#304 · Tuesday, 6 October 2026

Ladder answer

• CLOSE 5 letters
• COUNSEL 7 letters — adds two letters to the rung below
• EXCLUSION 9 letters — adds two letters to the rung below

CLOSE sits inside COUNSEL, which sits inside EXCLUSION — the two letters added at each rung are the whole puzzle. Scrambles shown that day: ECLOS · ULCSENO · NCLOSUXEI.

LockCode answer: 9321

The clues and what each one tells you:

1. 1389: 1 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 3 of 1, 3, 8, 9 are in the code.
2. 4139: 0 in the right place, 3 in the wrong place — 3 of 4, 1, 3, 9 are in the code.
3. 8179: 0 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 2 of 8, 1, 7, 9 are in the code.
4. 7503: 0 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 1 of 7, 5, 0, 3 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: LIGHTBULB