#62 · Friday, 6 February 2026

Ladder answer

• TOPIC 5 letters
• OPTICAL 7 letters — adds two letters to the rung below
• POLITICAL 9 letters — adds two letters to the rung below

TOPIC sits inside OPTICAL, which sits inside POLITICAL — the two letters added at each rung are the whole puzzle. Scrambles shown that day: PTICO · TIOCALP · PAICILTLO.

LockCode answer: 8237

The clues and what each one tells you:

1. 4237: 3 in the right place, 0 in the wrong place — 3 of 4, 2, 3, 7 are in the code.
2. 7153: 0 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 2 of 7, 1, 5, 3 are in the code.
3. 1705: 0 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 1 of 1, 7, 0, 5 are in the code.
4. 5742: 0 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 2 of 5, 7, 4, 2 are in the code.
5. After all clues, 7 codes remain possible.

With 7 candidates left, a good second guess splits them by feedback so the third guess is forced. Read the LockCode strategy guide for the method.