diff --git a/PRERELEASE.md b/PRERELEASE.md
index a18868f..5d7f542 100644
--- a/PRERELEASE.md
+++ b/PRERELEASE.md
@@ -442,3 +442,23 @@ Then Stage 18.
   - **No schema/wire change → no contour DB wipe.** Bake-back: `docs/UI_DESIGN.md`, `docs/FUNCTIONAL.md`
     (+`_ru`). Regression gate: UI `check` + unit (`tapconfirm`) + build + bundle budget + e2e (Chromium &
     WebKit), all green.
+
+- **UI — Merge Exchange/Pass; drop the dead Tournaments tab** (owner ad-hoc, not on the raw TODO
+  list): the lobby's 🏆 *Tournaments* tab was an inert `lobby.soon` toast — removed (the lobby is back
+  to three tabs, matching `docs/FUNCTIONAL.md`). In-game the separate 🥺 *Skip* (pass) tab folds into
+  the 🔄 tab, now **Exchange/Pass**, whose dialog passes when no tile is selected and exchanges when
+  tiles are.
+  - **Decision — a pass is NOT an exchange of zero (verified against the rules + GCG):** the merge is
+    **UI-only**. Pass and exchange stay distinct game actions end-to-end — wire (`GameActionRequest` vs
+    `ExchangeRequest`), engine (`ActionPass` vs `ActionExchange`), and the GCG Poslfit dialect (a pass is
+    a bare `-`, an exchange is `-TILES`). The engine forbids a zero-tile exchange (`ErrNothingToExchange`)
+    and allows an exchange only with a full rack left in the bag (`ErrNotEnoughTilesToExchange`), while a
+    pass is always legal — collapsing them would lose a real distinction. The dialog dispatches the
+    existing `gateway.pass` / `gateway.exchange`.
+  - **What shipped:** `Lobby.svelte` (tab removed); `Game.svelte` (one 🔄 Exchange/Pass tab no longer
+    gated on an empty bag; the dialog disables tile selection while the bag is below a full rack
+    (`bagLen >= RACK_SIZE`), its confirm button reading **Pass without exchanging** / **Exchange N**);
+    i18n (`game.draw` → Exchange/Pass, new `game.passNoExchange`, dropped `game.skip` /
+    `lobby.tournaments` / `lobby.soon`). No backend/wire/history/GCG change.
+  - **No schema/wire change → no contour DB wipe.** Bake-back: `docs/UI_DESIGN.md`, `docs/FUNCTIONAL.md`
+    (+`_ru`). Regression gate: UI `check` + unit + build + bundle budget + e2e (Chromium & WebKit).
diff --git a/docs/FUNCTIONAL.md b/docs/FUNCTIONAL.md
index 6457aa1..dd60d06 100644
--- a/docs/FUNCTIONAL.md
+++ b/docs/FUNCTIONAL.md
@@ -102,8 +102,10 @@ settings and the game starts once every invitee has accepted — any decline can
 expires after seven days.
 
 ### Playing a game
-Place tiles, pass, exchange, or resign. Tiles are laid without choosing a
-direction — the game infers the play's orientation, so a single tile that extends
+Place tiles, pass, exchange, or resign. Pass and exchange share one control —
+choosing no tiles passes the turn, choosing tiles exchanges them. Tiles are laid
+without choosing a direction — the game infers the play's orientation, so a single
+tile that extends
 an existing word (down a column or across a row) is accepted. A play is validated
 against the game's dictionary at submit time and scored; an unlimited preview
 reports the word(s) a tentative move would form and its score, or that it is not
diff --git a/docs/FUNCTIONAL_ru.md b/docs/FUNCTIONAL_ru.md
index 8bda84f..afed035 100644
--- a/docs/FUNCTIONAL_ru.md
+++ b/docs/FUNCTIONAL_ru.md
@@ -106,8 +106,10 @@ nudge) приходят от бота **этой партии** — по язы
 ответа приглашение протухает через семь дней.
 
 ### Игровой процесс
-Выкладывание фишек, пас, обмен или сдача. Фишки кладутся без выбора направления —
-игра сама определяет ориентацию хода, поэтому одна фишка, продолжающая уже лежащее
+Выкладывание фишек, пас, обмен или сдача. Пас и обмен — один элемент управления:
+без выбранных фишек — пас, с выбранными — обмен. Фишки кладутся без выбора
+направления — игра сама определяет ориентацию хода, поэтому одна фишка, продолжающая
+уже лежащее
 слово (по столбцу или по строке), принимается. Ход проверяется по словарю партии при
 сдаче и считается; безлимитный предпросмотр показывает слово (или слова), которое
 образует предполагаемый ход, и его очки — либо что ход недопустим, — и ход можно
diff --git a/docs/UI_DESIGN.md b/docs/UI_DESIGN.md
index fb47aa6..ee92f94 100644
--- a/docs/UI_DESIGN.md
+++ b/docs/UI_DESIGN.md
@@ -142,15 +142,18 @@ Login uses `Screen`.
 - **TapConfirm** (`components/TapConfirm.svelte`, logic in `lib/tapconfirm.ts`): the shared
   tap-to-confirm control. A first tap arms a ~2 s window showing a **fading ✅** (no fade
   under reduce-motion, but the window still holds); a tap on the ✅ within it confirms,
-  otherwise it reverts. Used by the **Skip** and **Hint** tabs (the icon morphs to ✅, no
-  label — replacing the old press-and-hold popover) and the in-game **add-friend 🤝**. The
+  otherwise it reverts. Used by the **Hint** tab (the icon morphs to ✅, no label — replacing
+  the old press-and-hold popover) and the in-game **add-friend 🤝**. The
   **Drop game** action keeps its `Modal` confirmation (a destructive, less-frequent action).
 - **MakeMove / Reset**: when ≥1 tile is pending the rack collapses its used slots
   and shifts left, a **borderless ✅ icon button** (styled like a tab, not a filled accent
   button) beside the rack commits the move — no popover, and disabled while the pending word
   is known illegal; the 🔀 Shuffle tab is replaced by a **↩️ Reset** tab.
-- **Game tab bar**: 🔄 Draw (disabled when the bag is empty), 🥺 Skip, 🛟 Hint (with a
-  remaining-count badge, disabled at zero); 🔀 Shuffle (no label, no confirm), which
+- **Game tab bar**: 🔄 Exchange/Pass (opens a dialog — pick tiles to **Exchange N**, or pick
+  none to **Pass without exchanging**; pass is always available on your turn, exchange only
+  while the bag still holds a full rack, below which the tiles disable and only the pass
+  remains), 🛟 Hint (with a remaining-count badge, disabled at zero); 🔀 Shuffle (no label,
+  no confirm), which
   **animates** — tiles hop along a low parabola to their new slots (duration scaled by the
   distance, the longest ≤ 0.3 s; off under reduce-motion) with a short haptic shake. The
   under-board slot shows the **Scores: N** preview. The screen **title** is the variant's
diff --git a/ui/e2e/game.spec.ts b/ui/e2e/game.spec.ts
index 7f464e3..35c62a1 100644
--- a/ui/e2e/game.spec.ts
+++ b/ui/e2e/game.spec.ts
@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@ async function openGame(page: Page): Promise<void> {
 
 test('offline shows the Connecting indicator and softly disables server actions', async ({ page }) => {
   await openGame(page);
-  // The exchange/draw tab is a server action; on my turn with tiles in the bag it is live.
+  // The Exchange/Pass tab is a server action; on my turn it is live (pass is always available,
+  // so unlike before it no longer goes inert when the bag empties).
   const draw = page.locator('.tab').first();
   await expect(draw).toBeEnabled();
   await expect(page.getByText('Connecting…')).toHaveCount(0);
@@ -179,25 +180,32 @@ test('history: a swipe-up close does not make a follow-up score tap jump', async
   await expect(page.locator('.boardwrap.slid')).toBeVisible();
 });
 
-test('Draw opens the exchange dialog and confirms a selection', async ({ page }) => {
+test('Exchange/Pass dialog: a selection exchanges, no selection offers a pass', async ({ page }) => {
   await openGame(page);
-  await page.locator('button:has-text("🔄")').click(); // Draw tab
+  await page.locator('button:has-text("🔄")').click(); // the merged Exchange/Pass tab
   await expect(page.locator('.exch')).toBeVisible();
 
+  // With nothing selected the confirm button offers a pass; selecting tiles flips it to an
+  // exchange of that many (the two are distinct game actions behind one dialog).
+  const confirm = page.locator('button.confirm');
+  await expect(confirm).toHaveText('Pass without exchanging');
   await page.locator('.etile').first().click();
   await expect(page.locator('.etile.sel')).toHaveCount(1);
-  await page.locator('button.confirm').click();
+  await expect(confirm).toHaveText('Exchange 1');
+  await confirm.click();
   await expect(page.locator('.exch')).toBeHidden();
 });
 
-test('pass confirms with a tap on the fading ✅ instead of a popup', async ({ page }) => {
+test('passing goes through the Exchange/Pass dialog with no tiles selected', async ({ page }) => {
   await openGame(page);
-  const pass = page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Skip' }); // the 🥺 tab (aria-label)
-  await expect(pass).toBeEnabled();
-  await pass.click(); // arm: 🥺 -> a fading ✅
-  await pass.click(); // tap the ✅ to confirm within the window
-  // The pass hands the turn over, so the control goes inert.
-  await expect(pass).toBeDisabled();
+  const draw = page.locator('button:has-text("🔄")'); // the merged Exchange/Pass tab
+  await expect(draw).toBeEnabled();
+  await draw.click();
+  // No tiles selected -> the confirm button passes the turn (a pass, not an exchange of zero).
+  await page.locator('button.confirm').click();
+  await expect(page.locator('.exch')).toBeHidden();
+  // The pass hands the turn over, so the tab goes inert.
+  await expect(draw).toBeDisabled();
 });
 
 test('check-word sanitises input and shows a verdict', async ({ page }) => {
diff --git a/ui/src/game/Game.svelte b/ui/src/game/Game.svelte
index 943a906..80018c4 100644
--- a/ui/src/game/Game.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/game/Game.svelte
@@ -104,7 +104,13 @@
   const playable = $derived(!!view && (view.game.status === 'active' || view.game.status === 'open'));
   const isMyTurn = $derived(!!view && playable && view.game.toMove === view.seat);
   const gameOver = $derived(!!view && view.game.status === 'finished');
-  const bagEmpty = $derived((view?.bagLen ?? 0) === 0);
+  // RACK_SIZE mirrors the engine's rules.RackSize (7 for every current variant). The exchange
+  // gate is only a UX guard: the backend stays the source of truth and rejects an under-supplied
+  // exchange regardless (engine rejects when bag.Len() < rules.RackSize).
+  const RACK_SIZE = 7;
+  // Exchange is legal only while the bag still holds a full rack; below that the player may pass
+  // but not swap, so the merged Exchange/Pass dialog offers pass alone there.
+  const canExchange = $derived((view?.bagLen ?? 0) >= RACK_SIZE);
   // The seat whose move the history grid awaits with a "thinking…" placeholder: the player to
   // move while the game is active, but never the viewer themselves (their own pending cell
   // stays empty) and never on a finished game.
@@ -634,6 +640,16 @@
       busy = false;
     }
   }
+  // confirmExchangeOrPass routes the merged dialog's confirm button: no tiles selected means a
+  // pass (a distinct game action), any selection means a tile exchange.
+  async function confirmExchangeOrPass() {
+    if (exchangeSel.length === 0) {
+      exchangeOpen = false;
+      await doPass();
+      return;
+    }
+    await doExchange();
+  }
 
   function resultText(): string {
     if (!view) return '';
@@ -917,12 +933,9 @@
   {#snippet tabbar()}
     {#if view}
       <TabBar>
-        <button class="tab" disabled={busy || !isMyTurn || !connection.online || bagEmpty} onclick={openExchange}>
+        <button class="tab" disabled={busy || !isMyTurn || !connection.online} onclick={openExchange}>
           <span class="sq">🔄</span><span class="lbl">{t('game.draw')}</span>
         </button>
-        <TapConfirm triggerClass="tab" label={t('game.skip')} disabled={busy || !isMyTurn || !connection.online} onconfirm={doPass}>
-          <span class="sq">🥺</span><span class="lbl">{t('game.skip')}</span>
-        </TapConfirm>
         <TapConfirm
           triggerClass="tab"
           label={t('game.hint')}
@@ -966,13 +979,13 @@
   <Modal title={t('game.exchangeTitle')} onclose={() => (exchangeOpen = false)}>
     <div class="exch">
       {#each view.rack as letter, i (i)}
-        <button class="etile" class:sel={exchangeSel.includes(i)} onclick={() => toggleExch(i)}>
+        <button class="etile" class:sel={exchangeSel.includes(i)} disabled={!canExchange} onclick={() => toggleExch(i)}>
           {letter === BLANK ? '?' : letter}
         </button>
       {/each}
     </div>
-    <button class="confirm" disabled={exchangeSel.length === 0} onclick={doExchange}>
-      {t('game.exchangeConfirm', { n: exchangeSel.length })}
+    <button class="confirm" onclick={confirmExchangeOrPass}>
+      {exchangeSel.length === 0 ? t('game.passNoExchange') : t('game.exchangeConfirm', { n: exchangeSel.length })}
     </button>
   </Modal>
 {/if}
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/i18n/en.ts b/ui/src/lib/i18n/en.ts
index c62bf5a..38e2241 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/i18n/en.ts
+++ b/ui/src/lib/i18n/en.ts
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ export const en = {
   'lobby.noFinished': 'No finished games yet.',
   'lobby.new': 'New',
   'lobby.stats': 'Stats',
-  'lobby.tournaments': 'Tourn.',
   'lobby.profile': 'Profile',
   'lobby.settings': 'Settings',
   'lobby.about': 'About',
@@ -38,7 +37,6 @@ export const en = {
   'lobby.theirTurn': 'Their turn',
   'lobby.hideGame': 'Remove from list',
   'lobby.vs': 'vs {opponents}',
-  'lobby.soon': 'Coming soon',
 
   'new.title': 'New game',
   'new.subtitle': 'Auto-match with another player',
@@ -63,8 +61,7 @@ export const en = {
   'game.waiting': "Waiting for {name}",
   'game.makeMove': 'Make move',
   'game.reset': 'Reset',
-  'game.draw': 'Draw',
-  'game.skip': 'Skip',
+  'game.draw': 'Exchange/Pass',
   'game.shuffle': 'Shuffle',
   'game.hint': 'Hint',
   'game.chat': 'Chat',
@@ -75,8 +72,9 @@ export const en = {
   'game.previewIllegal': 'Not a legal move',
   'game.oneWordRule': 'One word per turn',
   'game.chooseBlank': 'Choose a letter for the blank',
-  'game.exchangeTitle': 'Select tiles to exchange',
+  'game.exchangeTitle': 'Exchange or pass',
   'game.exchangeConfirm': 'Exchange {n}',
+  'game.passNoExchange': 'Pass without exchanging',
   'game.confirmResign': 'Resign this game?',
   'game.hintShown': 'Best move: {word} for {n}',
   'game.over': 'Game over',
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/i18n/ru.ts b/ui/src/lib/i18n/ru.ts
index 6e01f54..260eb9e 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/i18n/ru.ts
+++ b/ui/src/lib/i18n/ru.ts
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ export const ru: Record<MessageKey, string> = {
   'lobby.noFinished': 'Пока нет завершённых игр.',
   'lobby.new': 'Новая',
   'lobby.stats': 'Статы',
-  'lobby.tournaments': 'Турниры',
   'lobby.profile': 'Профиль',
   'lobby.settings': 'Настройки',
   'lobby.about': 'О программе',
@@ -39,7 +38,6 @@ export const ru: Record<MessageKey, string> = {
   'lobby.theirTurn': 'Ход соперника',
   'lobby.hideGame': 'Убрать из списка',
   'lobby.vs': 'против {opponents}',
-  'lobby.soon': 'Скоро',
 
   'new.title': 'Новая игра',
   'new.subtitle': 'Автоподбор соперника',
@@ -64,8 +62,7 @@ export const ru: Record<MessageKey, string> = {
   'game.waiting': 'Ожидаем {name}',
   'game.makeMove': 'Сделать ход',
   'game.reset': 'Сброс',
-  'game.draw': 'Обмен',
-  'game.skip': 'Пас',
+  'game.draw': 'Обмен/Пас',
   'game.shuffle': 'Перемешать',
   'game.hint': 'Подсказка',
   'game.chat': 'Чат',
@@ -76,8 +73,9 @@ export const ru: Record<MessageKey, string> = {
   'game.previewIllegal': 'Недопустимый ход',
   'game.oneWordRule': 'Одно слово за ход',
   'game.chooseBlank': 'Выберите букву для бланка',
-  'game.exchangeTitle': 'Выберите фишки для обмена',
+  'game.exchangeTitle': 'Обмен или пас',
   'game.exchangeConfirm': 'Обменять {n}',
+  'game.passNoExchange': 'Пас без обмена',
   'game.confirmResign': 'Сдаться в этой игре?',
   'game.hintShown': 'Лучший ход: {word} на {n}',
   'game.over': 'Игра окончена',
diff --git a/ui/src/screens/Lobby.svelte b/ui/src/screens/Lobby.svelte
index 075edb0..f005bbc 100644
--- a/ui/src/screens/Lobby.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/screens/Lobby.svelte
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   import { onMount } from 'svelte';
   import Screen from '../components/Screen.svelte';
   import TabBar from '../components/TabBar.svelte';
-  import { app, handleError, showToast } from '../lib/app.svelte';
+  import { app, handleError } from '../lib/app.svelte';
   import { connection } from '../lib/connection.svelte';
   import { gateway } from '../lib/gateway';
   import { navigate } from '../lib/router.svelte';
@@ -228,9 +228,6 @@
       <button class="tab" onclick={() => navigate('/stats')}>
         <span class="sq">📊</span><span class="lbl">{t('lobby.stats')}</span>
       </button>
-      <button class="tab" onclick={() => showToast(t('lobby.soon'))}>
-        <span class="sq">🏆</span><span class="lbl">{t('lobby.tournaments')}</span>
-      </button>
       <button class="tab" onclick={() => navigate('/settings')}>
         <span class="sq">⚙️{#if app.notifications > 0}<span class="badge">{app.notifications}</span>{/if}</span>
         <span class="lbl">{t('lobby.settings')}</span>