#79 · Monday, 23 February 2026

Ladder answer

• DECOR 5 letters
• COVERED 7 letters — adds two letters to the rung below
• CONSERVED 9 letters — adds two letters to the rung below

DECOR sits inside COVERED, which sits inside CONSERVED — the two letters added at each rung are the whole puzzle. Scrambles shown that day: EDORC · OCEVDRE · SRDENEOCV.

LockCode answer: 7018

The clues and what each one tells you:

1. 9015: 2 in the right place, 0 in the wrong place — 2 of 9, 0, 1, 5 are in the code.
2. 1837: 0 in the right place, 3 in the wrong place — 3 of 1, 8, 3, 7 are in the code.
3. 1269: 0 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 1 of 1, 2, 6, 9 are in the code.
4. 5027: 1 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 2 of 5, 0, 2, 7 are in the code.
5. After all clues, 2 codes remain possible.

With 2 candidates left, a good second guess splits them by feedback so the third guess is forced. Read the LockCode strategy guide for the method.