#48 · Friday, 23 January 2026

Ladder answer

• CLEAR 5 letters
• ARTICLE 7 letters — adds two letters to the rung below
• REALISTIC 9 letters — adds two letters to the rung below

CLEAR sits inside ARTICLE, which sits inside REALISTIC — the two letters added at each rung are the whole puzzle. Scrambles shown that day: ALERC · RIEATCL · LAESITIRC.

LockCode answer: 6801

The clues and what each one tells you:

1. 0891: 2 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 3 of 0, 8, 9, 1 are in the code.
2. 3928: 0 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 1 of 3, 9, 2, 8 are in the code.
3. 1092: 0 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 2 of 1, 0, 9, 2 are in the code.
4. 8573: 0 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 1 of 8, 5, 7, 3 are in the code.
5. After all clues, 6 codes remain possible.

With 6 candidates left, a good second guess splits them by feedback so the third guess is forced. Read the LockCode strategy guide for the method.