#309 · Sunday, 11 October 2026

Ladder answer

• ROUND 5 letters
• FOUNDER 7 letters — adds two letters to the rung below
• WONDERFUL 9 letters — adds two letters to the rung below

ROUND sits inside FOUNDER, which sits inside WONDERFUL — the two letters added at each rung are the whole puzzle. Scrambles shown that day: ONUDR · DRENOUF · WUOFNDRLE.

LockCode answer: 9013

The clues and what each one tells you:

1. 1049: 1 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 3 of 1, 0, 4, 9 are in the code.
2. 8753: 1 in the right place, 0 in the wrong place — 1 of 8, 7, 5, 3 are in the code.
3. 3685: 0 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 1 of 3, 6, 8, 5 are in the code.
4. 6198: 0 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 2 of 6, 1, 9, 8 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.

Lumen answer: SAILBOAT