A method is proposed for operating a solid state storage device. The method comprises: encoding information and frozen bits into polar encoded bits; storing the polar encoded bits; reading the polar encoded bits, wherein the read polar encoded bits include the frozen bits and unfrozen bits, and performing a SCL decoding. The SCL decoding comprises: providing a list of candidate decoding paths; duplicating the candidate decoding paths; determining a maximum list size indicative of an allowed maximum number of candidate decoding paths that can be contained in the list of candidate decoding paths; pruning at least one duplicated candidate decoding path according to the maximum list size, and including in the list of candidate decoding paths a number of non-pruned duplicated candidate decoding paths not higher than the maximum list size; and selecting a decoding path from the list of candidate decoding paths.