 3, 1 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: CACTUS