diff --git a/backend/internal/game/service.go b/backend/internal/game/service.go
index 63c46c1..0010f29 100644
--- a/backend/internal/game/service.go
+++ b/backend/internal/game/service.go
@@ -226,6 +226,13 @@ func (svc *Service) RobotSchedule(ctx context.Context, gameID uuid.UUID) (seed i
 	return svc.store.RobotSchedule(ctx, gameID)
 }
 
+// LastMoveAt returns the time of an account's most recent move in a game (and whether it
+// has moved). The social service uses it to reset the nudge cooldown once a player has
+// taken a turn (Stage 17).
+func (svc *Service) LastMoveAt(ctx context.Context, gameID, accountID uuid.UUID) (time.Time, bool, error) {
+	return svc.store.LastMoveAt(ctx, gameID, accountID)
+}
+
 // transition validates the actor and turn, applies op under the per-game lock and
 // commits the result.
 func (svc *Service) transition(ctx context.Context, gameID, accountID uuid.UUID, op engineOp) (MoveResult, error) {
diff --git a/backend/internal/game/store.go b/backend/internal/game/store.go
index b09e5b4..d97a2ea 100644
--- a/backend/internal/game/store.go
+++ b/backend/internal/game/store.go
@@ -651,6 +651,25 @@ func (s *Store) GameSeed(ctx context.Context, id uuid.UUID) (int64, error) {
 	return row.Seed, nil
 }
 
+// LastMoveAt returns the time of the account's most recent move in the game and true, or
+// the zero time and false when it has not moved. The social service uses it to reset the
+// nudge cooldown once the player has taken a turn (Stage 17).
+func (s *Store) LastMoveAt(ctx context.Context, gameID, accountID uuid.UUID) (time.Time, bool, error) {
+	var at sql.NullTime
+	err := s.db.QueryRowContext(ctx,
+		`SELECT MAX(m.created_at) FROM backend.game_moves m
+		 JOIN backend.game_players p ON p.game_id = m.game_id AND p.seat = m.seat
+		 WHERE m.game_id = $1 AND p.account_id = $2`,
+		gameID, accountID).Scan(&at)
+	if err != nil {
+		return time.Time{}, false, fmt.Errorf("game: last move at %s: %w", gameID, err)
+	}
+	if !at.Valid {
+		return time.Time{}, false, nil
+	}
+	return at.Time, true, nil
+}
+
 // RobotSchedule returns a game's bag seed and current turn-start time. The admin console
 // combines them with the robot strategy to show a robot seat's play-to-win intent and its
 // next-move ETA. Both are server-only state, never part of the public game view.
diff --git a/backend/internal/inttest/social_test.go b/backend/internal/inttest/social_test.go
index ac44613..33908fa 100644
--- a/backend/internal/inttest/social_test.go
+++ b/backend/internal/inttest/social_test.go
@@ -353,3 +353,33 @@ func TestNudgeRulesAndRateLimit(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("nudge after window: %v", err)
 	}
 }
+
+// TestNudgeCooldownResetsOnAction checks the nudge cooldown clears once the player has
+// acted (moved or chatted) since their last nudge, even within the hour (Stage 17).
+func TestNudgeCooldownResetsOnAction(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	svc := newSocialService()
+	gsvc := newGameService()
+	gameID, seats := newGameWithSeats(t, 2) // seat 0 to move
+
+	if _, err := svc.Nudge(ctx, gameID, seats[1]); err != nil { // the waiting player nudges
+		t.Fatalf("nudge: %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := svc.Nudge(ctx, gameID, seats[1]); !errors.Is(err, social.ErrNudgeTooSoon) {
+		t.Fatalf("rapid nudge = %v, want ErrNudgeTooSoon", err)
+	}
+	// Seat 1 takes a turn: seat 0 passes (-> seat 1's turn), seat 1 chats then passes.
+	if _, err := gsvc.Pass(ctx, gameID, seats[0]); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("seat0 pass: %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := svc.PostMessage(ctx, gameID, seats[1], "thinking", ""); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("seat1 chat: %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := gsvc.Pass(ctx, gameID, seats[1]); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("seat1 pass: %v", err)
+	}
+	// Back on the opponent's turn, the cooldown is reset by the action since the nudge.
+	if _, err := svc.Nudge(ctx, gameID, seats[1]); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("nudge after acting = %v, want allowed (cooldown reset)", err)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/backend/internal/social/chat.go b/backend/internal/social/chat.go
index 78e6f24..0d9edc8 100644
--- a/backend/internal/social/chat.go
+++ b/backend/internal/social/chat.go
@@ -114,7 +114,15 @@ func (svc *Service) Nudge(ctx context.Context, gameID, senderID uuid.UUID) (Mess
 		return Message{}, err
 	}
 	if ok && svc.now().Sub(last) < nudgeInterval {
-		return Message{}, ErrNudgeTooSoon
+		// The cooldown resets once the sender has acted (moved or chatted) since the last
+		// nudge — engagement clears the "don't spam" limit (Stage 17).
+		acted, err := svc.actedSince(ctx, gameID, senderID, last)
+		if err != nil {
+			return Message{}, err
+		}
+		if !acted {
+			return Message{}, ErrNudgeTooSoon
+		}
 	}
 	msg, err := svc.store.insertChatMessage(ctx, gameID, senderID, kindNudge, "", nil)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -127,6 +135,22 @@ func (svc *Service) Nudge(ctx context.Context, gameID, senderID uuid.UUID) (Mess
 	return msg, nil
 }
 
+// actedSince reports whether senderID made a move or posted a chat message in the game
+// after t — the events that reset the nudge cooldown (Stage 17).
+func (svc *Service) actedSince(ctx context.Context, gameID, senderID uuid.UUID, t time.Time) (bool, error) {
+	if mv, ok, err := svc.games.LastMoveAt(ctx, gameID, senderID); err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	} else if ok && mv.After(t) {
+		return true, nil
+	}
+	if msg, ok, err := svc.store.lastMessageAt(ctx, gameID, senderID); err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	} else if ok && msg.After(t) {
+		return true, nil
+	}
+	return false, nil
+}
+
 // emitChat pushes a chat message to every seated player except the sender
 // (best-effort live delivery; the recipients still read it via Messages).
 func (svc *Service) emitChat(seats []uuid.UUID, senderID uuid.UUID, m Message) {
@@ -261,6 +285,27 @@ func (s *Store) lastNudgeAt(ctx context.Context, gameID, senderID uuid.UUID) (ti
 	return row.CreatedAt, true, nil
 }
 
+// lastMessageAt returns the time of senderID's most recent non-nudge chat message in
+// gameID, if any. The nudge cooldown resets when the player chats (or moves), so a stale
+// nudge no longer blocks a new one (Stage 17).
+func (s *Store) lastMessageAt(ctx context.Context, gameID, senderID uuid.UUID) (time.Time, bool, error) {
+	stmt := postgres.SELECT(table.ChatMessages.CreatedAt).
+		FROM(table.ChatMessages).
+		WHERE(
+			table.ChatMessages.GameID.EQ(postgres.UUID(gameID)).
+				AND(table.ChatMessages.SenderID.EQ(postgres.UUID(senderID))).
+				AND(table.ChatMessages.Kind.EQ(postgres.String(kindMessage))),
+		).ORDER_BY(table.ChatMessages.CreatedAt.DESC()).LIMIT(1)
+	var row model.ChatMessages
+	if err := stmt.QueryContext(ctx, s.db, &row); err != nil {
+		if errors.Is(err, qrm.ErrNoRows) {
+			return time.Time{}, false, nil
+		}
+		return time.Time{}, false, fmt.Errorf("social: last message: %w", err)
+	}
+	return row.CreatedAt, true, nil
+}
+
 // messageFromRow projects a generated row into the public Message.
 func messageFromRow(r model.ChatMessages) Message {
 	m := Message{
diff --git a/backend/internal/social/social.go b/backend/internal/social/social.go
index 3ea5c28..1f0aaa2 100644
--- a/backend/internal/social/social.go
+++ b/backend/internal/social/social.go
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ type GameReader interface {
 	// SharedGame reports whether two accounts are seated together in any game
 	// (active or finished); it gates the "befriend an opponent" request path.
 	SharedGame(ctx context.Context, a, b uuid.UUID) (bool, error)
+	// LastMoveAt is the time of an account's most recent move in a game (and whether it
+	// has moved); the nudge cooldown resets once the player has taken a turn.
+	LastMoveAt(ctx context.Context, gameID, accountID uuid.UUID) (time.Time, bool, error)
 }
 
 // Sentinel errors returned by the service.
diff --git a/ui/src/game/Game.svelte b/ui/src/game/Game.svelte
index 7c07d2a..beafaac 100644
--- a/ui/src/game/Game.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/game/Game.svelte
@@ -95,14 +95,23 @@
   // timer while the chat is open, so it re-enables without waiting for a new message.
   const nudgeCooldownSecs = 3600;
   let nudgeTick = $state(0);
+  // Unix seconds of the player's own last move, which resets the nudge cooldown (mirrors the
+  // backend, Stage 17). A chat reset is read from `messages`; a move is tracked client-side
+  // (the backend stays authoritative across a reload).
+  let lastActedAt = $state(0);
   const nudgeOnCooldown = $derived.by(() => {
     void nudgeTick;
     const mine = app.session?.userId ?? '';
-    const last = messages.reduce(
-      (mx, m) => (m.kind === 'nudge' && m.senderId === mine ? Math.max(mx, m.createdAtUnix) : mx),
-      0,
-    );
-    return last > 0 && Date.now() / 1000 - last < nudgeCooldownSecs;
+    let lastNudge = 0;
+    let lastChat = 0;
+    for (const m of messages) {
+      if (m.senderId !== mine) continue;
+      if (m.kind === 'nudge') lastNudge = Math.max(lastNudge, m.createdAtUnix);
+      else lastChat = Math.max(lastChat, m.createdAtUnix);
+    }
+    if (lastNudge === 0 || Date.now() / 1000 - lastNudge >= nudgeCooldownSecs) return false;
+    // Engagement since the nudge clears the cooldown: a chat or a move.
+    return lastChat <= lastNudge && lastActedAt <= lastNudge;
   });
 
   async function load() {
@@ -361,6 +370,7 @@
     busy = true;
     try {
       await gateway.submitPlay(id, sub.dir, sub.tiles, variant);
+      lastActedAt = Date.now() / 1000; // a move resets the nudge cooldown
       telegramHaptic('success');
       zoomed = false;
       await load();
@@ -381,6 +391,7 @@
     busy = true;
     try {
       await gateway.pass(id);
+      lastActedAt = Date.now() / 1000; // a move resets the nudge cooldown
       await load();
     } catch (e) {
       handleError(e);
@@ -461,6 +472,7 @@
     busy = true;
     try {
       await gateway.exchange(id, tiles, variant);
+      lastActedAt = Date.now() / 1000; // a move resets the nudge cooldown
       await load();
     } catch (e) {
       handleError(e);