#4 · Wednesday, 10 December 2025

Ladder answer

• SPEED 5 letters
• PRESSED 7 letters — adds two letters to the rung below
• PERSISTED 9 letters — adds two letters to the rung below

SPEED sits inside PRESSED, which sits inside PERSISTED — the two letters added at each rung are the whole puzzle. Scrambles shown that day: SEDPE · SEESRPD · SESTPRIED.

LockCode answer: 2190

The clues and what each one tells you:

1. 7195: 2 in the right place, 0 in the wrong place — 2 of 7, 1, 9, 5 are in the code.
2. 5029: 0 in the right place, 3 in the wrong place — 3 of 5, 0, 2, 9 are in the code.
3. 1863: 0 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 1 of 1, 8, 6, 3 are in the code.
4. 3719: 0 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 2 of 3, 7, 1, 9 are in the code.
5. After all clues, 4 codes remain possible.

With 4 candidates left, a good second guess splits them by feedback so the third guess is forced. Read the LockCode strategy guide for the method.