#44 · Monday, 19 January 2026

Ladder answer

• EXIST 5 letters
• SIXTEEN 7 letters — adds two letters to the rung below
• EXTENSIVE 9 letters — adds two letters to the rung below

EXIST sits inside SIXTEEN, which sits inside EXTENSIVE — the two letters added at each rung are the whole puzzle. Scrambles shown that day: TEXSI · TXESINE · TSEINVXEE.

LockCode answer: 2013

The clues and what each one tells you:

1. 8093: 2 in the right place, 0 in the wrong place — 2 of 8, 0, 9, 3 are in the code.
2. 9786 scored nothing, so 9, 7, 8, 6 are all out.
3. 0987: 0 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 1 of 0, 9, 8, 7 are in the code.
4. 4127: 0 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 2 of 4, 1, 2, 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.