#30 · Monday, 5 January 2026

Ladder answer

• SLIDE 5 letters
• DISABLE 7 letters — adds two letters to the rung below
• ADVISABLE 9 letters — adds two letters to the rung below

SLIDE sits inside DISABLE, which sits inside ADVISABLE — the two letters added at each rung are the whole puzzle. Scrambles shown that day: DSILE · ISABEDL · ASBDIAVLE.

LockCode answer: 6781

The clues and what each one tells you:

1. 4867: 0 in the right place, 3 in the wrong place — 3 of 4, 8, 6, 7 are in the code.
2. 5731: 2 in the right place, 0 in the wrong place — 2 of 5, 7, 3, 1 are in the code.
3. 7460: 0 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 2 of 7, 4, 6, 0 are in the code.
4. 2147: 0 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 2 of 2, 1, 4, 7 are in the code.
5. After all clues, 3 codes remain possible.

With 3 candidates left, a good second guess splits them by feedback so the third guess is forced. Read the LockCode strategy guide for the method.