LinkedIn Crossclimb #776 Answer & Analysis

The five middle clues solve to RACK, RANK, BANK, BANS, and CANS. Reordering them into a valid one-letter ladder gives RACK -> RANK -> BANK -> BANS -> CANS. The shared locked-row clue points to the phrase “race cars,” which fits as RACE at the top and CARS at the bottom because both connect by a single-letter change.

Final Ladder: RACE -> RACK -> RANK -> BANK -> BANS -> CANS -> CARS

This puzzle is best solved in stages. Start with the five regular clues, then sort those answers into a one-letter word ladder, and only after that use the shared locked-row clue to place the top and bottom words.

• Solve the five middle clues first: BANK, RANK, BANS, RACK, and CANS.
• Check which order lets each neighboring word differ by exactly one letter. The valid middle run is RACK -> RANK -> BANK -> BANS -> CANS.
• Use the locked-row clue next. The combined phrase is “race cars,” so the two locked words are RACE and CARS.
• Place RACE at the top because it changes by one letter to RACK, and place CARS at the bottom because it changes by one letter from CANS.
• Verify the full ladder from top to bottom to make sure every step changes exactly one letter.

The key move is sorting the middle answers first. Once RACK -> RANK -> BANK -> BANS -> CANS is in place, the locked phrase “race cars” naturally fits as RACE above and CARS below.