Merge pull request 'Promote development → master (deploy v2: versioning + visible jobs + rollback)' (#106) from development into master

- prod-deploy.yaml is now four visible sequential jobs (build -> deploy-main ->
  deploy-bot -> verify) so the rollout stages show in the Actions UI; the
  per-service rolling stays in the deploy-main log.
- prod-rollback.yaml: a separate manual workflow_dispatch. Leave target_version
  blank to roll back to the previous deployed version (the host now tracks
  DEPLOYED_TAG + PREVIOUS_TAG), or pick a release tag. Re-deploys an already
  published image rolling + health-gated, image-only (no rebuild, no DB migration).
- prod-deploy.sh tracks the previous tag (commit_tag) for the blank-input rollback.
- Docs: ARCHITECTURE §13 + deploy/README runbook cover versioning + rollback.

.gitea/workflows/ci.yaml

@@ -26,6 +26,13 @@ on:
   push:
     branches: [development]
 
+# The dictionary release the test suite validates against — the current
+# scrabble-dictionary release. Centralised here so a release bump is one edit; the
+# unit/integration jobs inherit it. The deploy job overrides it per contour with
+# vars.TEST_DICT_VERSION (the seed for a fresh volume), see deploy/README.md.
+env:
+  DICT_VERSION: v1.2.1
+
 jobs:
   # changes detects which areas a PR/push touched, so the test jobs can skip when
   # irrelevant. It defaults to running everything when the diff cannot be computed.
@@ -86,7 +93,6 @@ jobs:
       # The engine consumes the published scrabble-solver module from this Gitea;
       # GOPRIVATE makes go fetch it directly (skipping the public proxy/checksum DB).
       GOPRIVATE: gitea.iliadenisov.ru/*
-      DICT_VERSION: v1.0.0
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
@@ -134,7 +140,6 @@ jobs:
       # suite's TestMain terminates its own container, so disable it.
       TESTCONTAINERS_RYUK_DISABLED: "true"
       GOPRIVATE: gitea.iliadenisov.ru/*
-      DICT_VERSION: v1.0.0
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
@@ -254,25 +259,24 @@ jobs:
           AWG_CONF: ${{ secrets.TEST_AWG_CONF }}
           GM_BASICAUTH_HASH: ${{ secrets.TEST_GM_BASICAUTH_HASH }}
           GRAFANA_ADMIN_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.TEST_GRAFANA_ADMIN_PASSWORD }}
-          TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN_EN: ${{ secrets.TEST_TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN_EN }}
-          TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN_RU: ${{ secrets.TEST_TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN_RU }}
+          TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.TEST_TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN }}
+          TELEGRAM_PROMO_BOT_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.TEST_TELEGRAM_PROMO_BOT_TOKEN }}
           GM_BASICAUTH_USER: ${{ vars.TEST_GM_BASICAUTH_USER }}
           GRAFANA_ROOT_URL: ${{ vars.TEST_GRAFANA_ROOT_URL }}
           CADDY_SITE_ADDRESS: ${{ vars.TEST_CADDY_SITE_ADDRESS }}
           TELEGRAM_MINIAPP_URL: ${{ vars.TEST_TELEGRAM_MINIAPP_URL }}
-          TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_ID_EN: ${{ vars.TEST_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_ID_EN }}
-          TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_ID_RU: ${{ vars.TEST_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_ID_RU }}
+          TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_ID: ${{ vars.TEST_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_ID }}
+          TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID: ${{ vars.TEST_TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID }}
+          TELEGRAM_BOT_USERNAME: ${{ vars.TEST_TELEGRAM_BOT_USERNAME }}
+          # The promo button reuses the UI's Mini App link variable.
+          TELEGRAM_BOT_LINK: ${{ vars.TEST_VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK }}
           # The test contour always uses Telegram's test environment — pinned here,
           # not an operator variable. The prod workflow leaves it false.
           TELEGRAM_TEST_ENV: "true"
           VITE_TELEGRAM_BOT_ID: ${{ vars.TEST_VITE_TELEGRAM_BOT_ID }}
           VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK: ${{ vars.TEST_VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK }}
-          VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_EN: ${{ vars.TEST_VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_EN }}
-          VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_RU: ${{ vars.TEST_VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK_RU }}
-          VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_EN: ${{ vars.TEST_VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_EN }}
-          VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_RU: ${{ vars.TEST_VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME_RU }}
+          VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME: ${{ vars.TEST_VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME }}
           VITE_GATEWAY_URL: ${{ vars.TEST_VITE_GATEWAY_URL }}
-          GATEWAY_DEFAULT_SUPPORTED_LANGUAGES: ${{ vars.TEST_GATEWAY_DEFAULT_SUPPORTED_LANGUAGES }}
           # Unset vars render empty -> the compose ":-" defaults apply.
           POSTGRES_DB: ${{ vars.TEST_POSTGRES_DB }}
           POSTGRES_USER: ${{ vars.TEST_POSTGRES_USER }}
@@ -289,62 +293,82 @@ jobs:
           mkdir -p "$conf"
           cp -r caddy otelcol prometheus tempo grafana "$conf"/
           export SCRABBLE_CONFIG_DIR="$conf"
+          # Bot-link mTLS material for the test contour: a private CA + gateway/bot
+          # leaves (CN=gateway, the service name the bot dials). Prod supplies these
+          # from PROD_ secrets instead. Regenerated each deploy; both ends redeploy
+          # together so they always share the fresh CA (see deploy/gen-certs.sh).
+          bash "$GITHUB_WORKSPACE/deploy/gen-certs.sh" "$conf/certs"
           # App version for the About screen: the git tag if present, else the short SHA
           # (the test checkout is shallow/untagged, so this is the SHA here — fine).
           export APP_VERSION="$(git -C "$GITHUB_WORKSPACE" describe --tags --always 2>/dev/null || echo dev)"
-          docker compose --ansi never build --progress plain
-          docker compose --ansi never up -d --remove-orphans
+          # The telegram-local profile brings the bot + its VPN sidecar; prod runs the
+          # bot on its own host instead (deploy/docker-compose.bot.yml), and the prod
+          # main host omits both. Without the profile they would not start here.
+          docker compose --ansi never --profile telegram-local build --progress plain
+          docker compose --ansi never --profile telegram-local up -d --remove-orphans
           # The config-only services bind-mount the reseeded config dir. A plain `up -d`
           # leaves them on the previous bind mount (the dir was rm'd + recreated), so a
           # changed Caddyfile or Grafana dashboard is ignored — force-recreate them to
           # pick up the fresh config.
           docker compose --ansi never up -d --force-recreate --no-deps caddy otelcol prometheus tempo grafana
 
-      - name: Probe the landing and the gateway through caddy
+      - name: Probe the landing, gateway and backend
         run: |
           set -u
-          # Two probes through the contour caddy: "/" is the static
-          # landing container, "/app/" is the gateway-served SPA shell.
+          # Three probes. "/" is the static landing container and "/app/" the
+          # gateway-served SPA shell (both through the contour caddy on the edge net).
+          # The backend /readyz is probed on the internal net as well: the caddy probes
+          # are blind to a crash-looping backend (the landing is static and the SPA
+          # shell is served without it), which let a bad deploy go green while the
+          # backend was down — so check it directly here.
           for i in $(seq 1 20); do
             if docker run --rm --network edge alpine:3.20 wget -q -T 5 -O /dev/null http://scrabble/ &&
-               docker run --rm --network edge alpine:3.20 wget -q -T 5 -O /dev/null http://scrabble/app/; then
-              echo "healthy: GET http://scrabble/ (landing) + /app/ (gateway)"
+               docker run --rm --network edge alpine:3.20 wget -q -T 5 -O /dev/null http://scrabble/app/ &&
+               docker run --rm --network scrabble-internal alpine:3.20 wget -q -T 5 -O /dev/null http://backend:8080/readyz; then
+              echo "healthy: GET / (landing) + /app/ (gateway) + backend /readyz"
               exit 0
             fi
             sleep 3
           done
-          echo "probe failed; recent landing + gateway logs:"
+          echo "probe failed; recent landing + gateway + backend logs:"
           docker logs --tail 50 scrabble-landing || true
           docker logs --tail 50 scrabble-gateway || true
+          docker logs --tail 50 scrabble-backend || true
           exit 1
 
-      - name: Probe the Telegram connector liveness
+      - name: Probe the Telegram validator and bot liveness
         run: |
           set -u
-          # The gateway probe cannot see a crash-looping connector (it long-polls and
-          # egresses through the VPN sidecar, with no public ingress). Inspect the
-          # container directly: it must be running, not restarting, with a stable
-          # restart count. A grace period lets the VPN handshake settle (the connector
-          # may restart a few times first).
+          # The gateway/backend probes cannot see a crash-looping validator or bot
+          # (the validator answers only internal gRPC; the bot long-polls + egresses
+          # through the VPN sidecar with no public ingress). Inspect the containers
+          # directly: each must be running, not restarting, with a stable restart
+          # count. A grace period lets the VPN handshake and the bot-link dial settle.
           sleep 20
+          for name in scrabble-telegram-validator scrabble-telegram-bot; do
+            ok=
             for i in $(seq 1 20); do
-            status="$(docker inspect -f '{{.State.Status}}' scrabble-telegram 2>/dev/null || echo missing)"
-            restarting="$(docker inspect -f '{{.State.Restarting}}' scrabble-telegram 2>/dev/null || echo true)"
+              status="$(docker inspect -f '{{.State.Status}}' "$name" 2>/dev/null || echo missing)"
+              restarting="$(docker inspect -f '{{.State.Restarting}}' "$name" 2>/dev/null || echo true)"
               if [ "$status" = "running" ] && [ "$restarting" = "false" ]; then
-              c1="$(docker inspect -f '{{.RestartCount}}' scrabble-telegram)"
+                c1="$(docker inspect -f '{{.RestartCount}}' "$name")"
                 sleep 5
-              c2="$(docker inspect -f '{{.RestartCount}}' scrabble-telegram)"
+                c2="$(docker inspect -f '{{.RestartCount}}' "$name")"
                 if [ "$c1" = "$c2" ]; then
-                echo "connector healthy: status=$status restarts=$c2"
-                exit 0
+                  echo "$name healthy: status=$status restarts=$c2"
+                  ok=1
+                  break
                 fi
-              echo "connector still restarting ($c1 -> $c2); waiting"
+                echo "$name still restarting ($c1 -> $c2); waiting"
               fi
               sleep 3
             done
-          echo "connector not healthy; recent logs:"
-          docker logs --tail 80 scrabble-telegram || true
+            if [ -z "$ok" ]; then
+              echo "$name not healthy; recent logs:"
+              docker logs --tail 80 "$name" || true
               exit 1
+            fi
+          done
 
       - name: Prune dangling images
         if: always()

.gitea/workflows/prod-deploy.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,266 @@
+# Manual production rollout. Runs ONLY from master, ONLY on workflow_dispatch with
+# confirm=deploy (development->master is merged + green first; this is the separate,
+# deliberate prod step). Visible sequential jobs from most to least significant:
+#   build -> deploy-main -> deploy-bot -> verify
+# The per-service rolling (postgres->backend->gateway->landing->validator->caddy),
+# health-gating and auto-rollback live in deploy/prod-deploy.sh on the main host and
+# show in the deploy-main log. Manual post-deploy rollback is prod-rollback.yaml.
+# See deploy/README.md (prod runbook).
+name: prod-deploy
+run-name: "prod deploy ${{ github.sha }}"
+
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+    inputs:
+      confirm:
+        description: 'Type "deploy" to confirm a production rollout from master.'
+        required: true
+        default: ""
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+
+env:
+  NO_COLOR: "1"
+  DOCKER_CLI_HINTS: "false"
+  REGISTRY: docker.iliadenisov.ru/developer
+
+jobs:
+  build:
+    if: ${{ github.ref == 'refs/heads/master' && inputs.confirm == 'deploy' }}
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    defaults:
+      run:
+        shell: bash
+    outputs:
+      tag: ${{ steps.ver.outputs.tag }}
+    env:
+      PROD_REGISTRY_USER: ${{ vars.PROD_REGISTRY_USER }}
+      PROD_REGISTRY_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.PROD_REGISTRY_PASSWORD }}
+      VITE_TELEGRAM_BOT_ID: ${{ vars.PROD_VITE_TELEGRAM_BOT_ID }}
+      VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK: ${{ vars.PROD_VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK }}
+      VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME: ${{ vars.PROD_VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME }}
+      VITE_GATEWAY_URL: ${{ vars.PROD_VITE_GATEWAY_URL }}
+      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.PROD_POSTGRES_PASSWORD }}
+      GM_BASICAUTH_HASH: ${{ secrets.PROD_GM_BASICAUTH_HASH }}
+      TELEGRAM_MINIAPP_URL: ${{ vars.PROD_TELEGRAM_MINIAPP_URL }}
+      DICT_VERSION: ${{ vars.PROD_DICT_VERSION }}
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 0
+      - name: Compute version tag
+        id: ver
+        run: echo "tag=$(git describe --tags --always)" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+      - name: Registry login
+        run: echo "$PROD_REGISTRY_PASSWORD" | docker login "${REGISTRY%%/*}" -u "$PROD_REGISTRY_USER" --password-stdin
+      - name: Build and push images
+        working-directory: deploy
+        run: |
+          export TAG="${{ steps.ver.outputs.tag }}" APP_VERSION="${{ steps.ver.outputs.tag }}" SCRABBLE_CONFIG_DIR=.
+          # The four main-stack images via compose (reuses the build args, incl. VERSION);
+          # the bot separately, since it is profiled out of the prod compose.
+          docker compose -f docker-compose.yml -f docker-compose.prod.yml build
+          docker compose -f docker-compose.yml -f docker-compose.prod.yml push backend gateway landing validator
+          docker build -f ../platform/telegram/Dockerfile --target bot --build-arg VERSION="$TAG" -t "$REGISTRY/scrabble-telegram-bot:$TAG" ..
+          docker push "$REGISTRY/scrabble-telegram-bot:$TAG"
+
+  deploy-main:
+    needs: build
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    defaults:
+      run:
+        shell: bash
+    env:
+      TAG: ${{ needs.build.outputs.tag }}
+      PROD_REGISTRY_USER: ${{ vars.PROD_REGISTRY_USER }}
+      PROD_REGISTRY_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.PROD_REGISTRY_PASSWORD }}
+      PROD_SSH_KEY: ${{ secrets.PROD_SSH_KEY }}
+      PROD_SSH_KNOWN_HOSTS: ${{ secrets.PROD_SSH_KNOWN_HOSTS }}
+      MAIN_HOST: ${{ vars.PROD_MAIN_HOST }}
+      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.PROD_POSTGRES_PASSWORD }}
+      GM_BASICAUTH_HASH: ${{ secrets.PROD_GM_BASICAUTH_HASH }}
+      GRAFANA_ADMIN_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.PROD_GRAFANA_ADMIN_PASSWORD }}
+      TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.PROD_TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN }}
+      PROD_BOTLINK_CA: ${{ secrets.PROD_BOTLINK_CA }}
+      PROD_BOTLINK_GATEWAY_CERT: ${{ secrets.PROD_BOTLINK_GATEWAY_CERT }}
+      PROD_BOTLINK_GATEWAY_KEY: ${{ secrets.PROD_BOTLINK_GATEWAY_KEY }}
+      GM_BASICAUTH_USER: ${{ vars.PROD_GM_BASICAUTH_USER }}
+      GRAFANA_ROOT_URL: ${{ vars.PROD_GRAFANA_ROOT_URL }}
+      CADDY_SITE_ADDRESS: ${{ vars.PROD_CADDY_SITE_ADDRESS }}
+      LOG_LEVEL: ${{ vars.PROD_LOG_LEVEL }}
+      DICT_VERSION: ${{ vars.PROD_DICT_VERSION }}
+      POSTGRES_DB: ${{ vars.PROD_POSTGRES_DB }}
+      POSTGRES_USER: ${{ vars.PROD_POSTGRES_USER }}
+      TELEGRAM_MINIAPP_URL: ${{ vars.PROD_TELEGRAM_MINIAPP_URL }}
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 0
+      - name: Set up SSH
+        run: |
+          mkdir -p ~/.ssh && chmod 700 ~/.ssh
+          printf '%s\n' "$PROD_SSH_KEY" > ~/.ssh/id_deploy && chmod 600 ~/.ssh/id_deploy
+          printf '%s\n' "$PROD_SSH_KNOWN_HOSTS" > ~/.ssh/known_hosts
+      - name: Determine previous tag and migration
+        run: |
+          ssh_main() { ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_deploy -o BatchMode=yes "deploy@$MAIN_HOST" "$@"; }
+          PREV_TAG="$(ssh_main 'cat /opt/scrabble/DEPLOYED_TAG 2>/dev/null || echo none')"
+          MIGRATION=0
+          if [ "$PREV_TAG" != none ]; then
+            if ! git cat-file -e "$PREV_TAG^{commit}" 2>/dev/null; then
+              MIGRATION=1
+            elif git diff --name-only "$PREV_TAG..$TAG" -- backend/internal/postgres/migrations/ | grep -q .; then
+              MIGRATION=1
+            fi
+          fi
+          { echo "PREV_TAG=$PREV_TAG"; echo "MIGRATION=$MIGRATION"; } >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+          echo "prev=$PREV_TAG migration=$MIGRATION"
+      - name: Render main env + certs
+        run: |
+          umask 077
+          mkdir -p stage/certs-main
+          cat > stage/env.sh <<EOF
+          export REGISTRY='$REGISTRY'
+          export SCRABBLE_CONFIG_DIR='/opt/scrabble'
+          export POSTGRES_DB='${POSTGRES_DB:-scrabble}'
+          export POSTGRES_USER='${POSTGRES_USER:-scrabble}'
+          export POSTGRES_PASSWORD='$POSTGRES_PASSWORD'
+          export GM_BASICAUTH_USER='${GM_BASICAUTH_USER:-gm}'
+          export GM_BASICAUTH_HASH='$GM_BASICAUTH_HASH'
+          export GRAFANA_ADMIN_PASSWORD='$GRAFANA_ADMIN_PASSWORD'
+          export GRAFANA_ROOT_URL='$GRAFANA_ROOT_URL'
+          export CADDY_SITE_ADDRESS='$CADDY_SITE_ADDRESS'
+          export LOG_LEVEL='${LOG_LEVEL:-info}'
+          export DICT_VERSION='$DICT_VERSION'
+          export APP_VERSION='$TAG'
+          export TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN='$TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN'
+          export TELEGRAM_MINIAPP_URL='$TELEGRAM_MINIAPP_URL'
+          export GATEWAY_ABUSE_BAN_ENABLED='true'
+          EOF
+          printf '%s\n' "$PROD_BOTLINK_CA"           > stage/certs-main/ca.crt
+          printf '%s\n' "$PROD_BOTLINK_GATEWAY_CERT" > stage/certs-main/gateway.crt
+          printf '%s\n' "$PROD_BOTLINK_GATEWAY_KEY"  > stage/certs-main/gateway.key
+          chmod 644 stage/certs-main/*
+      - name: Deploy the main host
+        run: |
+          ssh_main() { ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_deploy -o BatchMode=yes "deploy@$MAIN_HOST" "$@"; }
+          ssh_main 'mkdir -p /opt/scrabble/compose'
+          tar -C deploy -czf - docker-compose.yml docker-compose.prod.yml prod-deploy.sh \
+            | ssh_main 'tar -C /opt/scrabble/compose -xzf -'
+          tar -C deploy -czf - caddy otelcol prometheus tempo grafana \
+            | ssh_main 'tar -C /opt/scrabble -xzf -'
+          tar -C stage -czf - certs-main \
+            | ssh_main 'rm -rf /opt/scrabble/certs && mkdir -p /opt/scrabble/certs && tar -C /opt/scrabble/certs --strip-components=1 -xzf -'
+          scp -i ~/.ssh/id_deploy -o BatchMode=yes stage/env.sh "deploy@$MAIN_HOST:/opt/scrabble/env.sh"
+          echo "$PROD_REGISTRY_PASSWORD" | ssh_main "docker login ${REGISTRY%%/*} -u $PROD_REGISTRY_USER --password-stdin"
+          ssh_main "TAG='$TAG' PREV_TAG='$PREV_TAG' MIGRATION='$MIGRATION' bash /opt/scrabble/compose/prod-deploy.sh"
+
+  deploy-bot:
+    needs: [build, deploy-main]
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    defaults:
+      run:
+        shell: bash
+    env:
+      TAG: ${{ needs.build.outputs.tag }}
+      PROD_REGISTRY_USER: ${{ vars.PROD_REGISTRY_USER }}
+      PROD_REGISTRY_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.PROD_REGISTRY_PASSWORD }}
+      PROD_SSH_KEY: ${{ secrets.PROD_SSH_KEY }}
+      PROD_SSH_KNOWN_HOSTS: ${{ secrets.PROD_SSH_KNOWN_HOSTS }}
+      TG_HOST: ${{ vars.PROD_TG_HOST }}
+      MAIN_HOST: ${{ vars.PROD_MAIN_HOST }}
+      TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.PROD_TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN }}
+      TELEGRAM_PROMO_BOT_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.PROD_TELEGRAM_PROMO_BOT_TOKEN }}
+      PROD_BOTLINK_CA: ${{ secrets.PROD_BOTLINK_CA }}
+      PROD_BOTLINK_BOT_CERT: ${{ secrets.PROD_BOTLINK_BOT_CERT }}
+      PROD_BOTLINK_BOT_KEY: ${{ secrets.PROD_BOTLINK_BOT_KEY }}
+      LOG_LEVEL: ${{ vars.PROD_LOG_LEVEL }}
+      TELEGRAM_MINIAPP_URL: ${{ vars.PROD_TELEGRAM_MINIAPP_URL }}
+      TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_ID: ${{ vars.PROD_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_ID }}
+      TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID: ${{ vars.PROD_TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID }}
+      TELEGRAM_BOT_USERNAME: ${{ vars.PROD_TELEGRAM_BOT_USERNAME }}
+      TELEGRAM_BOT_LINK: ${{ vars.PROD_VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK }}
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - name: Set up SSH
+        run: |
+          mkdir -p ~/.ssh && chmod 700 ~/.ssh
+          printf '%s\n' "$PROD_SSH_KEY" > ~/.ssh/id_deploy && chmod 600 ~/.ssh/id_deploy
+          printf '%s\n' "$PROD_SSH_KNOWN_HOSTS" > ~/.ssh/known_hosts
+      - name: Render bot env + certs
+        run: |
+          umask 077
+          mkdir -p stage/certs-bot
+          cat > stage/env.bot.sh <<EOF
+          export SCRABBLE_CONFIG_DIR='/opt/scrabble'
+          export BOT_IMAGE='$REGISTRY/scrabble-telegram-bot:$TAG'
+          export BOTLINK_GATEWAY_ADDR='$MAIN_HOST:9443'
+          export TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN='$TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN'
+          export TELEGRAM_MINIAPP_URL='$TELEGRAM_MINIAPP_URL'
+          export TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_ID='$TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_ID'
+          export TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID='$TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID'
+          export TELEGRAM_PROMO_BOT_TOKEN='$TELEGRAM_PROMO_BOT_TOKEN'
+          export TELEGRAM_BOT_USERNAME='$TELEGRAM_BOT_USERNAME'
+          export TELEGRAM_BOT_LINK='$TELEGRAM_BOT_LINK'
+          export LOG_LEVEL='${LOG_LEVEL:-info}'
+          EOF
+          printf '%s\n' "$PROD_BOTLINK_CA"       > stage/certs-bot/ca.crt
+          printf '%s\n' "$PROD_BOTLINK_BOT_CERT" > stage/certs-bot/bot.crt
+          printf '%s\n' "$PROD_BOTLINK_BOT_KEY"  > stage/certs-bot/bot.key
+          chmod 644 stage/certs-bot/*
+      - name: Deploy the bot host
+        run: |
+          ssh_tg() { ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_deploy -o BatchMode=yes "deploy@$TG_HOST" "$@"; }
+          ssh_tg 'mkdir -p /opt/scrabble/compose'
+          tar -C deploy -czf - docker-compose.bot.yml | ssh_tg 'tar -C /opt/scrabble/compose -xzf -'
+          tar -C stage -czf - certs-bot \
+            | ssh_tg 'rm -rf /opt/scrabble/certs && mkdir -p /opt/scrabble/certs && tar -C /opt/scrabble/certs --strip-components=1 -xzf -'
+          scp -i ~/.ssh/id_deploy -o BatchMode=yes stage/env.bot.sh "deploy@$TG_HOST:/opt/scrabble/env.bot.sh"
+          echo "$PROD_REGISTRY_PASSWORD" | ssh_tg "docker login ${REGISTRY%%/*} -u $PROD_REGISTRY_USER --password-stdin"
+          ssh_tg 'set -a; . /opt/scrabble/env.bot.sh; set +a; cd /opt/scrabble/compose;
+            docker compose -f docker-compose.bot.yml pull;
+            docker compose -f docker-compose.bot.yml up -d'
+          ssh_tg 'for i in $(seq 1 20); do
+              s=$(docker inspect -f "{{.State.Status}}" scrabble-telegram-bot 2>/dev/null || echo missing)
+              r=$(docker inspect -f "{{.State.Restarting}}" scrabble-telegram-bot 2>/dev/null || echo true)
+              if [ "$s" = running ] && [ "$r" = false ]; then
+                c1=$(docker inspect -f "{{.RestartCount}}" scrabble-telegram-bot); sleep 5
+                c2=$(docker inspect -f "{{.RestartCount}}" scrabble-telegram-bot)
+                [ "$c1" = "$c2" ] && { echo "bot healthy"; exit 0; }
+              fi
+              sleep 3
+            done
+            echo "bot not healthy:"; docker logs --tail 80 scrabble-telegram-bot; exit 1'
+
+  verify:
+    needs: [deploy-main, deploy-bot]
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    defaults:
+      run:
+        shell: bash
+    env:
+      PROD_SSH_KEY: ${{ secrets.PROD_SSH_KEY }}
+      PROD_SSH_KNOWN_HOSTS: ${{ secrets.PROD_SSH_KNOWN_HOSTS }}
+      MAIN_HOST: ${{ vars.PROD_MAIN_HOST }}
+      CADDY_SITE_ADDRESS: ${{ vars.PROD_CADDY_SITE_ADDRESS }}
+    steps:
+      - name: Set up SSH
+        run: |
+          mkdir -p ~/.ssh && chmod 700 ~/.ssh
+          printf '%s\n' "$PROD_SSH_KEY" > ~/.ssh/id_deploy && chmod 600 ~/.ssh/id_deploy
+          printf '%s\n' "$PROD_SSH_KNOWN_HOSTS" > ~/.ssh/known_hosts
+      - name: Verify the public site
+        run: |
+          domain="${CADDY_SITE_ADDRESS%% *}"
+          ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_deploy -o BatchMode=yes "deploy@$MAIN_HOST" "for i in \$(seq 1 20); do
+              if curl -fsS -k --resolve $domain:443:127.0.0.1 https://$domain/ -o /dev/null &&
+                 curl -fsS -k --resolve $domain:443:127.0.0.1 https://$domain/app/ -o /dev/null &&
+                 docker run --rm --network scrabble-internal alpine:3.20 wget -q -T 5 -O /dev/null http://backend:8080/readyz; then
+                echo 'public site + /app/ + backend healthy'; exit 0
+              fi
+              sleep 5
+            done
+            echo 'public verify failed; recent caddy + gateway + backend logs:'
+            docker logs --tail 40 scrabble-caddy; docker logs --tail 40 scrabble-gateway; docker logs --tail 40 scrabble-backend
+            exit 1"

.gitea/workflows/prod-rollback.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,223 @@
+# Manual production rollback. Runs ONLY from master, ONLY on workflow_dispatch with
+# confirm=rollback. Re-deploys an already-published image tag (no build): leave
+# target_version blank to roll back to the previously deployed version (read from the
+# main host), or set it to a specific release tag from the Releases page. The
+# re-deploy is the same rolling, health-gated path as prod-deploy (TAG=target,
+# MIGRATION=0 — rollback is image-only and never migrates the DB; image rollback is
+# DB-safe under the expand-contract rule). See deploy/README.md (prod runbook).
+name: prod-rollback
+run-name: "prod rollback ${{ inputs.target_version || 'previous' }}"
+
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+    inputs:
+      confirm:
+        description: 'Type "rollback" to confirm a production rollback.'
+        required: true
+        default: ""
+      target_version:
+        description: "Release tag to roll back to (blank = the previous deployed version)."
+        required: false
+        default: ""
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+
+env:
+  NO_COLOR: "1"
+  DOCKER_CLI_HINTS: "false"
+  REGISTRY: docker.iliadenisov.ru/developer
+
+jobs:
+  rollback-main:
+    if: ${{ github.ref == 'refs/heads/master' && inputs.confirm == 'rollback' }}
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    defaults:
+      run:
+        shell: bash
+    outputs:
+      target: ${{ steps.resolve.outputs.target }}
+    env:
+      PROD_REGISTRY_USER: ${{ vars.PROD_REGISTRY_USER }}
+      PROD_REGISTRY_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.PROD_REGISTRY_PASSWORD }}
+      PROD_SSH_KEY: ${{ secrets.PROD_SSH_KEY }}
+      PROD_SSH_KNOWN_HOSTS: ${{ secrets.PROD_SSH_KNOWN_HOSTS }}
+      MAIN_HOST: ${{ vars.PROD_MAIN_HOST }}
+      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.PROD_POSTGRES_PASSWORD }}
+      GM_BASICAUTH_HASH: ${{ secrets.PROD_GM_BASICAUTH_HASH }}
+      GRAFANA_ADMIN_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.PROD_GRAFANA_ADMIN_PASSWORD }}
+      TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.PROD_TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN }}
+      PROD_BOTLINK_CA: ${{ secrets.PROD_BOTLINK_CA }}
+      PROD_BOTLINK_GATEWAY_CERT: ${{ secrets.PROD_BOTLINK_GATEWAY_CERT }}
+      PROD_BOTLINK_GATEWAY_KEY: ${{ secrets.PROD_BOTLINK_GATEWAY_KEY }}
+      GM_BASICAUTH_USER: ${{ vars.PROD_GM_BASICAUTH_USER }}
+      GRAFANA_ROOT_URL: ${{ vars.PROD_GRAFANA_ROOT_URL }}
+      CADDY_SITE_ADDRESS: ${{ vars.PROD_CADDY_SITE_ADDRESS }}
+      LOG_LEVEL: ${{ vars.PROD_LOG_LEVEL }}
+      DICT_VERSION: ${{ vars.PROD_DICT_VERSION }}
+      POSTGRES_DB: ${{ vars.PROD_POSTGRES_DB }}
+      POSTGRES_USER: ${{ vars.PROD_POSTGRES_USER }}
+      TELEGRAM_MINIAPP_URL: ${{ vars.PROD_TELEGRAM_MINIAPP_URL }}
+      INPUT_TARGET: ${{ inputs.target_version }}
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - name: Set up SSH
+        run: |
+          mkdir -p ~/.ssh && chmod 700 ~/.ssh
+          printf '%s\n' "$PROD_SSH_KEY" > ~/.ssh/id_deploy && chmod 600 ~/.ssh/id_deploy
+          printf '%s\n' "$PROD_SSH_KNOWN_HOSTS" > ~/.ssh/known_hosts
+      - name: Resolve rollback target
+        id: resolve
+        run: |
+          ssh_main() { ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_deploy -o BatchMode=yes "deploy@$MAIN_HOST" "$@"; }
+          CURRENT="$(ssh_main 'cat /opt/scrabble/DEPLOYED_TAG 2>/dev/null || echo none')"
+          if [ -n "$INPUT_TARGET" ]; then
+            TARGET="$INPUT_TARGET"
+          else
+            TARGET="$(ssh_main 'cat /opt/scrabble/PREVIOUS_TAG 2>/dev/null || echo none')"
+          fi
+          if [ -z "$TARGET" ] || [ "$TARGET" = none ]; then
+            echo "no rollback target (no PREVIOUS_TAG on the host and no target_version input)"; exit 1
+          fi
+          if [ "$TARGET" = "$CURRENT" ]; then
+            echo "target $TARGET is already the deployed version; nothing to do"; exit 1
+          fi
+          echo "rolling back: current=$CURRENT -> target=$TARGET"
+          echo "target=$TARGET" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          { echo "TARGET=$TARGET"; echo "CURRENT=$CURRENT"; } >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+      - name: Render main env + certs
+        run: |
+          umask 077
+          mkdir -p stage/certs-main
+          cat > stage/env.sh <<EOF
+          export REGISTRY='$REGISTRY'
+          export SCRABBLE_CONFIG_DIR='/opt/scrabble'
+          export POSTGRES_DB='${POSTGRES_DB:-scrabble}'
+          export POSTGRES_USER='${POSTGRES_USER:-scrabble}'
+          export POSTGRES_PASSWORD='$POSTGRES_PASSWORD'
+          export GM_BASICAUTH_USER='${GM_BASICAUTH_USER:-gm}'
+          export GM_BASICAUTH_HASH='$GM_BASICAUTH_HASH'
+          export GRAFANA_ADMIN_PASSWORD='$GRAFANA_ADMIN_PASSWORD'
+          export GRAFANA_ROOT_URL='$GRAFANA_ROOT_URL'
+          export CADDY_SITE_ADDRESS='$CADDY_SITE_ADDRESS'
+          export LOG_LEVEL='${LOG_LEVEL:-info}'
+          export DICT_VERSION='$DICT_VERSION'
+          export APP_VERSION='$TARGET'
+          export TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN='$TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN'
+          export TELEGRAM_MINIAPP_URL='$TELEGRAM_MINIAPP_URL'
+          export GATEWAY_ABUSE_BAN_ENABLED='true'
+          EOF
+          printf '%s\n' "$PROD_BOTLINK_CA"           > stage/certs-main/ca.crt
+          printf '%s\n' "$PROD_BOTLINK_GATEWAY_CERT" > stage/certs-main/gateway.crt
+          printf '%s\n' "$PROD_BOTLINK_GATEWAY_KEY"  > stage/certs-main/gateway.key
+          chmod 644 stage/certs-main/*
+      - name: Roll the main host back
+        run: |
+          ssh_main() { ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_deploy -o BatchMode=yes "deploy@$MAIN_HOST" "$@"; }
+          ssh_main 'mkdir -p /opt/scrabble/compose'
+          tar -C deploy -czf - docker-compose.yml docker-compose.prod.yml prod-deploy.sh \
+            | ssh_main 'tar -C /opt/scrabble/compose -xzf -'
+          tar -C deploy -czf - caddy otelcol prometheus tempo grafana \
+            | ssh_main 'tar -C /opt/scrabble -xzf -'
+          tar -C stage -czf - certs-main \
+            | ssh_main 'rm -rf /opt/scrabble/certs && mkdir -p /opt/scrabble/certs && tar -C /opt/scrabble/certs --strip-components=1 -xzf -'
+          scp -i ~/.ssh/id_deploy -o BatchMode=yes stage/env.sh "deploy@$MAIN_HOST:/opt/scrabble/env.sh"
+          echo "$PROD_REGISTRY_PASSWORD" | ssh_main "docker login ${REGISTRY%%/*} -u $PROD_REGISTRY_USER --password-stdin"
+          # Image-only rollback: no migration window (TAG=target, MIGRATION=0). A failed
+          # rollback's auto-revert returns to the current version (PREV_TAG=$CURRENT).
+          ssh_main "TAG='$TARGET' PREV_TAG='$CURRENT' MIGRATION=0 bash /opt/scrabble/compose/prod-deploy.sh"
+
+  rollback-bot:
+    needs: rollback-main
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    defaults:
+      run:
+        shell: bash
+    env:
+      TARGET: ${{ needs.rollback-main.outputs.target }}
+      PROD_REGISTRY_USER: ${{ vars.PROD_REGISTRY_USER }}
+      PROD_REGISTRY_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.PROD_REGISTRY_PASSWORD }}
+      PROD_SSH_KEY: ${{ secrets.PROD_SSH_KEY }}
+      PROD_SSH_KNOWN_HOSTS: ${{ secrets.PROD_SSH_KNOWN_HOSTS }}
+      TG_HOST: ${{ vars.PROD_TG_HOST }}
+      MAIN_HOST: ${{ vars.PROD_MAIN_HOST }}
+      TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.PROD_TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN }}
+      TELEGRAM_PROMO_BOT_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.PROD_TELEGRAM_PROMO_BOT_TOKEN }}
+      PROD_BOTLINK_CA: ${{ secrets.PROD_BOTLINK_CA }}
+      PROD_BOTLINK_BOT_CERT: ${{ secrets.PROD_BOTLINK_BOT_CERT }}
+      PROD_BOTLINK_BOT_KEY: ${{ secrets.PROD_BOTLINK_BOT_KEY }}
+      LOG_LEVEL: ${{ vars.PROD_LOG_LEVEL }}
+      TELEGRAM_MINIAPP_URL: ${{ vars.PROD_TELEGRAM_MINIAPP_URL }}
+      TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_ID: ${{ vars.PROD_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_ID }}
+      TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID: ${{ vars.PROD_TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID }}
+      TELEGRAM_BOT_USERNAME: ${{ vars.PROD_TELEGRAM_BOT_USERNAME }}
+      TELEGRAM_BOT_LINK: ${{ vars.PROD_VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK }}
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - name: Set up SSH
+        run: |
+          mkdir -p ~/.ssh && chmod 700 ~/.ssh
+          printf '%s\n' "$PROD_SSH_KEY" > ~/.ssh/id_deploy && chmod 600 ~/.ssh/id_deploy
+          printf '%s\n' "$PROD_SSH_KNOWN_HOSTS" > ~/.ssh/known_hosts
+      - name: Render bot env + certs
+        run: |
+          umask 077
+          mkdir -p stage/certs-bot
+          cat > stage/env.bot.sh <<EOF
+          export SCRABBLE_CONFIG_DIR='/opt/scrabble'
+          export BOT_IMAGE='$REGISTRY/scrabble-telegram-bot:$TARGET'
+          export BOTLINK_GATEWAY_ADDR='$MAIN_HOST:9443'
+          export TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN='$TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN'
+          export TELEGRAM_MINIAPP_URL='$TELEGRAM_MINIAPP_URL'
+          export TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_ID='$TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_ID'
+          export TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID='$TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID'
+          export TELEGRAM_PROMO_BOT_TOKEN='$TELEGRAM_PROMO_BOT_TOKEN'
+          export TELEGRAM_BOT_USERNAME='$TELEGRAM_BOT_USERNAME'
+          export TELEGRAM_BOT_LINK='$TELEGRAM_BOT_LINK'
+          export LOG_LEVEL='${LOG_LEVEL:-info}'
+          EOF
+          printf '%s\n' "$PROD_BOTLINK_CA"       > stage/certs-bot/ca.crt
+          printf '%s\n' "$PROD_BOTLINK_BOT_CERT" > stage/certs-bot/bot.crt
+          printf '%s\n' "$PROD_BOTLINK_BOT_KEY"  > stage/certs-bot/bot.key
+          chmod 644 stage/certs-bot/*
+      - name: Roll the bot host back
+        run: |
+          ssh_tg() { ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_deploy -o BatchMode=yes "deploy@$TG_HOST" "$@"; }
+          ssh_tg 'mkdir -p /opt/scrabble/compose'
+          tar -C deploy -czf - docker-compose.bot.yml | ssh_tg 'tar -C /opt/scrabble/compose -xzf -'
+          tar -C stage -czf - certs-bot \
+            | ssh_tg 'rm -rf /opt/scrabble/certs && mkdir -p /opt/scrabble/certs && tar -C /opt/scrabble/certs --strip-components=1 -xzf -'
+          scp -i ~/.ssh/id_deploy -o BatchMode=yes stage/env.bot.sh "deploy@$TG_HOST:/opt/scrabble/env.bot.sh"
+          echo "$PROD_REGISTRY_PASSWORD" | ssh_tg "docker login ${REGISTRY%%/*} -u $PROD_REGISTRY_USER --password-stdin"
+          ssh_tg 'set -a; . /opt/scrabble/env.bot.sh; set +a; cd /opt/scrabble/compose;
+            docker compose -f docker-compose.bot.yml pull;
+            docker compose -f docker-compose.bot.yml up -d'
+
+  verify:
+    needs: [rollback-main, rollback-bot]
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    defaults:
+      run:
+        shell: bash
+    env:
+      PROD_SSH_KEY: ${{ secrets.PROD_SSH_KEY }}
+      PROD_SSH_KNOWN_HOSTS: ${{ secrets.PROD_SSH_KNOWN_HOSTS }}
+      MAIN_HOST: ${{ vars.PROD_MAIN_HOST }}
+      CADDY_SITE_ADDRESS: ${{ vars.PROD_CADDY_SITE_ADDRESS }}
+    steps:
+      - name: Set up SSH
+        run: |
+          mkdir -p ~/.ssh && chmod 700 ~/.ssh
+          printf '%s\n' "$PROD_SSH_KEY" > ~/.ssh/id_deploy && chmod 600 ~/.ssh/id_deploy
+          printf '%s\n' "$PROD_SSH_KNOWN_HOSTS" > ~/.ssh/known_hosts
+      - name: Verify the public site
+        run: |
+          domain="${CADDY_SITE_ADDRESS%% *}"
+          ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_deploy -o BatchMode=yes "deploy@$MAIN_HOST" "for i in \$(seq 1 20); do
+              if curl -fsS -k --resolve $domain:443:127.0.0.1 https://$domain/ -o /dev/null &&
+                 docker run --rm --network scrabble-internal alpine:3.20 wget -q -T 5 -O /dev/null http://backend:8080/readyz; then
+                echo 'rolled-back site healthy'; exit 0
+              fi
+              sleep 5
+            done
+            echo 'verify failed'; docker logs --tail 40 scrabble-caddy; docker logs --tail 40 scrabble-backend; exit 1"

.gitignore

@@ -17,5 +17,9 @@
 **/.env.local
 **/.env.*.local
 
+# Bot-link mTLS material: private keys never belong in the repo. The test contour
+# generates them with deploy/gen-certs.sh; prod supplies them from PROD_ secrets.
+deploy/certs/
+
 # Claude Code harness runtime artifacts
 .claude/scheduled_tasks.lock

CLAUDE.md

@@ -125,9 +125,9 @@ backend/                     # module scrabble/backend
   internal/inttest/          # //go:build integration Postgres-backed tests
 docs/  .gitea/workflows/  PLAN.md  CLAUDE.md  README.md
 gateway/  ui/  pkg/              # added by their stages
-platform/telegram/               # Telegram connector side-service (Stage 9): bot + gRPC API
+platform/telegram/               # Telegram side-service, two binaries (Stage 9; split in phase TX): cmd/validator (HMAC, no VPN) + cmd/bot (Bot API; dials gateway over reverse mTLS bot-link)
 loadtest/                        # module scrabble/loadtest: the pre-release stress harness (R2)
-backend/Dockerfile gateway/Dockerfile platform/telegram/Dockerfile loadtest/Dockerfile  # multi-stage distroless (Stage 16; loadtest R2); gateway/Dockerfile also has the `landing` target (R3)
+backend/Dockerfile gateway/Dockerfile platform/telegram/Dockerfile loadtest/Dockerfile  # multi-stage distroless (Stage 16; loadtest R2); gateway/Dockerfile has the `landing` target (R3), platform/telegram/Dockerfile has `validator`+`bot` targets (TX)
 deploy/                          # docker-compose (per-service limits, R7) + caddy + landing + otelcol (OTLP + docker_stats per-container metrics) + prometheus/tempo/grafana + postgres_exporter
 ```
 
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ go build ./backend/...          # per module ('./...' from the root won't span t
 go vet ./backend/...
 gofmt -l .                      # must print nothing
 go test -count=1 ./backend/...
-go build ./platform/telegram/... && go test ./platform/telegram/...  # Telegram connector (Stage 9)
+go build ./platform/telegram/... && go test ./platform/telegram/...  # Telegram validator + bot (Stage 9; split in TX)
 go run ./backend/cmd/backend    # /healthz, /readyz on :8080
 
 cd ui && pnpm install && pnpm check && pnpm test:unit && pnpm build  # the UI (Stage 7+)

PLAN.md

@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ independent (see ARCHITECTURE §9.1).
 | 15 | Dual Telegram bots & language-gated variants | **done** |
 | 16 | Deploy infra & test contour (Dockerfiles, gateway static UI, compose, observability) | **done** |
 | 17 | Test-contour verification & defect fixes | **done** |
-| 18 | Prod contour deploy (SSH export/import, manual after merge) | todo |
+| 18 | Prod contour deploy (registry, two-host, rolling + auto-rollback; manual after merge) | machinery built; first cutover pending DNS |
 | 19 | User feedback (in-app submit + attachment, admin review/reply, account roles) | **done** |
 
 Scaffolding is incremental: `go.work` lists only existing modules; each stage
@@ -281,6 +281,12 @@ back to `preferred_language`). Non-Telegram logins (web/email/guest) carry the g
 (`GATEWAY_DEFAULT_SUPPORTED_LANGUAGES`, all variants). Admin broadcasts (`SendToUser`/`SendToGameChannel`)
 pick the bot by an **operator-chosen** language in the console — unrelated to `ValidateInitData`.
 
+> **Superseded (2026-06-20, pre-release phase SB):** the two bots collapsed into **one** and the
+> language-gated variant choice moved to a per-user **`variant_preferences`** profile set (default Erudit
+> only). `accounts.service_language`, `supported_languages`, the `*_EN`/`*_RU` env vars,
+> `GATEWAY_DEFAULT_SUPPORTED_LANGUAGES` and game-language push routing are gone; the single bot renders in
+> the recipient's `preferred_language`. Current state: `docs/ARCHITECTURE.md` §3/§10, `PRERELEASE.md` row SB.
+
 ### Stage 16 — Deploy infra & test contour *(done)*
 Scope: the deploy machinery + the **test contour** (the bulk of the original Stage 14). Backend +
 gateway **Dockerfiles** (multi-stage distroless, mirroring the Stage 9 connector image); the gateway
@@ -407,18 +413,28 @@ raw list is kept here as the record of what the first contour run surfaced.
   "что-то пошло не так". при этом "new -> эрудит" работает. Попробуй посмотреть в логах сейчас, может что-то есть. Или как-то иначе проанализируй, или давай вместе будем смотреть, если не получится.
 
 ### Stage 18 — Prod contour deploy
-Scope: the **production contour** on a remote host over SSH. Deploy by **container export/import**
-(`docker save` → `scp`/ssh → `docker load` → `docker compose up` on the remote), the SSH key + host IP
-in Gitea secrets; **strictly manual** (`workflow_dispatch`) after `development` is merged to `master`
-(the Stage 16 branch model: `feature/* → development → master`, merge gated green). Two-contour config
-uses **`TEST_`/`PROD_` secret/variable prefixes** — Gitea 1.26 has no deployment environments (verified:
-the `environments` API 404s), so a flat prefixed namespace is the convention.
-Reuses the Stage 16 `deploy/docker-compose.yml` as-is, mapping the **`PROD_`** set onto the same
-unprefixed compose vars. **No host caddy on prod**, so the contour's own caddy terminates TLS — set
-`CADDY_SITE_ADDRESS` to the prod domain so caddy does its own ACME (the Caddyfile is already
-parameterised for this; the test contour leaves it `:80` behind the host caddy).
-Open details (re-interview): export/import vs a registry trade-off; prod domain/cert source (ACME vs a
-provided cert) at the contour caddy; prod VPN; rollback.
+Scope: the **production contour** on **two remote hosts** over SSH — main (full stack, `erudit-game.ru`)
+and tg (the bot only). Resolved open details (re-interviewed):
+- **Transport: a registry** (not export/import) — build + push to `docker.iliadenisov.ru`, the hosts pull by tag.
+- **Cert: ACME** at the contour caddy (`CADDY_SITE_ADDRESS=erudit-game.ru www.erudit-game.ru`, no host caddy).
+- **No prod VPN** — the bot host has native Bot API egress (verified `api.telegram.org` → 200).
+- **Rollback** — rolling per-service deploy (least → most dependent), health-gated, auto-rollback to the
+  previous image tag; a maintenance window + consistent `pg_dump` only on a schema migration
+  (expand-contract keeps the auto-rollback image-only; the dump is a manual safety net).
+
+**Strictly manual** (`workflow_dispatch` from `master`, `confirm=deploy`) after `development → master`
+is merged green. `TEST_`/`PROD_` prefixed Gitea secrets/variables (Gitea 1.26 has no deployment
+environments — the `environments` API 404s). Hosts are provisioned by **`deploy/ansible/`** (docker, a
+non-sudo `deploy` user with the CI key, key-only sshd, ufw, fail2ban). The main host is **launch-sized**
+(2 vCPU / 1.9 GiB): `docker-compose.prod.yml` trims the R7 limits (`GOMAXPROCS=2`, smaller caps, 7d
+Prometheus retention) and adds `node_exporter` for host-memory monitoring (launch undersized, resize at
+Selectel reactively). `vpn`+`bot` are gated to a `telegram-local` compose profile (test only); the prod
+bot runs standalone from `docker-compose.bot.yml`. `GATEWAY_ABUSE_BAN_ENABLED=true`.
+
+**Built:** `deploy/ansible/` (both hosts provisioned + verified), the compose split + `node_exporter`,
+`.gitea/workflows/prod-deploy.yaml` + `deploy/prod-deploy.sh`, the full `PROD_` secret/variable set.
+**Remaining (acceptance):** the **first live cutover** — waits on the `erudit-game.ru` DNS delegation
+(`A`/`www` → the main host) that ACME requires; then run the workflow and verify the public site end-to-end.
 
 ### Stage 19 — User feedback *(done)*
 A user→operator feedback channel, sequenced after the numbered stages but shipped **before** the Stage 18

PRERELEASE.md

@@ -36,6 +36,12 @@ the edge before prod. Each phase maps back to the owner's raw pre-release TODO l
 | GL | Simultaneous quick-game cap (10): grey "New Game" + a lobby notice at the cap; backend gate on quick enqueue + invitation creation (409 `game_limit_reached`), accepting invitations exempt; `at_game_limit` rides `games.list` | owner ad-hoc | **done** |
 | CR | In-game chat read receipts: per-message `unread_seats` bitmask (migration `00008`); a per-viewer unread **dot** in the lobby + game header (a nudge counts and clears when its recipient moves); reading = opening the move history (the 💬 fade-blinks twice) or the chat, acked (`chat.read`) only when unread; `chat_read_duration` + `chat_unread_messages` metrics + tracing + the **Scrabble — Messages** Grafana dashboard (follow-up PR); a message to a disguised robot opponent is born read; admin unread-only filter / read column / per-seat read card | owner ad-hoc | **done** |
 | BX | Asymmetric per-user block + in-game controls: a block now silently suppresses everything **from** the blocked user (chat, nudge, friend requests, invitations are kept but never delivered/surfaced, born-read) while they notice nothing, **without** deleting the friendship (unblock restores it); auto-match excludes a block-related pair (either direction); in-game opponent card gains a ✖️ **block** control (mirroring 🤝, red "Block?" confirm, mutual-hide, struck name + hidden chat composer when blocked); optimistic apply + `user_blocked`/`user_unblocked` event confirm + rollback; admin user card gains **blocks / blocked-by / friends** cross-linked lists. Blocking a disguised-robot opponent is recorded per-game in a separate **`robot_blocks`** table (migration `00011`), keyed on game+seat with the seen name — never the shared robot account — so the matchmaker keeps giving robots; it shows in the blocked list and re-marks the in-game card | owner ad-hoc | **done** |
+| FM | First-move tile draw (official rules): each seated player draws a tile, the one closest to "A" leads (a blank beats every letter), ties re-drawing until a single leader; **honest per-draw `crypto/rand` entropy**, not the bag seed, so the **record** (`game_setup_draws`, migration `00013`) — not a seed — is the only account of the outcome, kept for future **tournaments** (designed as a discrete per-tile "player N draws" step). Friend/AI draws at create; **auto-match draws at *open*** against a synthetic `uuid.Nil` opponent whose draw rows are back-filled on join, so the opener's seat is fixed up front and the existing open-game pre-move is preserved (no reseating, no play-gating). Admin `/_gm/games/:id` gains the recorded draw list + a simple **step-by-step board replay** (`ReplayTimeline`). | owner ad-hoc | **done** |
+| SB | Single Telegram bot + per-user variant preferences: the two per-language bots collapse into **one** (drop `accounts.service_language`, `supported_languages`, the `*_EN`/`*_RU` env vars and game-language push routing — the single bot renders in the recipient's `preferred_language`); New Game variant gating moves to a profile **`variant_preferences`** set (default Erudit only, Erudit-first, server-enforced on the caller's auto-match/vs-AI/invitation-create paths, an invited friend may accept any variant); env vars collapse to unsuffixed `TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN`/`TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_ID`/`VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK`/`VITE_TELEGRAM_GAME_CHANNEL_NAME` and `GATEWAY_DEFAULT_SUPPORTED_LANGUAGES` is removed; wire drops `service_language`/`supported_languages` (Session, ValidateInitDataResponse) + the push `language` routing field and adds `variant_preferences` to Profile/UpdateProfile. | owner ad-hoc | **done** |
+| DV | Dictionary version hygiene: CI + image/compose seed track the current release (`v1.2.1`); a **seed-drift guard** records the flat dir's seed in an authoritative `.seed_version` marker so a bumped build seed on a live volume is ignored (it can't relabel live bytes — which would mis-serve the dictionary + void games pinned to the prior label); `DICT_VERSION` is the fresh-volume seed only, a live contour migrates through the admin console | owner ad-hoc | **done** |
+| TX | Telegram egress off the main host: split the connector into a home **validator** (Mini App / Login-Widget HMAC, no VPN, no Bot API — so game login no longer depends on Telegram being reachable) and a remote **bot** (Bot API long-poll + `sendMessage`) that holds **no inbound port** and dials the gateway over a reverse **mTLS bot-link** (`pkg/proto/botlink/v1`); the gateway funnels out-of-app push (fire-and-forget, at-most-once) and the backend admin broadcasts (a relay that awaits the bot's ack) down the link. The bot is Telegram-rate-limited; **one bot now**, with seams (a bot registry + `owns_updates` + command ids) for N later; **no webhook** (rejected: one URL per token, adds inbound + a static address). The **unified test contour** runs the split (the bot keeps its VPN sidecar and dials the gateway by its internal name; certs from `deploy/gen-certs.sh`). The **prod** wiring — the bot on a separate host (no VPN), the gateway bot-link port published, `PROD_` certs, an SSH deploy of both hosts together — is **built in Stage 18** (the two-host registry rollout; first cutover pending the `erudit-game.ru` DNS). | owner ad-hoc | **done** (code + test contour; prod wiring built — Stage 18) |
+| AG | Anti-abuse IP ban + honeypot/honeytoken (prod-only): a fail2ban-style in-memory `ratelimit.Banlist` keyed by client IP, fed by sustained rate-limiter rejections (the IP-keyed public/email/admin classes — the user class stays the soft-flag's concern), a **honeypot** decoy path (the contour caddy tags `/.env`, `/.git`, `/wp-*`, … with `X-Scrabble-Honeypot` and routes them to the gateway), and a **honeytoken** (`GATEWAY_HONEYTOKEN`, a planted bearer). The `abuseGuard` edge middleware refuses a banned IP with **429** before any work — closing the R3 gap that the static SPA/landing was outside the token bucket. Off by default — it keys by the real client IP the shared-NAT test contour does not expose (detection still logs there); enabled in prod via `GATEWAY_ABUSE_BAN_ENABLED`. Operators see + lift bans on the console **Throttled** page; the gateway syncs its active set to the backend (`/api/v1/internal/bans/sync`, `internal/banview`) every 30 s and applies operator unbans. | owner ad-hoc | **done** (code + test contour; ban on in prod via Stage 18 — machinery built, cutover pending DNS) |
+| CM | Channel-chat moderation + promo bot: a second standalone bot in the bot container answers `/start` with a localized message + a **URL** button into the **main** bot's Mini App (`?startapp`; a `web_app` button would sign initData with the promo token, which the main validator rejects). The **main** bot gates write access in a channel's linked discussion chat. The chat **allows sending by default** and the bot only restricts (Telegram intersects the chat default with the per-user permission, so a per-user grant cannot exceed a deny-by-default group): it **mutes** a member who is not registered or is admin-suspended or holding a new **`chat_muted`** role, and **un-mutes** an eligible one it had muted, for a member currently in the chat (a `getChatMember` guard, since bots cannot list members). Eligibility = `registered AND NOT suspended AND NOT chat_muted` (the game suspension dominates), resolved once in the backend and reached two ways: the bot's `ResolveChatEligibility` on a `chat_member` event over the existing mTLS bot-link, and a backend `chat_access_changed` event → gateway → `ChatGate` command (emitted on block/unblock, a `chat_muted` change, a first registration, or a temporary-block expiry via a sweeper; idempotent). No schema change — `chat_muted` reuses `account_roles`. | owner ad-hoc | **done** |
 | → | Stage 18 — prod contour deploy | — | see [`PLAN.md`](PLAN.md) |
 
 ## Key findings (these reshaped the raw list — read before starting a phase)
@@ -79,6 +85,19 @@ the edge before prod. Each phase maps back to the owner's raw pre-release TODO l
 - **Rate-abuse (TODO 8):** metric + Grafana + admin view **plus a conservative auto-flag** —
   a *soft, reversible* "suspected high-rate" marker for operator review, tunable threshold,
   **no auto-ban**.
+- **Anti-abuse IP ban (AG, owner ad-hoc):** a honeypot was considered and rejected as a *DDoS*
+  defence — it detects/deceives but does not shed volumetric load, cannot cover the real
+  endpoints, and a tarpit backfires under flood; volumetric L3/L4 is an upstream/CDN concern,
+  out of scope. The effective layer is a **temporary IP ban** (fail2ban-style) that the honeypot
+  and honeytoken merely *feed*. This does **not** reverse the TODO-8 "no auto-ban": that decision
+  governs the **account** soft-flag (still never a gate); the IP ban is a separate, IP-keyed,
+  **prod-only** layer with an **operator unban** in the console. Decisions: banlist lives in the
+  existing `ratelimit` package (smallest surface); the decoy path list is a **single source of
+  truth in the caddy** (it tags requests with a header — the gateway keeps no second list);
+  bans are in-memory + single-instance (like `ratewatch`), auto-expiring, **plus** an admin
+  console view + manual unban over a bidirectional 30 s sync (operator control = owner's choice).
+  An active-bans Grafana **gauge** was trimmed (the console view + the `gateway_abuse_banned_total`
+  counter cover it) to keep the diff focused.
 - **Open auto-match (owner ad-hoc):** a quick game **enters a real game at once and waits inside
   it** (status `open`, the opponent seat empty); a second human searching the same variant+rule
   joins it, or a robot fills it after a **90 s + random 0–90 s** wait, pushing the in-app
@@ -87,6 +106,20 @@ the edge before prod. Each phase maps back to the owner's raw pre-release TODO l
   now **DB-backed open games** — the in-memory pool, `lobby.poll` and `lobby.cancel` are gone. The
   schema is edited in the baseline (no prod data); `game_players.account_id` is nullable for the
   empty seat.
+- **Telegram egress off-host (TX, owner ad-hoc):** the driver is **removing VPN/Telegram
+  traffic from the main host** (OPSEC / one fewer analysis vector), not only notification
+  resilience. Login is local HMAC, so it stays up regardless of the bot — confirmed in the
+  code and made structural by the split. **Unified topology in code** (validator + bot, the
+  bot dialing the gateway) in **both** contours, differing only in deployment; the test bot
+  keeps its VPN sidecar. Transport = a **reverse gRPC bidi stream, mTLS, bot-dials-gateway**
+  (no inbound/static IP on the bot), reusing the push-stream pattern; **webhook rejected**
+  (one URL per token, adds inbound + a static address). Delivery **at-most-once** (a dropped
+  nudge beats a duplicate). **One bot now**, seams (registry + `owns_updates` + command ids)
+  for N later. **Cert rotation** by a scheduled CI job from a long-lived CA. **Prod deploy by
+  SSH** (pull excluded), the bot rolled **together** with the main app (the bot-link protocol
+  kept back-compatible by one version as the non-atomic-two-host-deploy safety net). The bot
+  is monitored **from the gateway** (connection + ack metrics). The bot-host token-at-rest is
+  **accepted**.
 
 ## Phases
 
@@ -278,7 +311,7 @@ Then Stage 18.
     hammer (99.97 % rejected, p99 2 ms). **Top finding:** ~14 % `transport_error` on `game.state` at 500
     players, under CPU saturation (backend/gateway/Postgres each ~1 core) and amplified by the harness's
     single shared `http2.Transport`; the harness itself peaked at 86 % of a core on the same host, so the
-    figures are pessimistic. Full trip report in [`../loadtest/REPORT-R2.md`](../loadtest/REPORT-R2.md);
+    figures are pessimistic. Full trip report in [`../loadtest/REPORT.md`](../loadtest/REPORT.md);
     it feeds R3 (h2c `MaxConcurrentStreams`/timeouts, body-size cap), R6 and R7 (per-player transports,
     separate hardware, pool/limit sizing).
   - **CI:** `./loadtest/...` added to the path filter + vet/build/test; `go.work.sum` carries the new deps.
@@ -421,7 +454,12 @@ Then Stage 18.
     one connection per player it bursts into its 2-core cap (the residual 2.49 % `transport_error`); backend
     ~0.85 core and postgres ~1.4 cores had headroom; **tempo reached its 1 GiB cap**; the backend pool sat at
     its `MaxOpenConns=25` cap (28 backends); docker logs were unbounded (~14 MiB / 30 min on the backend at
-    info). Full write-up in [`../loadtest/REPORT-R7.md`](../loadtest/REPORT-R7.md).
+    info). Full write-up in [`../loadtest/REPORT.md`](../loadtest/REPORT.md). *(Superseded in part: a
+    later pass modelling the `game.evaluate` hot path traced the gateway's CPU appetite to
+    **gateway→backend connection churn** — the default 2-idle-connection HTTP transport — not proxying
+    work. Pooling the connections cut peak gateway CPU ~7× (~1.75 → ~0.26 cores at 500 players) and
+    removed the ephemeral-port-exhaustion cliff behind the residual `transport_error`, so the gateway is
+    no longer the binding constraint — postgres is. The 3-core gateway cap below is now generous headroom.)*
   - **Round-2 tuning (owner-agreed, all in `deploy/docker-compose.yml`, no code change):** gateway **2 → 3
     cores + `GOMAXPROCS=3`**; tempo memory **1 → 2 GiB**; backend `MAX_OPEN_CONNS` **25 → 40**; a json-file
     **log-rotation** default (10m × 3) applied contour-wide via a YAML anchor (level stays info).
@@ -431,7 +469,7 @@ Then Stage 18.
     **burst** run (a single 100 → 500 jump) pegged the gateway at 3 cores (≈296 % sustained, 9.27 % error),
     confirming it is **connection-CPU-bound** — a true arrival spike is a **horizontal-scaling** lever, not
     more cores per node (recorded in the prod-sizing recommendation).
-  - **No schema change → no contour DB wipe.** Bake-back: `loadtest/REPORT-R7.md` (new), `loadtest/README.md`,
+  - **No schema change → no contour DB wipe.** Bake-back: `loadtest/REPORT.md`, `loadtest/README.md`,
     `docs/TESTING.md`, the telemetry/observability section of `docs/ARCHITECTURE.md`, the repo-layout line in `CLAUDE.md`.
 
 - **UI — Tab-bar navigation redesign** (owner ad-hoc, not on the raw TODO list): drop the hamburger
@@ -547,3 +585,48 @@ Then Stage 18.
     (`game_limit_test.go`: count rule + HTTP gate 409 + accept bypass), server unit (error mapping), gateway
     transcode round-trip, UI codec + lobbycache unit, e2e (`gamelimit.spec.ts`). Bake-back: `docs/FUNCTIONAL.md`
     (+`_ru`), `docs/ARCHITECTURE.md` §8, `docs/UI_DESIGN.md`, `backend/README.md`.
+
+- **CM — Channel-chat moderation + promo bot** (owner ad-hoc, not on the raw TODO list):
+  - **Locked decisions (interview):** the promo bot is a **goroutine in `cmd/bot`** (its own token, no
+    bot-link); the moderated chat's default-no-send is configured by a **human** in the group settings (the
+    bot only grants, never `setChatPermissions`); a non-eligible joiner is **left muted silently**; a
+    temporary-suspension expiry is handled by a **backend sweeper** that emits the re-evaluate event; and a new
+    **`chat_muted` role** is a chat-only mute with the **game suspension dominating**
+    (`eligible = registered AND NOT suspended AND NOT chat_muted`).
+  - **Bot API reality (verified against the docs):** a cross-bot Mini App launch must be a **URL button** to the
+    main bot's `t.me/<bot>?startapp` link — a `web_app` button signs initData with the *sending* bot's token,
+    which the main validator rejects — so the promo button reuses the UI's `VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK`. `chat_member`
+    updates arrive **only** when the bot is a chat **admin** with the "Ban users" right (the client label for the
+    Bot API `can_restrict_members`) and `chat_member` is in `allowed_updates`; bots cannot list members but can
+    `getChatMember` a single user, which is the membership guard on the block/unblock path.
+  - **Wire:** `pkg/proto/botlink/v1` gains a `ChatGateCommand` in the `Command` oneof and a unary
+    `ResolveChatEligibility`; the backend gains `notify.KindChatAccessChanged` (no payload, infra-only — never an
+    out-of-app message) and an internal `POST /api/v1/internal/chat-access` resolver; the gateway resolves the
+    join (by external_id) and the event (by user_id) through it and pushes the chat-gate command fire-and-forget
+    (at-most-once, recovered by the next moderation action or a re-join).
+  - **No schema change → no contour DB wipe:** `chat_muted` is a new `account.KnownRoles` entry (the
+    `account_roles` table is data-driven). The suspension-expiry sweeper is a new `account.SuspensionSweeper`
+    (a 1-minute window, idempotent) started in `cmd/backend`, alongside the guest reaper.
+  - **Deploy:** new `TEST_`/`PROD_` `TELEGRAM_PROMO_BOT_TOKEN` (secret), `TELEGRAM_BOT_USERNAME` and
+    `TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID` (variables); the promo link reuses the existing `*_VITE_TELEGRAM_LINK` variable as
+    `TELEGRAM_BOT_LINK`. The bot must be promoted to admin in the real discussion group, and the group default
+    set to no-send, as part of the Stage 18 prod cutover (the test contour exercises the code path).
+  - **Bake-back:** `docs/ARCHITECTURE.md`, `docs/FUNCTIONAL.md` (+`_ru`), `platform/telegram/README.md`,
+    `backend/README.md`, Go Doc comments. Tests: backend resolver truth table + publish on block/unblock/role +
+    the sweeper window (unit + integration); gateway hub `ResolveChatEligibility` + the chat-gate command; bot
+    `chat_member` grant + `ApplyChatGate` getChatMember-guard; promo `/start` localization + URL button; config
+    parsing.
+  - **Post-contour-test fixes (same PR):** a live test drove three corrections. (1) **Strategy
+    inversion (the key one)** — the original "group default no-send, bot grants the eligible" cannot
+    work: Telegram intersects the chat default with each user's permission, so a per-user grant never
+    exceeds a deny-by-default group (the bot set `can_send=true` yet the user still could not write).
+    The group now **allows sending by default** and the bot only **restricts** — it mutes an ineligible
+    member (unregistered / admin-suspended / `chat_muted`) and un-mutes an eligible one it had muted,
+    acting only when the current state differs (idempotent; the bot's own change is skipped by matching
+    the actor id to the bot). A present member in a default-allow group can appear as `restricted` with
+    `is_member`, so the gate reads both. (2) **Join-before-register** — a user who joins before
+    registering is covered by no `chat_member` event, so `ProvisionTelegram` now reports first contact
+    and the Telegram auth handler emits `chat_access_changed` on it. (3) **Observability** — a startup
+    self-check logs whether the bot is an admin-with-restrict in the chat (it caught a misconfigured
+    `TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID` set to a channel id, not the discussion-group id); the per-event trace is at
+    Debug, the actual mute/unmute and warnings at Info.

backend/Dockerfile

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 
 # --- dictionary artifact -----------------------------------------------------
 FROM alpine:3.20 AS dawg
-ARG DICT_VERSION=v1.0.0
+ARG DICT_VERSION=v1.2.1
 RUN apk add --no-cache curl tar
 RUN mkdir -p /dawg \
  && curl -fsSL -o /tmp/dawg.tar.gz \
@@ -33,14 +33,16 @@ COPY backend ./backend
 # Reduce the workspace to what the backend needs: backend + pkg. loadtest and the
 # gateway replace it requires are not in this context, so drop both.
 RUN go work edit -dropuse=./gateway -dropuse=./platform/telegram -dropuse=./loadtest -dropreplace=scrabble/gateway@v0.0.0
-RUN CGO_ENABLED=0 GOOS=linux go build -trimpath -o /out/backend ./backend/cmd/backend
+# VERSION (the deploy passes the git tag) is stamped into the binary via the linker.
+ARG VERSION=dev
+RUN CGO_ENABLED=0 GOOS=linux go build -trimpath -ldflags "-X scrabble/pkg/version.Version=${VERSION}" -o /out/backend ./backend/cmd/backend
 
 # --- runtime -----------------------------------------------------------------
 FROM gcr.io/distroless/static-debian12:nonroot
 # Re-declare the build arg in this stage so it labels the seed dictionary. One
 # DICT_VERSION drives both the artifact the dawg stage downloads and the version
 # label the binary pins, so the resident version equals the release tag.
-ARG DICT_VERSION=v1.0.0
+ARG DICT_VERSION=v1.2.1
 COPY --from=build /out/backend /usr/local/bin/backend
 # Own the seed dictionary as the nonroot runtime user (UID 65532): a named volume
 # mounted at /opt/dawg inherits this ownership on first use, so the admin console

backend/README.md

@@ -103,9 +103,16 @@ second listener — `internal/pushgrpc`, a gRPC server (`BACKEND_GRPC_ADDR`) str
 live events (your-turn, opponent-moved, chat, nudge, match-found, notify) to the
 gateway. The gateway-only `POST /api/v1/internal/push-target` (a user's
 Telegram `external_id`, language and `notifications_in_app_only` flag) lets the gateway
-route out-of-app push to the Telegram connector; the Telegram login
+route out-of-app push to the Telegram bot over the gateway bot-link; the Telegram login
 seeds a new account's language and display name from the launch fields, and the
 `accounts.notifications_in_app_only` flag (default true).
+The gateway-only `POST /api/v1/internal/chat-access` resolves a Telegram identity (the
+bot's join-time query) or an account id (a `chat_access_changed` event) to its
+**moderated-chat write eligibility** — `registered AND NOT suspended AND NOT chat_muted`.
+That event is emitted on an admin block/unblock, a `chat_muted` role grant/revoke, or — via
+the `account.SuspensionSweeper` started in `cmd/backend` — a temporary block lapsing;
+`chat_muted` is an `account.KnownRoles` entry, a chat-only mute distinct from the game
+suspension (which dominates it).
 `accounts.is_guest` marks an ephemeral guest — a durable row
 with no identity, excluded from statistics. The server-rendered
 **admin console** at `/_gm` (`internal/adminconsole` + `internal/server/handlers_admin_console.go`;
@@ -116,16 +123,15 @@ pipeline, the online **dictionary update** (upload the `scrabble-dawg-vX.Y.Z.tar
 archive, preview the per-variant word diff, then install + activate — `internal/dictadmin` +
 `engine.DiffWords` / `Registry.LoadAvailable`, written to per-version subdirectories of the
 `BACKEND_DICT_DIR` volume with the active version persisted in `dictionary_state`), and operator **broadcasts** via a
-backend Telegram-connector client (`internal/connector`, `BACKEND_CONNECTOR_ADDR`) — each
-broadcast picks the delivering bot by an operator-chosen language. `accounts.service_language`
-holds the language tag of the bot a Telegram
-user last signed in through, written on every login and returned by
-`/internal/push-target` (falling back to `preferred_language`) so out-of-app push routes
-to the right bot. The console also manages the **advertising banner** (`/_gm/banners` +
+backend client (`internal/connector`, `BACKEND_CONNECTOR_ADDR`) that calls the gateway's
+**bot-link relay** — each broadcast renders through the bot in an operator-chosen language
+and the relay awaits the bot's delivery ack. There is one bot,
+so `/internal/push-target` returns the recipient's `preferred_language` as the render
+language for out-of-app push; no per-bot routing remains. The console also manages the **advertising banner** (`/_gm/banners` +
 `/_gm/banner-settings`, `internal/ads`): operator campaigns with a percent weight, an optional
 window and bilingual messages, plus the global display timings. `GET /api/v1/user/profile` attaches
 the resolved, weighted campaign feed for an **eligible** viewer (`!paid_account && hint_balance == 0
-&& !no_banner` role, the message language picked by `service_language`); changing those inputs
+&& !no_banner` role, the message language picked by `preferred_language`); changing those inputs
 publishes a `notify` `banner` re-poll signal so the client shows/hides it in place. The shared wire
 contracts live in the sibling [`../pkg`](../pkg) module.
 
@@ -149,6 +155,13 @@ rejected calls within `BACKEND_HIGHRATE_FLAG_WINDOW` gets the soft, reversible
 `accounts.flagged_high_rate_at` marker (set-once; a badge in the user list and a
 **Clear** action on the user card; never an automatic ban).
 
+The gateway also syncs its active IP bans (prod-only — see ARCHITECTURE §11) to
+`POST /api/v1/internal/bans/sync`; `internal/banview` mirrors them for the console's
+**Throttled** page (an **Active IP bans** panel with an **Unban** action) and returns
+the operator's pending unbans in the response, which the gateway applies on its next
+sync. Like `ratewatch` it is in-memory and resets on restart — the enforced ban lives
+in the gateway, not here.
+
 ## Package layout
 
 ```
@@ -172,8 +185,9 @@ internal/lobby/      # auto-match (DB-backed open games + robot substitution) +
 internal/robot/      # human-like robot opponent: account pool, seed-derived strategy, move driver
 internal/adminconsole/ # server-rendered admin console (Go templates + embedded CSS, view models), served at /_gm
 internal/ads/        # advertising banner: campaigns + bilingual messages + display timings, weighted-rotation feed (ActiveSet)
-internal/connector/  # backend gRPC client to the Telegram connector (operator broadcasts)
+internal/connector/  # backend gRPC client to the gateway bot-link relay (operator broadcasts)
 internal/ratewatch/  # gateway rate-limit reports: episode window for the console + the high-rate auto-flag
+internal/banview/    # gateway active-ban mirror: the console's Active IP bans panel + the operator unban backchannel
 ```
 
 ## Configuration (environment)
@@ -192,7 +206,7 @@ internal/ratewatch/  # gateway rate-limit reports: episode window for the consol
 | `BACKEND_OTEL_TRACES_EXPORTER` | `none` | `none`, `stdout` or `otlp` (gRPC; endpoint from the standard `OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_*`). |
 | `BACKEND_OTEL_METRICS_EXPORTER` | `none` | `none`, `stdout` or `otlp`. |
 | `BACKEND_DICT_DIR` | — | **Required.** Directory of committed `.dawg` dictionaries. |
-| `BACKEND_DICT_VERSION` | `v1` | Dictionary version new games pin. |
+| `BACKEND_DICT_VERSION` | `v1` | Version label for the flat dictionary dir. Recorded in a `.seed_version` marker on first boot and authoritative after: on a seeded volume a changed value is ignored (it seeds only a fresh volume) — the seed-drift guard (ARCHITECTURE.md §5). |
 | `BACKEND_GAME_TIMEOUT_SWEEP_INTERVAL` | `1m` | How often the turn-timeout sweeper runs. |
 | `BACKEND_GAME_CACHE_TTL` | `24h` | Idle window before a live game is evicted from cache. |
 | `BACKEND_LOBBY_ROBOT_WAIT` | `10s` | Auto-match wait before a robot is substituted for a missing human. |
@@ -203,7 +217,7 @@ internal/ratewatch/  # gateway rate-limit reports: episode window for the consol
 | `BACKEND_SMTP_USERNAME` | — | SMTP user; empty relays without authentication. |
 | `BACKEND_SMTP_PASSWORD` | — | SMTP password. |
 | `BACKEND_SMTP_FROM` | `no-reply@localhost` | Envelope/From address for confirm-codes. |
-| `BACKEND_CONNECTOR_ADDR` | — | Telegram connector gRPC address for admin-console operator broadcasts. Empty disables broadcasts. |
+| `BACKEND_CONNECTOR_ADDR` | — | the gateway bot-link relay gRPC address for admin-console operator broadcasts. Empty disables broadcasts. |
 | `BACKEND_GUEST_REAP_INTERVAL` | `1h` | How often the abandoned-guest reaper sweeps. |
 | `BACKEND_GUEST_RETENTION` | `720h` | Account age past which a guest with no game seat is deleted. |
 | `BACKEND_HIGHRATE_FLAG_THRESHOLD` | `1000` | Gateway-reported rejected calls within the window past which an account is soft-flagged. |
@@ -214,7 +228,7 @@ internal/ratewatch/  # gateway rate-limit reports: episode window for the consol
 ```sh
 docker run -d --name scrabble-pg -e POSTGRES_PASSWORD=dev -p 5432:5432 postgres:17-alpine
 # DAWGs: extract the dictionary release artifact (or point at a local scrabble-solver/dawg):
-mkdir -p /tmp/dawg && curl -fsSL https://gitea.iliadenisov.ru/developer/scrabble-dictionary/releases/download/v1.0.0/scrabble-dawg-v1.0.0.tar.gz | tar xz -C /tmp/dawg
+mkdir -p /tmp/dawg && curl -fsSL https://gitea.iliadenisov.ru/developer/scrabble-dictionary/releases/download/v1.2.1/scrabble-dawg-v1.2.1.tar.gz | tar xz -C /tmp/dawg
 BACKEND_POSTGRES_DSN='postgres://postgres:dev@localhost:5432/postgres?search_path=backend&sslmode=disable' \
   BACKEND_DICT_DIR=/tmp/dawg \
   GOPRIVATE='gitea.iliadenisov.ru/*' \
@@ -253,7 +267,14 @@ local solver co-development you may add a temporary replace — see `go.work`).
 from the [`scrabble-dictionary`](https://gitea.iliadenisov.ru/developer/scrabble-dictionary)
 repo (one semver per set); the engine loads them by `(variant, dict_version)` from
 `BACKEND_DICT_DIR`. The backend loads them at startup as a hard dependency
-(a missing dictionary aborts the boot).
+(a missing dictionary aborts the boot). The flat directory is the seed version,
+labelled `BACKEND_DICT_VERSION`; uploaded versions live in `<version>/`
+subdirectories the admin console writes and a restart re-loads. Because the DAWGs
+carry no embedded version, the first boot records the seed in a `.seed_version`
+marker that is authoritative after: on a seeded volume a changed `BACKEND_DICT_VERSION`
+is ignored (it seeds only a fresh volume) — the seed-drift guard — so a live contour's
+dictionary is changed through the console, never by bumping the build seed
+(ARCHITECTURE.md §5).
 
 ## Tests
 

backend/cmd/backend/main.go

@@ -15,11 +15,13 @@ import (
 	"syscall"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/google/uuid"
 	"go.uber.org/zap"
 
 	"scrabble/backend/internal/account"
 	"scrabble/backend/internal/accountmerge"
 	"scrabble/backend/internal/ads"
+	"scrabble/backend/internal/banview"
 	"scrabble/backend/internal/config"
 	"scrabble/backend/internal/connector"
 	"scrabble/backend/internal/engine"
@@ -159,6 +161,15 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, cfg config.Config, logger *zap.Logger) error {
 		zap.Duration("interval", cfg.GuestReapInterval),
 		zap.Duration("retention", cfg.GuestRetention))
 
+	// Re-evaluate moderated-chat write access when a temporary block self-expires:
+	// no operator action fires then, so the sweeper emits the chat-access-changed
+	// event for lapsed blocks and the gateway re-pushes the chat-gate command.
+	chatSweeper := account.NewSuspensionSweeper(accounts, func(id uuid.UUID) {
+		hub.Publish(notify.ChatAccessChanged(id))
+	}, logger)
+	go chatSweeper.Run(ctx)
+	logger.Info("suspension expiry sweeper started", zap.Duration("interval", chatSweeper.Interval()))
+
 	// Lobby & social domains. Their REST and stream surface lives in the gateway,
 	// so they are handed to the server (like the route groups) for the handlers.
 	mailer := newMailer(cfg.SMTP, logger)
@@ -211,6 +222,10 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, cfg config.Config, logger *zap.Logger) error {
 		zap.Int("flag_threshold", cfg.RateWatch.FlagThreshold),
 		zap.Duration("flag_window", cfg.RateWatch.FlagWindow))
 
+	// Ban observability: mirror the gateway's active IP bans for the admin console's
+	// active-bans panel and collect operator unban requests.
+	banView := banview.New()
+
 	// Advertising-banner domain: campaign rotation feeding the profile.get banner
 	// block and the banner admin console section.
 	adsSvc := ads.NewService(ads.NewStore(db))
@@ -233,6 +248,7 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, cfg config.Config, logger *zap.Logger) error {
 		DictDir:       cfg.Game.DictDir,
 		Connector:     conn,
 		RateWatch:     rateWatch,
+		BanView:       banView,
 		Ads:           adsSvc,
 		Notifier:      hub,
 	})

backend/internal/account/account.go

@@ -55,12 +55,12 @@ type Account struct {
 	HintBalance         int
 	BlockChat           bool
 	BlockFriendRequests bool
-	// ServiceLanguage is the language tag (en/ru) of the bot the account last
-	// authenticated through (its last Telegram ValidateInitData); it routes the
-	// account's out-of-app push back through the right bot. Empty when the account
-	// has never signed in through a tagged bot. Distinct from PreferredLanguage (the
-	// interface language) and from a game's variant language.
-	ServiceLanguage string
+	// VariantPreferences is the set of game variants (engine.Variant stable labels:
+	// "scrabble_en", "scrabble_ru", "erudit_ru") the player is willing to be matched
+	// into. It gates the New Game picker, the matchmaker and the friend-invite the
+	// player creates; an invited friend may still accept any variant. A new account
+	// defaults to Erudit only. Never empty — enforced on update and by a DB check.
+	VariantPreferences []string
 	// IsGuest marks an ephemeral guest account: a durable row with no identity,
 	// excluded from statistics, friends and history.
 	IsGuest bool
@@ -151,14 +151,26 @@ func (s *Store) ProvisionRobot(ctx context.Context, externalID, displayName stri
 	return modelToAccount(row), nil
 }
 
-// ProvisionTelegram provisions (or finds) the account bound to a Telegram
-// identity. On first contact only, it seeds the new account's preferred language
-// from the Telegram client languageCode (when it maps to a supported language) and
-// its display name sanitized from firstName (falling back to username, then to a
-// generated placeholder when neither yields any letters); an already-existing
-// account is returned unchanged, so a later profile edit is never overwritten.
-func (s *Store) ProvisionTelegram(ctx context.Context, externalID, languageCode, username, firstName string) (Account, error) {
-	return s.provision(ctx, KindTelegram, externalID, telegramSeed(languageCode, username, firstName))
+// ProvisionTelegram provisions (or finds) the account bound to a Telegram identity,
+// reporting whether this call created it (first contact). On first contact only, it
+// seeds the new account's preferred language from the Telegram client languageCode
+// (when it maps to a supported language) and its display name sanitized from firstName
+// (falling back to username, then to a generated placeholder when neither yields any
+// letters); an already-existing account is returned unchanged, so a later profile edit
+// is never overwritten. The created flag lets the auth handler re-evaluate moderated-
+// chat write access on first registration — the path of a user who joined the chat
+// before registering, whom no chat_member event covers.
+func (s *Store) ProvisionTelegram(ctx context.Context, externalID, languageCode, username, firstName string) (Account, bool, error) {
+	// Pre-check whether the identity already exists so the caller can act on first
+	// contact. A race with a concurrent create only over- or under-reports created for
+	// that one call, which the idempotent chat-access re-evaluation tolerates.
+	_, err := s.findByIdentity(ctx, KindTelegram, externalID)
+	created := errors.Is(err, ErrNotFound)
+	if err != nil && !created {
+		return Account{}, false, err
+	}
+	acc, err := s.provision(ctx, KindTelegram, externalID, telegramSeed(languageCode, username, firstName))
+	return acc, created, err
 }
 
 // provision finds the account for (kind, externalID) or creates it with seed,
@@ -303,6 +315,14 @@ func (s *Store) CountAccounts(ctx context.Context) (int, error) {
 	return int(dest.Count), nil
 }
 
+// AccountByIdentity returns the account bound to (kind, externalID), or ErrNotFound
+// when none exists. Unlike ProvisionByIdentity it never creates one: the chat-access
+// resolver uses it to tell a registered Telegram user (eligible to be granted chat
+// write access) from an unregistered one (left muted).
+func (s *Store) AccountByIdentity(ctx context.Context, kind, externalID string) (Account, error) {
+	return s.findByIdentity(ctx, kind, externalID)
+}
+
 // findByIdentity joins identities to accounts and returns the matching account,
 // or ErrNotFound.
 func (s *Store) findByIdentity(ctx context.Context, kind, externalID string) (Account, error) {
@@ -491,36 +511,12 @@ func (s *Store) ClearHighRateFlag(ctx context.Context, id uuid.UUID) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// SetServiceLanguage records the service language (en/ru) of the bot a Telegram
-// user authenticated through. It is called on every Telegram login — new and
-// existing accounts — so it tracks the bot the user last came through (last-login-
-// wins), and the out-of-app push routes by it. It is a no-op for an empty language
-// (a non-Telegram login carries none) and does not bump updated_at (an infra
-// routing field, not a user profile edit).
-func (s *Store) SetServiceLanguage(ctx context.Context, id uuid.UUID, language string) error {
-	if language == "" {
-		return nil
-	}
-	stmt := table.Accounts.
-		UPDATE(table.Accounts.ServiceLanguage).
-		SET(postgres.String(language)).
-		WHERE(table.Accounts.AccountID.EQ(postgres.UUID(id)))
-	if _, err := stmt.ExecContext(ctx, s.db); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("account: set service language %s: %w", id, err)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
 // modelToAccount projects a generated model row into the public Account struct.
 func modelToAccount(row model.Accounts) Account {
 	var mergedInto uuid.UUID
 	if row.MergedInto != nil {
 		mergedInto = *row.MergedInto
 	}
-	var serviceLanguage string
-	if row.ServiceLanguage != nil {
-		serviceLanguage = *row.ServiceLanguage
-	}
 	var flaggedHighRateAt time.Time
 	if row.FlaggedHighRateAt != nil {
 		flaggedHighRateAt = *row.FlaggedHighRateAt
@@ -529,7 +525,7 @@ func modelToAccount(row model.Accounts) Account {
 		ID:                     row.AccountID,
 		DisplayName:            row.DisplayName,
 		PreferredLanguage:      row.PreferredLanguage,
-		ServiceLanguage:        serviceLanguage,
+		VariantPreferences:     []string(row.VariantPreferences),
 		TimeZone:               row.TimeZone,
 		AwayStart:              row.AwayStart,
 		AwayEnd:                row.AwayEnd,

backend/internal/account/profile.go

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/go-jet/jet/v2/postgres"
 	"github.com/go-jet/jet/v2/qrm"
 	"github.com/google/uuid"
+	"github.com/lib/pq"
 
 	"scrabble/backend/internal/postgres/jet/backend/model"
 	"scrabble/backend/internal/postgres/jet/backend/table"
@@ -58,6 +59,46 @@ type ProfileUpdate struct {
 	BlockChat              bool
 	BlockFriendRequests    bool
 	NotificationsInAppOnly bool
+	// VariantPreferences is the set of game variants the player allows themselves to
+	// be matched into (engine.Variant stable labels). UpdateProfile cleans it to a
+	// deduplicated, canonically ordered subset of the known variants and rejects an
+	// empty set.
+	VariantPreferences []string
+}
+
+// knownVariants is the closed set of game-variant labels (engine.Variant stable
+// labels) a profile's variant preferences may contain. It lives here so the store
+// does not depend on the engine package; the server handler additionally validates
+// against engine.ParseVariant, and a DB check enforces the same subset.
+var knownVariants = map[string]bool{"erudit_ru": true, "scrabble_ru": true, "scrabble_en": true}
+
+// canonicalVariantOrder is the deterministic order variant preferences are stored
+// in (Erudit, Russian Scrabble, English), independent of the client's order.
+var canonicalVariantOrder = []string{"erudit_ru", "scrabble_ru", "scrabble_en"}
+
+// validateVariantPreferences cleans a profile's variant-preference set: it drops
+// duplicates, rejects an unknown label or an empty set (ErrInvalidProfile) and
+// returns the preferences in canonicalVariantOrder so the stored value is
+// deterministic regardless of the order the client sent.
+func validateVariantPreferences(prefs []string) ([]string, error) {
+	seen := make(map[string]bool, len(prefs))
+	for _, p := range prefs {
+		p = strings.TrimSpace(p)
+		if !knownVariants[p] {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: variant preference %q", ErrInvalidProfile, p)
+		}
+		seen[p] = true
+	}
+	if len(seen) == 0 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: variant preferences must not be empty", ErrInvalidProfile)
+	}
+	out := make([]string, 0, len(seen))
+	for _, v := range canonicalVariantOrder {
+		if seen[v] {
+			out = append(out, v)
+		}
+	}
+	return out, nil
 }
 
 // UpdateProfile validates and overwrites the editable fields of the account, then
@@ -79,17 +120,26 @@ func (s *Store) UpdateProfile(ctx context.Context, id uuid.UUID, p ProfileUpdate
 	if err := validateAwayWindow(p.AwayStart, p.AwayEnd); err != nil {
 		return Account{}, err
 	}
+	prefs, err := validateVariantPreferences(p.VariantPreferences)
+	if err != nil {
+		return Account{}, err
+	}
 
 	stmt := table.Accounts.UPDATE(
 		table.Accounts.DisplayName, table.Accounts.PreferredLanguage, table.Accounts.TimeZone,
 		table.Accounts.AwayStart, table.Accounts.AwayEnd,
 		table.Accounts.BlockChat, table.Accounts.BlockFriendRequests,
-		table.Accounts.NotificationsInAppOnly, table.Accounts.UpdatedAt,
+		table.Accounts.NotificationsInAppOnly, table.Accounts.VariantPreferences,
+		table.Accounts.UpdatedAt,
 	).SET(
 		postgres.String(name), postgres.String(lang), postgres.String(tz),
 		postgres.TimeT(p.AwayStart), postgres.TimeT(p.AwayEnd),
 		postgres.Bool(p.BlockChat), postgres.Bool(p.BlockFriendRequests),
-		postgres.Bool(p.NotificationsInAppOnly), postgres.TimestampzT(time.Now().UTC()),
+		postgres.Bool(p.NotificationsInAppOnly),
+		// prefs are validated against the closed knownVariants set; bind as a text[]
+		// parameter (lib/pq encodes the array, the cast pins the column type).
+		postgres.Raw("#variant_prefs::text[]", map[string]interface{}{"#variant_prefs": pq.StringArray(prefs)}),
+		postgres.TimestampzT(time.Now().UTC()),
 	).WHERE(table.Accounts.AccountID.EQ(postgres.UUID(id))).
 		RETURNING(table.Accounts.AllColumns)
 

backend/internal/account/profile_test.go

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package account
 import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
+	"slices"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
@@ -16,7 +17,7 @@ import (
 // offset/IANA timezone), not just their unit tests in validate_test.go.
 func TestUpdateProfileValidation(t *testing.T) {
 	s := &Store{}
-	base := ProfileUpdate{DisplayName: "Kaya", PreferredLanguage: "en", TimeZone: "UTC"}
+	base := ProfileUpdate{DisplayName: "Kaya", PreferredLanguage: "en", TimeZone: "UTC", VariantPreferences: []string{"erudit_ru"}}
 	hm := func(h, m int) time.Time { return time.Date(0, 1, 1, h, m, 0, 0, time.UTC) }
 	tests := []struct {
 		name string
@@ -28,6 +29,8 @@ func TestUpdateProfileValidation(t *testing.T) {
 		{"over-long name", func(p *ProfileUpdate) { p.DisplayName = strings.Repeat("x", maxDisplayName+1) }},
 		{"bad name layout", func(p *ProfileUpdate) { p.DisplayName = "Bad__Name" }},
 		{"away over 12h", func(p *ProfileUpdate) { p.AwayStart, p.AwayEnd = hm(8, 0), hm(21, 0) }},
+		{"empty variant preferences", func(p *ProfileUpdate) { p.VariantPreferences = nil }},
+		{"unknown variant preference", func(p *ProfileUpdate) { p.VariantPreferences = []string{"chess"} }},
 	}
 	for _, tc := range tests {
 		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -39,3 +42,22 @@ func TestUpdateProfileValidation(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+// TestValidateVariantPreferences checks the cleaning of a profile's variant set:
+// duplicates collapse, the result is canonically ordered (Erudit, Russian Scrabble,
+// English) regardless of input order, and an empty or unknown set is rejected.
+func TestValidateVariantPreferences(t *testing.T) {
+	got, err := validateVariantPreferences([]string{"scrabble_en", "erudit_ru", "scrabble_en"})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("validate: %v", err)
+	}
+	if want := []string{"erudit_ru", "scrabble_en"}; !slices.Equal(got, want) {
+		t.Fatalf("got %v, want %v", got, want)
+	}
+	if _, err := validateVariantPreferences(nil); !errors.Is(err, ErrInvalidProfile) {
+		t.Fatalf("empty err = %v, want ErrInvalidProfile", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := validateVariantPreferences([]string{"chess"}); !errors.Is(err, ErrInvalidProfile) {
+		t.Fatalf("unknown err = %v, want ErrInvalidProfile", err)
+	}
+}

backend/internal/account/roles.go

@@ -24,11 +24,19 @@ const (
 	// unconditionally, overriding the usual eligibility (a free account with an
 	// empty hint wallet otherwise sees it). See internal/ads.
 	RoleNoBanner = "no_banner"
+
+	// RoleChatMuted forbids the account from writing in the moderated Telegram
+	// discussion chat, without otherwise restricting the game (the chat-only
+	// counterpart to a full account suspension). It is one input to the chat-access
+	// gate; an active admin suspension mutes the player regardless, so this role only
+	// matters for an account that is not suspended. Granting or revoking it re-pushes
+	// the chat-gate command for a member currently in the chat.
+	RoleChatMuted = "chat_muted"
 )
 
 // KnownRoles is the set of roles the console may grant or revoke; an operator
 // cannot assign an unrecognised role.
-var KnownRoles = []string{RoleFeedbackBanned, RoleNoBanner}
+var KnownRoles = []string{RoleFeedbackBanned, RoleNoBanner, RoleChatMuted}
 
 // IsKnownRole reports whether role is a recognised account role.
 func IsKnownRole(role string) bool {

backend/internal/account/suspension.go

@@ -161,6 +161,31 @@ func (s *Store) queryCurrentSuspension(ctx context.Context, accountID uuid.UUID,
 	return modelToSuspension(row), true, nil
 }
 
+// SuspensionsExpiredBetween returns the distinct account ids whose temporary block lapsed in the
+// half-open window (since, until]: a non-lifted suspension with a blocked_until in that range. The
+// chat-access sweeper uses it to re-evaluate chat write access when a temporary block self-expires,
+// since no operator action fires then. An account that still has another active block may be
+// included; the eligibility resolver returns the true state, so emitting for it is harmless.
+func (s *Store) SuspensionsExpiredBetween(ctx context.Context, since, until time.Time) ([]uuid.UUID, error) {
+	rows, err := s.db.QueryContext(ctx,
+		`SELECT DISTINCT account_id FROM backend.account_suspensions
+		 WHERE lifted_at IS NULL AND blocked_until > $1 AND blocked_until <= $2`,
+		since.UTC(), until.UTC())
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("account: suspensions expired between: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer rows.Close()
+	var out []uuid.UUID
+	for rows.Next() {
+		var id uuid.UUID
+		if err := rows.Scan(&id); err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("account: scan expired suspension: %w", err)
+		}
+		out = append(out, id)
+	}
+	return out, rows.Err()
+}
+
 // invalidateSuspension drops the account's cached block so the next CurrentSuspension re-reads it.
 // Called after Suspend and LiftSuspension.
 func (s *Store) invalidateSuspension(accountID uuid.UUID) {

backend/internal/account/suspension_sweeper.go

@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+package account
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/google/uuid"
+	"go.uber.org/zap"
+)
+
+// suspensionSweepInterval is how often the sweeper re-checks for temporary blocks
+// that lapsed. A minute is well under the coarsest block grain (operators pick day
+// presets) while keeping the query trivial.
+const suspensionSweepInterval = time.Minute
+
+// suspensionExpiryQuerier is the slice of the account store the sweeper depends on:
+// the accounts whose temporary block lapsed in a window. *Store satisfies it; a fake
+// drives the sweeper's unit tests.
+type suspensionExpiryQuerier interface {
+	SuspensionsExpiredBetween(ctx context.Context, since, until time.Time) ([]uuid.UUID, error)
+}
+
+// SuspensionSweeper re-evaluates chat write access when a temporary block self-
+// expires. No operator action fires on expiry — the suspension gate just re-reads
+// the wall clock — so without this a temporarily blocked player would stay muted in
+// the moderated discussion chat after their block lapsed. Each tick it finds blocks
+// that expired since the previous tick and calls onExpire for the affected accounts;
+// onExpire is wired to publish the chat-access-changed event, after which the gateway
+// re-resolves the true eligibility. A liberal call (an account that still has another
+// active block) is therefore harmless. The window is in-memory, so a block that
+// expires while the process is down is not re-granted until the next operator action
+// or the player rejoins — an accepted best-effort gap.
+type SuspensionSweeper struct {
+	store    suspensionExpiryQuerier
+	onExpire func(accountID uuid.UUID)
+	log      *zap.Logger
+	// since is the upper bound of the previous swept window; the next sweep covers
+	// (since, now]. It advances only on a successful query, so a failed tick retries
+	// the same window rather than dropping expiries.
+	since time.Time
+}
+
+// NewSuspensionSweeper builds the sweeper over the account store, the per-account
+// expiry callback (publishing the chat-access-changed event) and a logger. The first
+// window opens at construction time, so blocks that lapsed earlier are not re-emitted.
+func NewSuspensionSweeper(store *Store, onExpire func(accountID uuid.UUID), log *zap.Logger) *SuspensionSweeper {
+	if log == nil {
+		log = zap.NewNop()
+	}
+	return &SuspensionSweeper{store: store, onExpire: onExpire, log: log, since: time.Now().UTC()}
+}
+
+// Interval reports the sweep cadence, for the startup log line.
+func (w *SuspensionSweeper) Interval() time.Duration { return suspensionSweepInterval }
+
+// Run sweeps every Interval until ctx is cancelled.
+func (w *SuspensionSweeper) Run(ctx context.Context) {
+	ticker := time.NewTicker(suspensionSweepInterval)
+	defer ticker.Stop()
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return
+		case <-ticker.C:
+			w.sweep(ctx)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// sweep emits a chat-access-changed signal for every account whose temporary block
+// lapsed in (since, now], then advances the window. On a query error it keeps the
+// window so the next tick retries it.
+func (w *SuspensionSweeper) sweep(ctx context.Context) {
+	now := time.Now().UTC()
+	ids, err := w.store.SuspensionsExpiredBetween(ctx, w.since, now)
+	if err != nil {
+		w.log.Warn("suspension expiry sweep failed", zap.Error(err))
+		return
+	}
+	w.since = now
+	for _, id := range ids {
+		w.onExpire(id)
+	}
+}

backend/internal/account/suspension_sweeper_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+package account
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/google/uuid"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"go.uber.org/zap"
+)
+
+// fakeExpiryQuerier records the `since` bound of each call and replays a scripted
+// result/error per call, so the sweeper's window and dispatch logic is testable
+// without a database.
+type fakeExpiryQuerier struct {
+	results [][]uuid.UUID
+	errs    []error
+	sinces  []time.Time
+	idx     int
+}
+
+func (f *fakeExpiryQuerier) SuspensionsExpiredBetween(_ context.Context, since, _ time.Time) ([]uuid.UUID, error) {
+	f.sinces = append(f.sinces, since)
+	i := f.idx
+	f.idx++
+	if i < len(f.errs) && f.errs[i] != nil {
+		return nil, f.errs[i]
+	}
+	if i < len(f.results) {
+		return f.results[i], nil
+	}
+	return nil, nil
+}
+
+func newSweeper(store suspensionExpiryQuerier, onExpire func(uuid.UUID)) *SuspensionSweeper {
+	return &SuspensionSweeper{
+		store:    store,
+		onExpire: onExpire,
+		log:      zap.NewNop(),
+		since:    time.Now().Add(-time.Minute).UTC(),
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSuspensionSweeperDispatchesAndAdvances(t *testing.T) {
+	id1, id2 := uuid.New(), uuid.New()
+	fake := &fakeExpiryQuerier{results: [][]uuid.UUID{{id1, id2}, nil}}
+	var got []uuid.UUID
+	w := newSweeper(fake, func(id uuid.UUID) { got = append(got, id) })
+
+	first := w.since
+	w.sweep(context.Background())
+	assert.Equal(t, []uuid.UUID{id1, id2}, got, "every expired account is dispatched")
+	assert.True(t, w.since.After(first), "the window advances on success")
+
+	// A second sweep opens the next window at the previous upper bound.
+	prev := w.since
+	w.sweep(context.Background())
+	require.Len(t, fake.sinces, 2)
+	assert.True(t, fake.sinces[1].After(fake.sinces[0]), "consecutive windows are contiguous and forward")
+	assert.True(t, fake.sinces[1].Equal(prev), "the next window starts at the previous upper bound")
+}
+
+func TestSuspensionSweeperKeepsWindowOnError(t *testing.T) {
+	fake := &fakeExpiryQuerier{errs: []error{errors.New("db down")}}
+	w := newSweeper(fake, func(uuid.UUID) { t.Fatal("onExpire must not run when the query fails") })
+
+	before := w.since
+	w.sweep(context.Background())
+	assert.True(t, w.since.Equal(before), "the window is retained on error so the next tick retries it")
+}
+
+func TestNewSuspensionSweeperDefaults(t *testing.T) {
+	w := NewSuspensionSweeper(nil, func(uuid.UUID) {}, nil)
+	assert.Equal(t, time.Minute, w.Interval())
+	assert.NotNil(t, w.log, "a nil logger is tolerated")
+	assert.WithinDuration(t, time.Now().UTC(), w.since, time.Second, "the first window opens at construction time")
+}

backend/internal/adminconsole/assets/console.css

@@ -137,3 +137,59 @@ code { background: var(--bg); padding: 0.05rem 0.3rem; border-radius: 4px; }
    an image attachment is previewed inline, bounded so it cannot dominate the page. */
 .msgbody { white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word; background: var(--bg); padding: 0.6rem 0.8rem; border-radius: 6px; margin: 0.6rem 0; }
 .attach { max-width: 100%; max-height: 480px; height: auto; border: 1px solid var(--line); border-radius: 6px; }
+
+/* Game replay (admin): a script-stepped board with rack panels around it, a move log and the
+   first-move draw. A placed tile shows its value as a subscript; a 0 value (a blank) shows none. */
+.replay-stage {
+  display: grid;
+  grid-template-columns: auto minmax(0, 1fr) auto;
+  grid-template-areas: ".    top    ." "left board  right" ".    bottom .";
+  gap: 0.5rem;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-items: center;
+  margin-bottom: 0.6rem;
+}
+.rack-top { grid-area: top; }
+.rack-bottom { grid-area: bottom; }
+.rack-left { grid-area: left; }
+.rack-right { grid-area: right; }
+.replay-board { grid-area: board; overflow: auto; }
+.board-grid {
+  display: grid;
+  grid-template-columns: 1.4rem repeat(15, 1.7rem);
+  grid-auto-rows: 1.7rem;
+  gap: 1px;
+  background: var(--line);
+  border: 1px solid var(--line);
+  width: max-content;
+}
+.board-grid .bh { display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; font-size: 0.6rem; color: var(--ink-dim); background: var(--panel); }
+.board-grid .cell { position: relative; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; background: var(--panel-hi); }
+.cell .prem { font-size: 0.55rem; color: var(--ink); opacity: 0.8; }
+.cell.tw { background: #7a2230; }
+.cell.dw { background: #a8506a; }
+.cell.tl { background: #235a7a; }
+.cell.dl { background: #3f87a8; }
+.cell.centre .prem { font-size: 0.95rem; color: var(--warn); opacity: 1; }
+.tile {
+  display: inline-flex; align-items: baseline; justify-content: center;
+  min-width: 1.35rem; height: 1.35rem; padding: 0 0.12rem;
+  background: #e8d9a0; color: #1b1408; border-radius: 3px;
+  font-weight: 700; font-size: 0.8rem; line-height: 1.35rem;
+}
+.tile sub { font-size: 0.5rem; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1; align-self: flex-end; margin-left: 1px; }
+.tile.blank { background: #cdbfe0; }
+.cell.filled { background: var(--panel-hi); }
+.cell.filled .tile { width: 100%; height: 100%; border-radius: 2px; }
+.rack-slot { padding: 0.25rem; border-radius: 6px; }
+.rack-slot.active { outline: 2px solid var(--accent); background: var(--panel-hi); }
+.rack-name { font-size: 0.72rem; color: var(--ink-dim); margin-bottom: 0.2rem; text-align: center; }
+.rack-tiles { display: flex; gap: 2px; flex-wrap: wrap; justify-content: center; }
+.rack-left .rack-tiles, .rack-right .rack-tiles { flex-direction: column; }
+.replay-controls { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 0.8rem; justify-content: center; margin: 0.6rem 0; }
+.replay-controls button { background: var(--panel-hi); color: var(--ink); border: 1px solid var(--line); font-weight: 600; }
+.replay-controls button:disabled { opacity: 0.4; cursor: default; }
+.replay-pos { color: var(--ink-dim); font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums; }
+.replay-log { margin: 0.4rem 0 0; padding-left: 1.4rem; max-height: 14rem; overflow: auto; font-size: 0.85rem; }
+.replay-log li { color: var(--ink-dim); padding: 0.1rem 0; }
+.replay-log li.cur { color: var(--ink); font-weight: 600; }

backend/internal/adminconsole/render_test.go

@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ func TestRendererRendersEveryPage(t *testing.T) {
 		{"messages", MessagesView{Items: []MessageRow{{ID: "m1", SenderID: "a1", SenderName: "Kaya", Source: "telegram", Body: "good luck", GameID: "g1", Unread: true}}, UnreadOnly: true, Pager: NewPager(1, 50, 1)}, "unread only"},
 		{"chatmessage", ChatMessageDetailView{ID: "m1", GameID: "g1", SenderID: "a1", SenderName: "Kaya", Source: "telegram", Kind: "message", Body: "good luck", Unread: true, Seats: []ChatSeatStatusRow{{Seat: 0, AccountID: "a1", DisplayName: "Kaya", Role: "sender"}, {Seat: 1, AccountID: "b2", DisplayName: "Opp", Role: "unread"}}}, "Read by seat"},
 		{"feedback", FeedbackView{Items: []FeedbackRow{{ID: "f1", AccountID: "a1", SenderName: "Kaya", Source: "telegram", Channel: "web", HasAttachment: true, Replied: true}}, Status: "unread", Pager: NewPager(1, 50, 1)}, "replied"},
-		{"feedback_detail", FeedbackDetailView{ID: "f1", AccountID: "a1", SenderName: "Kaya", Channel: "telegram", InterfaceLanguage: "en", BotLanguage: "ru", Body: "please fix the board", HasAttachment: true, AttachmentName: "shot.png", IsImage: true, Banned: true}, "bot: ru"},
+		{"feedback_detail", FeedbackDetailView{ID: "f1", AccountID: "a1", SenderName: "Kaya", Channel: "telegram", InterfaceLanguage: "en", Body: "please fix the board", HasAttachment: true, AttachmentName: "shot.png", IsImage: true, Banned: true}, "Interface language"},
 		{"complaint_detail", ComplaintDetailView{ID: "c1", Word: "qi", Variant: "scrabble_en"}, "Resolve"},
 		{"dictionary", DictionaryView{ActiveVersion: "v1.0.0", Variants: []VariantVersions{{Variant: "scrabble_en", Versions: []string{"v1.0.0"}}}, Changes: []DictChangeRow{{Variant: "scrabble_en", Word: "qi", Action: "add"}}}, "Update dictionaries"},
 		{"dictionary_preview", DictionaryPreviewView{Version: "v1.1.0", Token: "0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef", ActiveVersion: "v1.0.0", Variants: []VariantDiffRow{{Variant: "scrabble_en", AddedCount: 2, RemovedCount: 1, AddedSample: []string{"qi", "za"}, RemovedSample: []string{"xqz"}, RemovedTruncated: true}}}, "v1.1.0"},

backend/internal/adminconsole/templates/pages/broadcast.gohtml

@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 {{if .ConnectorEnabled}}
 <form class="form col" method="post" action="/_gm/broadcast">
 <label>Message <textarea name="text" required></textarea></label>
-<label>Bot language <select name="language"><option value="en">en</option><option value="ru">ru</option></select></label>
 <div><button type="submit">Post to channel</button></div>
 </form>
 {{else}}<p class="note">connector not configured (set BACKEND_CONNECTOR_ADDR)</p>{{end}}

backend/internal/adminconsole/templates/pages/feedback_detail.gohtml

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 <section class="panel"><h2>Message</h2>
 <ul class="kv">
 <li><b>From</b> <a href="/_gm/users/{{.AccountID}}">{{.SenderName}}</a> ({{.Source}})</li>
-<li><b>Channel</b> {{.Channel}}{{if .BotLanguage}} (bot: {{.BotLanguage}}){{end}}</li>
+<li><b>Channel</b> {{.Channel}}</li>
 <li><b>Interface language</b> {{.InterfaceLanguage}}</li>
 <li><b>IP</b> {{if .IP}}<code>{{.IP}}</code>{{else}}<span class="note">none</span>{{end}}</li>
 <li><b>Filed</b> {{.CreatedAt}}</li>

backend/internal/adminconsole/templates/pages/game_detail.gohtml

@@ -27,5 +27,87 @@
 </table>
 {{if .HasRobot}}<p><small>Play-to-win is decided once per game from the bag seed; robots play to win in ~{{.RobotTargetPct}}% of games.</small></p>{{end}}
 </section>
+{{if .SetupDraws}}
+<section class="panel"><h2>First-move draw</h2>
+<p class="note">Each player draws a tile; the one closest to &ldquo;A&rdquo; moves first (a blank beats every letter), ties re-drawing until a single leader remains.{{if .FirstMover}} <b>{{.FirstMover}}</b> leads.{{end}}</p>
+<table class="list">
+<thead><tr><th>Round</th><th>Player</th><th>Tile</th><th>Rank</th></tr></thead>
+<tbody>
+{{range .SetupDraws}}
+<tr><td>{{.Round}}</td><td>{{if .AccountID}}<a href="/_gm/users/{{.AccountID}}">{{.Name}}</a>{{else}}{{.Name}}{{end}}</td><td>{{.Letter}}{{if .Blank}} <small>(blank)</small>{{end}}</td><td>{{.Rank}}</td></tr>
+{{end}}
+</tbody>
+</table>
+</section>
+{{end}}
+{{if .HasReplay}}
+<section class="panel"><h2>Replay</h2>
+<div class="replay-stage">
+  <div class="rack-slot rack-top" data-seat="0"></div>
+  <div class="rack-slot rack-left" data-seat="2"></div>
+  <div class="replay-board" id="replay-board"></div>
+  <div class="rack-slot rack-right" data-seat="3"></div>
+  <div class="rack-slot rack-bottom" data-seat="1"></div>
+</div>
+<div class="replay-controls">
+  <button type="button" id="replay-prev">&#9664; prev</button>
+  <span class="replay-pos" id="replay-pos"></span>
+  <button type="button" id="replay-next">next &#9654;</button>
+</div>
+<ol class="replay-log" id="replay-log"></ol>
+<script>
+const REPLAY = {{.ReplayJSON}};
+(function(){
+  if(!REPLAY||!REPLAY.steps){return;}
+  const N=15, COLS="ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO", PREM={tw:"3W",dw:"2W",tl:"3L",dl:"2L"};
+  const boardEl=document.getElementById("replay-board"), logEl=document.getElementById("replay-log");
+  const posEl=document.getElementById("replay-pos"), prevBtn=document.getElementById("replay-prev"), nextBtn=document.getElementById("replay-next");
+  let step=0;
+  function esc(s){const d=document.createElement("div");d.textContent=s==null?"":s;return d.innerHTML;}
+  function tileHTML(t){const sub=(t.v&&t.v>0)?"<sub>"+t.v+"<\/sub>":"";return "<span class=\"tile"+(t.b?" blank":"")+"\">"+esc(t.l)+sub+"<\/span>";}
+  function placedAt(k){const m={};for(let s=1;s<=k;s++){const mv=REPLAY.steps[s]&&REPLAY.steps[s].move;if(mv&&mv.placements){for(const p of mv.placements){m[p.r+","+p.c]=p;}}}return m;}
+  function renderBoard(){
+    const placed=placedAt(step);let h="<div class=\"board-grid\"><div class=\"bh corner\"><\/div>";
+    for(let c=0;c<N;c++){h+="<div class=\"bh\">"+COLS[c]+"<\/div>";}
+    for(let r=0;r<N;r++){h+="<div class=\"bh\">"+(r+1)+"<\/div>";
+      for(let c=0;c<N;c++){const p=placed[r+","+c];
+        if(p){h+="<div class=\"cell filled\">"+tileHTML(p)+"<\/div>";continue;}
+        const prem=REPLAY.premium[r][c], centre=(r===REPLAY.centre[0]&&c===REPLAY.centre[1]);
+        const label=centre?"&#9733;":(prem?PREM[prem]:"");
+        h+="<div class=\"cell "+(prem||"")+(centre?" centre":"")+"\">"+(label?"<span class=\"prem\">"+label+"<\/span>":"")+"<\/div>";}}
+    h+="<\/div>";boardEl.innerHTML=h;
+  }
+  function renderRacks(){
+    const st=REPLAY.steps[step];
+    document.querySelectorAll(".rack-slot").forEach(function(slot){
+      const seat=parseInt(slot.dataset.seat,10), info=REPLAY.seats.find(function(s){return s.seat===seat;}), rack=st.racks[seat];
+      if(!info||!rack){slot.style.display="none";slot.innerHTML="";return;}
+      slot.style.display="";slot.classList.toggle("active",st.toMove===seat);
+      const nm=info.accountId?"<a href=\"/_gm/users/"+info.accountId+"\">"+esc(info.name)+"<\/a>":esc(info.name||("seat "+seat));
+      slot.innerHTML="<div class=\"rack-name\">"+nm+" &middot; "+(st.scores[seat]||0)+"<\/div><div class=\"rack-tiles\">"+rack.map(tileHTML).join("")+"<\/div>";
+    });
+  }
+  function renderLog(){
+    let h="";
+    for(let s=1;s<=step;s++){const st=REPLAY.steps[s], m=st.move;if(!m){continue;}
+      const who=((REPLAY.seats.find(function(x){return x.seat===m.seat;})||{}).name)||("seat "+m.seat);
+      let desc;
+      if(m.action==="play"){desc="played "+((m.words&&m.words.length)?m.words.join(", "):"")+" for "+m.score;}
+      else if(m.action==="exchange"){desc="exchanged "+((m.exchanged&&m.exchanged.length)||0)+" tiles";}
+      else if(m.action==="pass"){desc="passed";}
+      else{desc=m.action;}
+      const drew=(st.drawn&&st.drawn.length)?" &middot; drew "+st.drawn.map(function(t){return t.l;}).join(""):"";
+      h+="<li class=\""+(s===step?"cur":"")+"\">"+esc(who)+" "+esc(desc)+drew+" &middot; bag "+st.bagLen+"<\/li>";}
+    logEl.innerHTML=h||"<li class=\"note\">opening position<\/li>";
+  }
+  function render(){renderBoard();renderRacks();renderLog();posEl.textContent=step+" / "+(REPLAY.steps.length-1);prevBtn.disabled=step<=0;nextBtn.disabled=step>=REPLAY.steps.length-1;}
+  prevBtn.onclick=function(){if(step>0){step--;render();}};
+  nextBtn.onclick=function(){if(step<REPLAY.steps.length-1){step++;render();}};
+  document.addEventListener("keydown",function(e){if(e.key==="ArrowLeft"){prevBtn.click();}else if(e.key==="ArrowRight"){nextBtn.click();}});
+  render();
+})();
+</script>
+</section>
+{{end}}
 {{end}}
 {{- end}}

backend/internal/adminconsole/templates/pages/throttled.gohtml

@@ -5,6 +5,26 @@
 list is in-memory and resets on a backend restart. An account sustaining
 {{.FlagThreshold}}+ rejected calls within {{.FlagWindow}} is soft-flagged for review
 below — never banned automatically; clear the flag on the user card.</p>
+<section class="panel"><h2>Active IP bans</h2>
+<p class="note">Temporary IP bans the gateway is currently enforcing (in-memory, prod-only;
+reset on a gateway restart). Unban applies on the gateway's next sync.</p>
+<table class="list">
+<thead><tr><th>IP</th><th>Reason</th><th>Since</th><th>Expires</th><th></th></tr></thead>
+<tbody>
+{{range .Bans}}
+<tr>
+<td><code>{{.IP}}</code></td>
+<td>{{.Reason}}</td>
+<td>{{.Since}}</td>
+<td>{{.Expires}}</td>
+<td><form class="form" method="post" action="/_gm/bans/unban"><input type="hidden" name="ip" value="{{.IP}}"><button type="submit">Unban</button></form></td>
+</tr>
+{{else}}
+<tr><td colspan="5"><span class="note">no active bans</span></td></tr>
+{{end}}
+</tbody>
+</table>
+</section>
 <section class="panel"><h2>Recent episodes</h2>
 <table class="list">
 <thead><tr><th>Class</th><th>Key</th><th class="num">Rejected</th><th>First seen</th><th>Last seen</th></tr></thead>

backend/internal/adminconsole/templates/pages/user_detail.gohtml

@@ -137,7 +137,6 @@
 {{if .ConnectorEnabled}}
 <form class="form col" method="post" action="/_gm/users/{{.ID}}/message">
 <label>Message <textarea name="text" required></textarea></label>
-<label>Bot language <select name="language"><option value="en">en</option><option value="ru">ru</option></select></label>
 <div><button type="submit">Send to user</button></div>
 </form>
 {{else}}<p class="note">connector not configured (set BACKEND_CONNECTOR_ADDR)</p>{{end}}

backend/internal/adminconsole/views.go

@@ -268,6 +268,27 @@ type GameDetailView struct {
 	// RobotTargetPct is the configured global play-to-win rate, in percent.
 	HasRobot       bool
 	RobotTargetPct int
+	// ReplayJSON is the game-replay payload (board, seats, per-step racks/scores/bag) the
+	// game_detail page feeds to its vanilla-JS stepper; HasReplay gates the replay section.
+	ReplayJSON template.JS
+	HasReplay  bool
+	// SetupDraws is the first-move draw — one row per tile drawn (docs/ARCHITECTURE.md §6) —
+	// and FirstMover is the resolved name of the seat-0 player the draw elected.
+	SetupDraws []SetupDrawRow
+	FirstMover string
+}
+
+// SetupDrawRow is one tile drawn in the first-move seeding (docs/ARCHITECTURE.md §6): the
+// round, the player (Name/AccountID, or "(opponent)" with an empty AccountID for an
+// auto-match synthetic draw not yet back-filled), the drawn letter (upper-cased; "?" for a
+// blank) and its draw rank.
+type SetupDrawRow struct {
+	Round     int
+	Name      string
+	AccountID string
+	Letter    string
+	Blank     bool
+	Rank      int
 }
 
 // SeatRow is one seat of a game. For a robot seat (IsRobot) RobotIntent is the game's
@@ -368,17 +389,27 @@ type BroadcastView struct {
 	ConnectorEnabled bool
 }
 
-// ThrottledView is the rate-limit observability page: the recent gateway-reported
-// throttle episodes (in-memory, reset on restart) and the accounts currently
-// carrying the high-rate flag. FlagThreshold and FlagWindow caption the active
-// auto-flag tuning.
+// ThrottledView is the rate-limit observability page: the temporary IP bans the
+// gateway is currently enforcing, the recent gateway-reported throttle episodes
+// (in-memory, reset on restart) and the accounts currently carrying the high-rate
+// flag. FlagThreshold and FlagWindow caption the active auto-flag tuning.
 type ThrottledView struct {
+	Bans          []BanRow
 	Episodes      []ThrottleEpisodeRow
 	Flagged       []FlaggedAccountRow
 	FlagThreshold int
 	FlagWindow    string
 }
 
+// BanRow is one temporary IP ban the gateway is enforcing, with its reason and its
+// since/expiry timestamps; the row carries an unban action.
+type BanRow struct {
+	IP      string
+	Reason  string
+	Since   string
+	Expires string
+}
+
 // ThrottleEpisodeRow is one recently throttled limiter key. UserID links to the
 // user card and is set only for the user class (the other classes key by IP).
 type ThrottleEpisodeRow struct {
@@ -510,11 +541,8 @@ type FeedbackDetailView struct {
 	SenderName string
 	Source     string
 	Channel    string
-	// InterfaceLanguage is the sender's interface language (account preference);
-	// BotLanguage is the connector bot they last used (en/ru), set only for a
-	// message that arrived through an external connector (Telegram).
+	// InterfaceLanguage is the sender's interface language (account preference).
 	InterfaceLanguage string
-	BotLanguage       string
 	IP                string
 	Body              string
 	HasAttachment     bool

backend/internal/banview/banview.go

@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+// Package banview mirrors the gateway's active IP bans for the admin console and
+// collects operator unban requests for the gateway to apply. Like ratewatch it is
+// in-memory, single-instance and resets on a backend restart by design — the
+// gateway re-reports its active set on the next sync, and the durable effect (the
+// ban itself) lives in the gateway, not here.
+package banview
+
+import (
+	"sort"
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// Ban is one active IP ban as reported by the gateway.
+type Ban struct {
+	IP      string
+	Reason  string
+	Since   time.Time
+	Expires time.Time
+}
+
+// View holds the last-reported active bans and the operator's pending unbans.
+type View struct {
+	now func() time.Time
+
+	mu    sync.Mutex
+	bans  map[string]Ban      // last reported active set, keyed by IP
+	unban map[string]struct{} // IPs an operator marked for unban
+}
+
+// New constructs an empty View.
+func New() *View {
+	return &View{now: time.Now, bans: make(map[string]Ban), unban: make(map[string]struct{})}
+}
+
+// Ingest replaces the mirrored active set with the gateway's latest report,
+// skipping entries with an empty IP or one that has already expired.
+func (v *View) Ingest(active []Ban) {
+	now := v.now()
+	v.mu.Lock()
+	defer v.mu.Unlock()
+	v.bans = make(map[string]Ban, len(active))
+	for _, b := range active {
+		if b.IP == "" || !now.Before(b.Expires) {
+			continue
+		}
+		v.bans[b.IP] = b
+	}
+}
+
+// Recent returns the mirrored active bans, most recently banned first.
+func (v *View) Recent() []Ban {
+	now := v.now()
+	v.mu.Lock()
+	defer v.mu.Unlock()
+	out := make([]Ban, 0, len(v.bans))
+	for _, b := range v.bans {
+		if now.Before(b.Expires) {
+			out = append(out, b)
+		}
+	}
+	sort.Slice(out, func(i, j int) bool { return out[i].Since.After(out[j].Since) })
+	return out
+}
+
+// RequestUnban records an operator request to lift the ban on ip; the gateway
+// applies it on its next sync (so the console reflects it within the sync
+// interval). An empty ip is ignored.
+func (v *View) RequestUnban(ip string) {
+	if ip == "" {
+		return
+	}
+	v.mu.Lock()
+	defer v.mu.Unlock()
+	v.unban[ip] = struct{}{}
+}
+
+// DrainUnbans returns and clears the IPs operators have marked for unban since the
+// previous drain. It returns nil when there are none.
+func (v *View) DrainUnbans() []string {
+	v.mu.Lock()
+	defer v.mu.Unlock()
+	if len(v.unban) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	out := make([]string, 0, len(v.unban))
+	for ip := range v.unban {
+		out = append(out, ip)
+	}
+	clear(v.unban)
+	return out
+}

backend/internal/banview/banview_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+package banview
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+func viewAt(clk *time.Time) *View {
+	v := New()
+	v.now = func() time.Time { return *clk }
+	return v
+}
+
+func TestIngestRecentDropsExpired(t *testing.T) {
+	clk := time.Date(2026, 6, 21, 12, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+	v := viewAt(&clk)
+	v.Ingest([]Ban{
+		{IP: "1.1.1.1", Reason: "tripwire", Since: clk, Expires: clk.Add(time.Hour)},
+		{IP: "2.2.2.2", Reason: "rejections", Since: clk.Add(-2 * time.Hour), Expires: clk.Add(-time.Hour)}, // expired
+		{IP: "", Reason: "x", Since: clk, Expires: clk.Add(time.Hour)},                                      // empty IP
+	})
+	got := v.Recent()
+	if len(got) != 1 || got[0].IP != "1.1.1.1" || got[0].Reason != "tripwire" {
+		t.Fatalf("Recent = %+v, want one live ban for 1.1.1.1", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestIngestReplaces(t *testing.T) {
+	clk := time.Date(2026, 6, 21, 12, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+	v := viewAt(&clk)
+	v.Ingest([]Ban{{IP: "1.1.1.1", Since: clk, Expires: clk.Add(time.Hour)}})
+	v.Ingest([]Ban{{IP: "2.2.2.2", Since: clk, Expires: clk.Add(time.Hour)}})
+	got := v.Recent()
+	if len(got) != 1 || got[0].IP != "2.2.2.2" {
+		t.Fatalf("Recent = %+v, want only the latest report (2.2.2.2)", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRecentOrdersBySince(t *testing.T) {
+	clk := time.Date(2026, 6, 21, 12, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+	v := viewAt(&clk)
+	v.Ingest([]Ban{
+		{IP: "old", Since: clk.Add(-10 * time.Minute), Expires: clk.Add(time.Hour)},
+		{IP: "new", Since: clk.Add(-1 * time.Minute), Expires: clk.Add(time.Hour)},
+	})
+	got := v.Recent()
+	if len(got) != 2 || got[0].IP != "new" || got[1].IP != "old" {
+		t.Fatalf("Recent order = %+v, want most recent first", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestUnbanRoundTrip(t *testing.T) {
+	clk := time.Date(2026, 6, 21, 12, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+	v := viewAt(&clk)
+	v.RequestUnban("3.3.3.3")
+	v.RequestUnban("") // ignored
+	drained := v.DrainUnbans()
+	if len(drained) != 1 || drained[0] != "3.3.3.3" {
+		t.Fatalf("DrainUnbans = %v, want [3.3.3.3]", drained)
+	}
+	if again := v.DrainUnbans(); again != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("second DrainUnbans = %v, want nil (cleared)", again)
+	}
+}

backend/internal/connector/client.go

@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
-// Package connector is the backend's gRPC client for the Telegram platform
-// connector side-service. The admin console uses it to send operator broadcasts:
-// a direct message to one user, or a post to a game channel. Each broadcast
-// selects the delivering bot by language (an operator choice, since the connector
-// hosts one bot per service language). The connector lives on the trusted internal
-// network, so the connection uses insecure (plaintext) transport credentials
-// (docs/ARCHITECTURE.md §12). It mirrors gateway/internal/connector, narrowed to
-// the two broadcast methods the admin surface needs.
+// Package connector is the backend's gRPC client for operator broadcasts: a direct
+// message to one user, or a post to the game channel. It calls the gateway's
+// bot-link relay (which forwards the send to the remote bot over the reverse mTLS
+// link and reports back whether it was delivered). The relay lives on the trusted
+// internal network, so the connection uses insecure (plaintext) transport
+// credentials (docs/ARCHITECTURE.md §12). It speaks the Telegram service contract,
+// narrowed to the two broadcast methods the admin surface needs.
 package connector
 
 import (
@@ -37,22 +36,21 @@ func New(addr string) (*Client, error) {
 func (c *Client) Close() error { return c.conn.Close() }
 
 // SendToUser sends an operator text message to one user, addressed by their
-// platform external_id, through the bot for the given language. delivered reports
-// whether the connector actually sent it (false when the user has not started that
-// bot).
-func (c *Client) SendToUser(ctx context.Context, externalID, text, language string) (bool, error) {
-	resp, err := c.c.SendToUser(ctx, &telegramv1.SendToUserRequest{ExternalId: externalID, Text: text, Language: language})
+// platform external_id, through the bot. delivered reports whether the connector
+// actually sent it (false when the user has not started the bot).
+func (c *Client) SendToUser(ctx context.Context, externalID, text string) (bool, error) {
+	resp, err := c.c.SendToUser(ctx, &telegramv1.SendToUserRequest{ExternalId: externalID, Text: text})
 	if err != nil {
 		return false, err
 	}
 	return resp.GetDelivered(), nil
 }
 
-// SendToGameChannel posts an operator text message to the game channel of the bot
-// for the given language. delivered reports whether the connector sent it (false
-// when that bot has no channel configured).
-func (c *Client) SendToGameChannel(ctx context.Context, text, language string) (bool, error) {
-	resp, err := c.c.SendToGameChannel(ctx, &telegramv1.SendToGameChannelRequest{Text: text, Language: language})
+// SendToGameChannel posts an operator text message to the bot's game channel.
+// delivered reports whether the connector sent it (false when the bot has no
+// channel configured).
+func (c *Client) SendToGameChannel(ctx context.Context, text string) (bool, error) {
+	resp, err := c.c.SendToGameChannel(ctx, &telegramv1.SendToGameChannelRequest{Text: text})
 	if err != nil {
 		return false, err
 	}

backend/internal/engine/registry.go

@@ -70,11 +70,21 @@ func Open(dir, version string, variants ...Variant) (*Registry, error) {
 // immediate subdirectory of dir: a subdirectory named V contributes, under
 // version V, the variants whose committed DAWG it carries. This is the
 // restart-side of the admin dictionary reload — a version reloaded into dir/<V>/
-// at runtime is resident again after a restart. A subdirectory named like the
-// boot version is skipped (the flat dir already is the boot version). A partially
-// loaded registry is closed before any error is returned.
+// at runtime is resident again after a restart. The flat dir's version is resolved
+// from its .seed_version marker (see resolveSeedVersion): a fresh dir records
+// bootVersion, an already-seeded dir keeps its recorded label and ignores bootVersion,
+// so a bumped build seed never relabels live bytes. A subdirectory named like the
+// resolved seed version is skipped (the flat dir already is it). A partially loaded
+// registry is closed before any error is returned.
 func OpenWithVersions(dir, bootVersion string) (*Registry, error) {
-	r, err := Open(dir, bootVersion)
+	// Resolve the flat dir's version from its seed marker first: on an already-seeded
+	// volume the marker wins and bootVersion is ignored, so a bumped build seed cannot
+	// relabel live bytes (see resolveSeedVersion).
+	seed, err := resolveSeedVersion(dir, bootVersion)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	r, err := Open(dir, seed)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -84,9 +94,9 @@ func OpenWithVersions(dir, bootVersion string) (*Registry, error) {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("engine: scan dictionary dir %s: %w", dir, err)
 	}
 	for _, e := range entries {
-		// Skip non-directories, the boot version (already loaded as the flat dir)
-		// and dot-prefixed directories (the upload staging area, dir/.staging/).
-		if !e.IsDir() || e.Name() == bootVersion || strings.HasPrefix(e.Name(), ".") {
+		// Skip non-directories, the resolved seed version (already loaded as the flat
+		// dir) and dot-prefixed directories (the upload staging area, dir/.staging/).
+		if !e.IsDir() || e.Name() == seed || strings.HasPrefix(e.Name(), ".") {
 			continue
 		}
 		if _, err := r.LoadAvailable(filepath.Join(dir, e.Name()), e.Name()); err != nil {

backend/internal/engine/reload_test.go

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
 	"testing"
 )
 
@@ -112,6 +113,103 @@ func TestOpenWithVersionsSkipsDotDirs(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// TestOpenWithVersionsRecordsSeedMarker verifies the first boot records the seed
+// version in the flat dir's marker, the marker is not mistaken for a version, and a
+// reboot at the same seed version succeeds.
+func TestOpenWithVersionsRecordsSeedMarker(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	for _, v := range Variants() {
+		copyDawg(t, testDictDir(), dir, v)
+	}
+
+	reg, err := OpenWithVersions(dir, "v1")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("first open: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got := reg.Versions(VariantEnglish); len(got) != 1 || got[0] != "v1" {
+		t.Errorf("versions = %v, want only [v1] (marker not a version)", got)
+	}
+	_ = reg.Close()
+
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, seedMarkerFile))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("read seed marker: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got := strings.TrimSpace(string(data)); got != "v1" {
+		t.Fatalf("seed marker = %q, want v1", got)
+	}
+
+	reg2, err := OpenWithVersions(dir, "v1")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("reboot at same seed: %v", err)
+	}
+	_ = reg2.Close()
+}
+
+// TestOpenWithVersionsMarkerWinsOverBoot verifies the recorded .seed_version marker
+// is authoritative: once a directory is seeded, a different bootVersion
+// (BACKEND_DICT_VERSION) is ignored — the flat dir keeps its recorded label — so a
+// bumped build seed on a live volume cannot relabel the already-seeded bytes.
+func TestOpenWithVersionsMarkerWinsOverBoot(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	for _, v := range Variants() {
+		copyDawg(t, testDictDir(), dir, v)
+	}
+
+	reg, err := OpenWithVersions(dir, "v1") // seeds the marker = v1
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("seed open: %v", err)
+	}
+	_ = reg.Close()
+
+	// Reboot with a bumped boot version: the marker (v1) wins, no error, v2 ignored.
+	reg2, err := OpenWithVersions(dir, "v2")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("reboot with bumped boot version: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer func() { _ = reg2.Close() }()
+	if got := reg2.Versions(VariantEnglish); len(got) != 1 || got[0] != "v1" {
+		t.Errorf("versions = %v, want [v1] (marker wins, v2 ignored)", got)
+	}
+	if _, err := reg2.Solver(VariantEnglish, "v2"); !errors.Is(err, ErrUnknownVersion) {
+		t.Errorf("v2 must not be resident: got %v", err)
+	}
+	data, _ := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, seedMarkerFile))
+	if got := strings.TrimSpace(string(data)); got != "v1" {
+		t.Errorf("marker = %q, want v1 (unchanged)", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestOpenWithVersionsBumpedBootKeepsSubdir mirrors the live-contour case: a volume
+// seeded as v1 with a v2 subdirectory (uploaded via the console), booted with a bumped
+// build seed bootVersion=v2. The marker (v1) wins for the flat dir, and the v2
+// subdirectory is still loaded — not skipped as "the boot version" — so both versions
+// stay resident. (Skipping it would silently leave only the flat v1 bytes under v2.)
+func TestOpenWithVersionsBumpedBootKeepsSubdir(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	for _, v := range Variants() {
+		copyDawg(t, testDictDir(), dir, v)
+	}
+	reg0, err := OpenWithVersions(dir, "v1") // seed marker = v1
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("seed: %v", err)
+	}
+	_ = reg0.Close()
+	copyDawg(t, testDictDir(), filepath.Join(dir, "v2"), VariantEnglish) // console upload
+
+	reg, err := OpenWithVersions(dir, "v2") // bumped build seed
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("boot v2: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer func() { _ = reg.Close() }()
+	if _, err := reg.Solver(VariantEnglish, "v1"); err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("flat v1 must stay resident: %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := reg.Solver(VariantEnglish, "v2"); err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("v2 subdir must be resident (not skipped): %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
 // TestReloadRegistersNewVersion verifies Load adds a second version to a variant
 // already resident, moves the latest pointer and keeps the earlier version.
 func TestReloadRegistersNewVersion(t *testing.T) {

backend/internal/engine/seedmarker.go

@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// seedMarkerFile names the file, in the flat dictionary directory, that records the
+// version the directory was first seeded as. It is dot-prefixed so OpenWithVersions'
+// version scan skips it (like the .staging upload area).
+const seedMarkerFile = ".seed_version"
+
+// resolveSeedVersion returns the version label the flat dictionary directory is
+// addressed by, recording it on first use.
+//
+// The contour's dictionary lives on a named volume seeded from the image once and
+// never re-seeded (deploy/docker-compose.yml). The flat DAWGs carry no embedded
+// version, so the version a volume was first seeded as is recorded in a
+// .seed_version marker and is **authoritative** from then on:
+//
+//   - fresh directory (no marker): record bootVersion (the build's
+//     BACKEND_DICT_VERSION) and return it — the seed of a fresh volume;
+//   - already-seeded directory: return the recorded marker and ignore bootVersion.
+//
+// So bumping the build seed on a live volume is a harmless no-op (it only takes
+// effect on a future fresh volume) instead of relabelling the already-seeded bytes —
+// which would void games pinned to the prior label and mis-serve new ones. New games
+// still pin the active version (DB-persisted, set by the admin console), which is the
+// real way a running contour moves to a new release.
+//
+// A directory that cannot be written makes the first record fail; that also breaks
+// the admin console (which writes version subdirectories here), so the error is
+// returned rather than swallowed, matching the package's fail-loud dictionary setup.
+func resolveSeedVersion(dir, bootVersion string) (string, error) {
+	path := filepath.Join(dir, seedMarkerFile)
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("engine: read dictionary seed marker %s: %w", path, err)
+	}
+	if err == nil {
+		if recorded := strings.TrimSpace(string(data)); recorded != "" {
+			return recorded, nil
+		}
+		// An empty/corrupt marker falls through and is rewritten from bootVersion.
+	}
+	if werr := os.WriteFile(path, []byte(bootVersion+"\n"), 0o644); werr != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("engine: record dictionary seed marker %s: %w", path, werr)
+	}
+	return bootVersion, nil
+}

backend/internal/engine/setup.go

@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+package engine
+
+import "fmt"
+
+// SetupTile is one tile of a variant's full bag, decoded for the first-move draw
+// (docs/ARCHITECTURE.md §6): its concrete letter (or the blank marker), a blank
+// flag, and its draw rank. Lower rank wins the draw — a blank ranks above every
+// letter, and letters rank by alphabet index, so the tile closest to the start of
+// the alphabet ("A") wins. It is dictionary-independent, built from the variant's
+// solver ruleset alone.
+type SetupTile struct {
+	// Letter is the concrete character (the case the solver ruleset emits), or
+	// the blank marker "?" for a blank.
+	Letter string
+	// Blank reports whether the tile is a blank.
+	Blank bool
+	// Rank orders the draw: BlankRank for a blank (best), else the letter's
+	// alphabet index (0 = closest to "A").
+	Rank int
+}
+
+// BlankRank is the first-move draw rank of a blank: below every letter index, so a
+// blank always beats a lettered tile, matching the official rule that a blank
+// supersedes all letters.
+const BlankRank = -1
+
+// SetupBag returns variant's full tile bag — every lettered tile expanded by its
+// count, plus one entry per blank — decoded for the first-move seeding draw. The
+// order is deterministic (alphabet order, blanks last); callers shuffle it with
+// their own entropy. It needs no dictionary, so it is built from the variant's
+// ruleset alone and reports ErrUnknownVariant for an unrecognised variant.
+func SetupBag(v Variant) ([]SetupTile, error) {
+	rs, ok := v.ruleset()
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w: %d", ErrUnknownVariant, v)
+	}
+	bag := make([]SetupTile, 0, 128)
+	for i, n := range rs.Counts {
+		ch, err := rs.Alphabet.Character(byte(i))
+		if err != nil {
+			// An offered variant's alphabet never yields a bad index; skip defensively.
+			continue
+		}
+		for range n {
+			bag = append(bag, SetupTile{Letter: ch, Rank: i})
+		}
+	}
+	for range rs.Blanks {
+		bag = append(bag, SetupTile{Letter: blankLetter, Blank: true, Rank: BlankRank})
+	}
+	return bag, nil
+}

backend/internal/engine/setup_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+package engine
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestSetupBagEnglish(t *testing.T) {
+	bag, err := SetupBag(VariantEnglish)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("SetupBag: %v", err)
+	}
+	// English Scrabble: 98 lettered tiles + 2 blanks = 100.
+	if len(bag) != 100 {
+		t.Fatalf("bag size = %d, want 100", len(bag))
+	}
+	blanks, aCount := 0, 0
+	for _, tl := range bag {
+		switch {
+		case tl.Blank:
+			blanks++
+			if tl.Rank != BlankRank {
+				t.Errorf("blank rank = %d, want %d", tl.Rank, BlankRank)
+			}
+			if tl.Letter != blankLetter {
+				t.Errorf("blank letter = %q, want %q", tl.Letter, blankLetter)
+			}
+		case tl.Letter == "a":
+			aCount++
+			if tl.Rank != 0 {
+				t.Errorf("'a' rank = %d, want 0 (closest to A)", tl.Rank)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	if blanks != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("blanks = %d, want 2", blanks)
+	}
+	if aCount != 9 {
+		t.Errorf("'a' count = %d, want 9", aCount)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSetupBagUnknownVariant(t *testing.T) {
+	if _, err := SetupBag(Variant(99)); !errors.Is(err, ErrUnknownVariant) {
+		t.Fatalf("err = %v, want ErrUnknownVariant", err)
+	}
+}

backend/internal/feedback/service.go

@@ -112,14 +112,9 @@ func (svc *Service) Submit(ctx context.Context, accountID uuid.UUID, body string
 		attachmentName = "" // a name without bytes carries no attachment
 	}
 	ch := normalizeChannel(channel)
-	// Snapshot the languages at submit time (acc is already loaded for the guest check):
-	// the sender's interface language, and the connector bot language when the message
-	// came through an external connector (currently Telegram).
-	var channelLang string
-	if ch == "telegram" {
-		channelLang = acc.ServiceLanguage
-	}
-	_, err = svc.store.Insert(ctx, accountID, body, attachment, attachmentName, ch, acc.PreferredLanguage, channelLang, parseIP(senderIP))
+	// Snapshot the sender's interface language at submit time (acc is already loaded
+	// for the guest check) so the operator later sees the state as it was.
+	_, err = svc.store.Insert(ctx, accountID, body, attachment, attachmentName, ch, acc.PreferredLanguage, parseIP(senderIP))
 	return err
 }
 

backend/internal/feedback/store.go

@@ -34,11 +34,10 @@ func NewStore(db *sql.DB) *Store {
 
 // Insert stores one feedback message from accountID and returns its id. attachment
 // is the raw file bytes (nil for none); attachmentName, ip and a non-default
-// channel are stored as given. lang (the sender's interface language) and channelLang
-// (the connector bot language, empty for a non-connector channel) are snapshots taken
-// now, so the operator later sees the state at submit time. created_at defaults to
-// now() in the database.
-func (s *Store) Insert(ctx context.Context, accountID uuid.UUID, body string, attachment []byte, attachmentName, channel, lang, channelLang string, ip *string) (uuid.UUID, error) {
+// channel are stored as given. lang (the sender's interface language) is a snapshot
+// taken now, so the operator later sees the state at submit time. created_at defaults
+// to now() in the database.
+func (s *Store) Insert(ctx context.Context, accountID uuid.UUID, body string, attachment []byte, attachmentName, channel, lang string, ip *string) (uuid.UUID, error) {
 	id, err := uuid.NewV7()
 	if err != nil {
 		return uuid.Nil, fmt.Errorf("feedback: new message id: %w", err)
@@ -49,9 +48,9 @@ func (s *Store) Insert(ctx context.Context, accountID uuid.UUID, body string, at
 	}
 	if _, err := s.db.ExecContext(ctx,
 		`INSERT INTO backend.feedback_messages
-		   (message_id, account_id, body, attachment, attachment_name, channel, lang, channel_lang, sender_ip)
-		 VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7, $8, $9)`,
-		id, accountID, body, att, nullStr(attachmentName), channel, nullStr(lang), nullStr(channelLang), ip); err != nil {
+		   (message_id, account_id, body, attachment, attachment_name, channel, lang, sender_ip)
+		 VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7, $8)`,
+		id, accountID, body, att, nullStr(attachmentName), channel, nullStr(lang), ip); err != nil {
 		return uuid.Nil, fmt.Errorf("feedback: insert: %w", err)
 	}
 	return id, nil
@@ -228,10 +227,8 @@ type AdminMessage struct {
 	Source     string
 	Body       string
 	Channel    string
-	// Lang is the sender's interface language and ChannelLang the connector bot language
-	// (en/ru, empty for a non-connector channel) — both snapshotted at submit time.
+	// Lang is the sender's interface language, snapshotted at submit time.
 	Lang           string
-	ChannelLang    string
 	SenderIP       string
 	HasAttachment  bool
 	AttachmentName string
@@ -346,7 +343,7 @@ func (s *Store) AdminGet(ctx context.Context, id uuid.UUID) (AdminMessage, error
 	var m AdminMessage
 	var repliedAt sql.NullTime
 	q := `SELECT m.message_id, m.account_id, a.display_name, ` + feedbackSource + ` AS source, m.body, m.channel,
-		COALESCE(m.lang, ''), COALESCE(m.channel_lang, ''),
+		COALESCE(m.lang, ''),
 		COALESCE(m.sender_ip, ''), (m.attachment IS NOT NULL), COALESCE(m.attachment_name, ''),
 		(m.read_at IS NOT NULL), (m.archived_at IS NOT NULL), (m.reply_body IS NOT NULL),
 		COALESCE(m.reply_body, ''), m.replied_at, m.created_at
@@ -355,7 +352,7 @@ func (s *Store) AdminGet(ctx context.Context, id uuid.UUID) (AdminMessage, error
 	WHERE m.message_id = $1`
 	err := s.db.QueryRowContext(ctx, q, id).Scan(
 		&m.ID, &m.AccountID, &m.SenderName, &m.Source, &m.Body, &m.Channel,
-		&m.Lang, &m.ChannelLang,
+		&m.Lang,
 		&m.SenderIP, &m.HasAttachment, &m.AttachmentName,
 		&m.Read, &m.Archived, &m.Replied, &m.ReplyBody, &repliedAt, &m.CreatedAt)
 	if errors.Is(err, sql.ErrNoRows) {

backend/internal/game/cache.go

@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ type gameCache struct {
 
 type cachedGame struct {
 	game       *engine.Game
+	seats      []Seat
 	variant    string
 	lastAccess time.Time
 }
@@ -71,24 +72,27 @@ func newGameCache(ttl time.Duration, now func() time.Time) *gameCache {
 	return &gameCache{entries: make(map[uuid.UUID]*cachedGame), ttl: ttl, now: now}
 }
 
-// get returns the live game for id and refreshes its idle timer, or (nil, false).
-func (c *gameCache) get(id uuid.UUID) (*engine.Game, bool) {
+// get returns the live game and its immutable seat list for id and refreshes its idle
+// timer, or (nil, nil, false). The seats let a read check membership (and label seats)
+// without re-loading the game from the store, since seats never change after a game starts.
+func (c *gameCache) get(id uuid.UUID) (*engine.Game, []Seat, bool) {
 	c.mu.Lock()
 	defer c.mu.Unlock()
 	e, ok := c.entries[id]
 	if !ok {
-		return nil, false
+		return nil, nil, false
 	}
 	e.lastAccess = c.now()
-	return e.game, true
+	return e.game, e.seats, true
 }
 
-// put stores g as the live game for id. variant labels the entry so the active-
-// games gauge can report counts by variant without inspecting engine internals.
-func (c *gameCache) put(id uuid.UUID, g *engine.Game, variant string) {
+// put stores g as the live game for id together with its seat list. variant labels the
+// entry so the active-games gauge can report counts by variant without inspecting engine
+// internals; seats are the game's immutable seat standings for the membership fast path.
+func (c *gameCache) put(id uuid.UUID, g *engine.Game, variant string, seats []Seat) {
 	c.mu.Lock()
 	defer c.mu.Unlock()
-	c.entries[id] = &cachedGame{game: g, variant: variant, lastAccess: c.now()}
+	c.entries[id] = &cachedGame{game: g, seats: seats, variant: variant, lastAccess: c.now()}
 }
 
 // remove drops id from the cache (used on a finished game and after a failed

backend/internal/game/emit_test.go

@@ -68,10 +68,6 @@ func TestEmitMoveNotifiesActor(t *testing.T) {
 	if got := string(yt.ScoreLine()); got != "13:19" { // seat 1 (recipient) first, then seat 0
 		t.Errorf("your_turn score_line = %q, want 13:19", got)
 	}
-	// Routed out-of-app by the game's language (the default Variant is English).
-	if yourTurn.Language != "en" {
-		t.Errorf("your_turn language = %q, want en", yourTurn.Language)
-	}
 }
 
 // TestEmitMoveAnnouncesGameOver checks the closing move sends a game_over push to every seat,
@@ -106,7 +102,4 @@ func TestEmitMoveAnnouncesGameOver(t *testing.T) {
 	if string(l.Result()) != "lost" || string(l.ScoreLine()) != "95:120" {
 		t.Errorf("loser game_over = %q / %q, want lost / 95:120", l.Result(), l.ScoreLine())
 	}
-	if over[winner].Language != "en" || over[loser].Language != "en" {
-		t.Errorf("game_over languages = %q/%q, want en/en", over[winner].Language, over[loser].Language)
-	}
 }

backend/internal/game/helpers_test.go

@@ -94,8 +94,8 @@ func TestGameCacheEviction(t *testing.T) {
 	cur := time.Unix(1_700_000_000, 0)
 	cache := newGameCache(time.Hour, func() time.Time { return cur })
 	id := uuid.New()
-	cache.put(id, nil, "scrabble_en")
-	if _, ok := cache.get(id); !ok {
+	cache.put(id, nil, "scrabble_en", nil)
+	if _, _, ok := cache.get(id); !ok {
 		t.Fatal("game must be resident after put")
 	}
 	cur = cur.Add(30 * time.Minute)
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ func TestGameCacheEviction(t *testing.T) {
 	if n := cache.sweep(); n != 1 {
 		t.Errorf("sweep evicted %d, want 1", n)
 	}
-	if _, ok := cache.get(id); ok {
+	if _, _, ok := cache.get(id); ok {
 		t.Error("game must be evicted after idle TTL")
 	}
 	if cache.size() != 0 {

backend/internal/game/replay_timeline.go

@@ -0,0 +1,144 @@
+package game
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+
+	"github.com/google/uuid"
+
+	"scrabble/backend/internal/engine"
+)
+
+// ReplayStep is one step of an admin game replay: the move that produced it (nil for the
+// initial dealt state, step 0) and the resulting position — every seat's rack, the running
+// scores, whose turn it is and the bag remainder. Step k's board is the union of every
+// play's placements through step k, which the renderer accumulates onto an empty grid
+// (docs/ARCHITECTURE.md §9.1 visual replay).
+type ReplayStep struct {
+	// Move is the journalled move that produced this state, or nil for the initial deal.
+	Move *HistoryMove
+	// Drawn lists the tiles the mover drew from the bag after this move ("?" for a blank);
+	// empty for the initial deal, a pass or a resignation.
+	Drawn []string
+	// Racks holds every seat's rack at this step, indexed by seat ("?" for a blank).
+	Racks [][]string
+	// Scores holds every seat's running score, indexed by seat.
+	Scores []int
+	// ToMove is the seat to move at this step.
+	ToMove int
+	// BagLen is the number of tiles left in the bag at this step.
+	BagLen int
+}
+
+// ReplayTimelineView is the admin replay of a game: the persisted game plus the ordered
+// replay steps (the initial deal followed by one step per journalled move).
+type ReplayTimelineView struct {
+	Game  Game
+	Steps []ReplayStep
+}
+
+// ReplayTimeline rebuilds a game from its pinned seed and journal and returns the ordered
+// replay steps for the admin console: the initial deal (step 0) then one step per
+// journalled move, each carrying the resulting racks, scores, turn cursor, bag size and the
+// tiles the mover drew. The deterministic bag makes the reconstruction exact. It needs no
+// dictionary beyond the engine the seed deals, and — like the live replay — stops early if a
+// committed move became illegal under tightened rules rather than failing.
+func (svc *Service) ReplayTimeline(ctx context.Context, gameID uuid.UUID) (ReplayTimelineView, error) {
+	pre, err := svc.store.GetGame(ctx, gameID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return ReplayTimelineView{}, err
+	}
+	seed, err := svc.store.GameSeed(ctx, gameID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return ReplayTimelineView{}, err
+	}
+	g, err := engine.New(svc.registry, engine.Options{
+		Variant:              pre.Variant,
+		Version:              pre.DictVersion,
+		Players:              pre.Players,
+		Seed:                 seed,
+		DropoutTiles:         pre.DropoutTiles,
+		MultipleWordsPerTurn: pre.MultipleWordsPerTurn,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return ReplayTimelineView{}, err
+	}
+	moves, err := svc.store.GetJournal(ctx, gameID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return ReplayTimelineView{}, err
+	}
+	steps := make([]ReplayStep, 0, len(moves)+1)
+	steps = append(steps, snapshotStep(g, nil, nil))
+	for i := range moves {
+		mv := moves[i]
+		before := g.Hand(mv.Seat)
+		if err := replayMove(g, mv); err != nil {
+			if errors.Is(err, engine.ErrIllegalPlay) {
+				g.Abort()
+				break
+			}
+			return ReplayTimelineView{}, fmt.Errorf("game: replay-timeline %s move %d: %w", gameID, mv.Seq, err)
+		}
+		moveCopy := mv
+		steps = append(steps, snapshotStep(g, &moveCopy, drawnTiles(before, g.Hand(mv.Seat), usedTiles(mv))))
+	}
+	return ReplayTimelineView{Game: pre, Steps: steps}, nil
+}
+
+// snapshotStep captures the position after applying move (nil for the initial deal): every
+// seat's rack and score, the turn cursor and the bag size, with the supplied drawn tiles.
+func snapshotStep(g *engine.Game, move *HistoryMove, drawn []string) ReplayStep {
+	n := g.Players()
+	racks := make([][]string, n)
+	scores := make([]int, n)
+	for i := 0; i < n; i++ {
+		racks[i] = g.Hand(i)
+		scores[i] = g.Score(i)
+	}
+	return ReplayStep{Move: move, Drawn: drawn, Racks: racks, Scores: scores, ToMove: g.ToMove(), BagLen: g.BagLen()}
+}
+
+// usedTiles returns the rack tiles a move consumed ("?" for a blank): the placed tiles of a
+// play or the swapped tiles of an exchange; a pass or resignation consumes none.
+func usedTiles(mv HistoryMove) []string {
+	switch mv.Action {
+	case "play":
+		used := make([]string, len(mv.Tiles))
+		for i, t := range mv.Tiles {
+			if t.Blank {
+				used[i] = "?" // a placed blank leaves the rack as the blank marker
+			} else {
+				used[i] = t.Letter
+			}
+		}
+		return used
+	case "exchange":
+		return mv.Exchanged
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// drawnTiles returns the tiles the mover drew from the bag: the post-move rack (after) minus
+// the tiles kept (before minus used). It compares the racks as multisets, so duplicate
+// letters are counted correctly.
+func drawnTiles(before, after, used []string) []string {
+	kept := make(map[string]int, len(before))
+	for _, t := range before {
+		kept[t]++
+	}
+	for _, t := range used {
+		if kept[t] > 0 {
+			kept[t]--
+		}
+	}
+	var drawn []string
+	for _, t := range after {
+		if kept[t] > 0 {
+			kept[t]--
+			continue
+		}
+		drawn = append(drawn, t)
+	}
+	return drawn
+}

backend/internal/game/replay_timeline_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+package game
+
+import (
+	"reflect"
+	"testing"
+
+	"scrabble/backend/internal/engine"
+)
+
+func TestUsedTiles(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name string
+		mv   HistoryMove
+		want []string
+	}{
+		{"pass", HistoryMove{Action: "pass"}, nil},
+		{"resign", HistoryMove{Action: "resign"}, nil},
+		{"play with blank", HistoryMove{Action: "play", Tiles: []engine.TileRecord{{Letter: "a"}, {Letter: "b", Blank: true}}}, []string{"a", "?"}},
+		{"exchange", HistoryMove{Action: "exchange", Exchanged: []string{"a", "?"}}, []string{"a", "?"}},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if got := usedTiles(tt.mv); !reflect.DeepEqual(got, tt.want) {
+				t.Fatalf("usedTiles = %v, want %v", got, tt.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestDrawnTiles(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name         string
+		before, used []string
+		after        []string
+		want         []string
+	}{
+		{"play refill", []string{"a", "b", "c", "d"}, []string{"a", "b"}, []string{"c", "d", "e", "f"}, []string{"e", "f"}},
+		{"blank played", []string{"?", "a"}, []string{"?"}, []string{"a", "x"}, []string{"x"}},
+		{"pass keeps rack", []string{"a", "b"}, nil, []string{"a", "b"}, nil},
+		{"duplicate letters", []string{"e", "e", "e"}, []string{"e"}, []string{"e", "e", "q"}, []string{"q"}},
+		{"empty bag no refill", []string{"a", "b"}, []string{"a"}, []string{"b"}, nil},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if got := drawnTiles(tt.before, tt.after, tt.used); !reflect.DeepEqual(got, tt.want) {
+				t.Fatalf("drawnTiles = %v, want %v", got, tt.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}

backend/internal/game/seating.go

@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+package game
+
+import (
+	"crypto/rand"
+	"fmt"
+	"math/big"
+
+	"github.com/google/uuid"
+
+	"scrabble/backend/internal/engine"
+)
+
+// maxSeedingRounds caps the first-move draw's tie re-draws. With a real bag a tie
+// breaks with positive probability each round, so this is reached only by a
+// degenerate (e.g. test) entropy source that ties forever; the cap turns that into
+// an error instead of an infinite loop.
+const maxSeedingRounds = 1000
+
+// SetupDraw is one recorded tile draw of the first-move seeding — one row of
+// game_setup_draws (docs/ARCHITECTURE.md §6, §9): the round, the draw order within
+// it, the seated account that drew, and the decoded tile with its rank. It is
+// dictionary-independent: the letter, the blank flag and the numeric rank describe
+// the draw without any alphabet table.
+type SetupDraw struct {
+	Round   int
+	PickNo  int
+	Account uuid.UUID
+	Letter  string
+	Blank   bool
+	Rank    int
+}
+
+// seedingResult is the outcome of the first-move seeding: the winning account, the
+// seated accounts rotated so the winner leads (seat 0), and the full draw log to
+// persist.
+type seedingResult struct {
+	winner uuid.UUID
+	order  []uuid.UUID
+	draws  []SetupDraw
+}
+
+// drawIntn returns a uniformly random integer in [0, n) for n > 0. It is the
+// entropy seam of the first-move seeding: production uses crypto/rand (cryptoIntn),
+// so every draw is honestly random with no single seed; tests inject a
+// deterministic source.
+type drawIntn func(n int) (int, error)
+
+// cryptoIntn draws a uniform integer in [0, n) from crypto/rand — the honest,
+// seedless entropy the first-move draw requires.
+func cryptoIntn(n int) (int, error) {
+	v, err := rand.Int(rand.Reader, big.NewInt(int64(n)))
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("game: first-move draw entropy: %w", err)
+	}
+	return int(v.Int64()), nil
+}
+
+// seedFirstMove runs the official first-move draw over accounts for variant v,
+// drawing tiles with the entropy source intn. Each round every contender draws one
+// tile (without replacement) from a fresh full bag; the tile closest to "A" wins, a
+// blank beating every letter; contenders tied for the best tile re-draw in the next
+// round until a single leader remains. It returns the leader, the rotation that
+// seats the leader first (preserving the others' seating order), and every draw for
+// the record. It performs no I/O beyond calling intn.
+func seedFirstMove(v engine.Variant, accounts []uuid.UUID, intn drawIntn) (seedingResult, error) {
+	if len(accounts) < 2 {
+		return seedingResult{}, fmt.Errorf("game: first-move seeding needs at least 2 accounts, got %d", len(accounts))
+	}
+	full, err := engine.SetupBag(v)
+	if err != nil {
+		return seedingResult{}, err
+	}
+	contenders := append([]uuid.UUID(nil), accounts...)
+	var draws []SetupDraw
+	for round := 1; ; round++ {
+		if round > maxSeedingRounds {
+			return seedingResult{}, fmt.Errorf("game: first-move seeding unresolved after %d rounds", maxSeedingRounds)
+		}
+		bag := append([]engine.SetupTile(nil), full...)
+		picks := make([]engine.SetupTile, len(contenders))
+		for i, acc := range contenders {
+			tile, rest, err := drawSetupTile(bag, intn)
+			if err != nil {
+				return seedingResult{}, err
+			}
+			bag = rest
+			picks[i] = tile
+			draws = append(draws, SetupDraw{
+				Round: round, PickNo: i, Account: acc,
+				Letter: tile.Letter, Blank: tile.Blank, Rank: tile.Rank,
+			})
+		}
+		winners := bestContenders(contenders, picks)
+		if len(winners) == 1 {
+			return seedingResult{winner: winners[0], order: rotateToFirst(accounts, winners[0]), draws: draws}, nil
+		}
+		contenders = winners
+	}
+}
+
+// drawSetupTile removes one uniformly random tile from bag using the entropy source
+// intn and returns it with the shrunk bag (a fresh slice, leaving bag untouched).
+// It is the per-tile draw primitive — the seam a future manual "player N draws a
+// tile" tournament API will drive, one call per external request.
+func drawSetupTile(bag []engine.SetupTile, intn drawIntn) (engine.SetupTile, []engine.SetupTile, error) {
+	if len(bag) == 0 {
+		return engine.SetupTile{}, nil, fmt.Errorf("game: first-move draw from an empty bag")
+	}
+	i, err := intn(len(bag))
+	if err != nil {
+		return engine.SetupTile{}, nil, err
+	}
+	if i < 0 || i >= len(bag) {
+		return engine.SetupTile{}, nil, fmt.Errorf("game: first-move draw index %d out of range %d", i, len(bag))
+	}
+	tile := bag[i]
+	rest := make([]engine.SetupTile, 0, len(bag)-1)
+	rest = append(rest, bag[:i]...)
+	rest = append(rest, bag[i+1:]...)
+	return tile, rest, nil
+}
+
+// bestContenders returns the contenders whose drawn tile has the lowest (best)
+// rank — the sole winner if one, else the tied set that re-draws. picks is aligned
+// with contenders by index.
+func bestContenders(contenders []uuid.UUID, picks []engine.SetupTile) []uuid.UUID {
+	best := picks[0].Rank
+	for _, p := range picks[1:] {
+		if p.Rank < best {
+			best = p.Rank
+		}
+	}
+	var winners []uuid.UUID
+	for i, p := range picks {
+		if p.Rank == best {
+			winners = append(winners, contenders[i])
+		}
+	}
+	return winners
+}
+
+// rotateToFirst returns accounts rotated cyclically so winner sits first (seat 0),
+// preserving the seating order of the rest (docs/ARCHITECTURE.md §6). winner must be
+// present in accounts.
+func rotateToFirst(accounts []uuid.UUID, winner uuid.UUID) []uuid.UUID {
+	i := 0
+	for ; i < len(accounts); i++ {
+		if accounts[i] == winner {
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	out := make([]uuid.UUID, 0, len(accounts))
+	out = append(out, accounts[i:]...)
+	out = append(out, accounts[:i]...)
+	return out
+}

backend/internal/game/seating_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+package game
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/google/uuid"
+
+	"scrabble/backend/internal/engine"
+)
+
+// scriptIntn returns a drawIntn that yields the scripted indices in order, failing
+// the test if the script is exhausted or an index is out of range. It lets a test
+// drive the first-move draw deterministically (English SetupBag order: 9 'a' at
+// 0..8, then 'b' …, blanks last).
+func scriptIntn(t *testing.T, seq ...int) drawIntn {
+	t.Helper()
+	i := 0
+	return func(n int) (int, error) {
+		if i >= len(seq) {
+			t.Fatalf("intn script exhausted (asked for [0,%d))", n)
+		}
+		v := seq[i]
+		i++
+		if v < 0 || v >= n {
+			t.Fatalf("intn script value %d out of range [0,%d)", v, n)
+		}
+		return v, nil
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSeedFirstMoveDirectWinner(t *testing.T) {
+	a, b := uuid.New(), uuid.New()
+	// a draws bag[0]='a' (rank 0); b draws bag[8]='b' (rank 1) → a wins, no tie.
+	res, err := seedFirstMove(engine.VariantEnglish, []uuid.UUID{a, b}, scriptIntn(t, 0, 8))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("seedFirstMove: %v", err)
+	}
+	if res.winner != a {
+		t.Fatalf("winner = %v, want %v", res.winner, a)
+	}
+	if got := res.order; len(got) != 2 || got[0] != a || got[1] != b {
+		t.Fatalf("order = %v, want [a b]", got)
+	}
+	if len(res.draws) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("draws = %d, want 2", len(res.draws))
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSeedFirstMoveBlankSupersedes(t *testing.T) {
+	a, b := uuid.New(), uuid.New()
+	// a draws 'a' (rank 0); after the draw the two blanks sit at 97,98 — b draws
+	// bag[97], a blank, which beats every letter.
+	res, err := seedFirstMove(engine.VariantEnglish, []uuid.UUID{a, b}, scriptIntn(t, 0, 97))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("seedFirstMove: %v", err)
+	}
+	if res.winner != b {
+		t.Fatalf("winner = %v, want %v (blank supersedes)", res.winner, b)
+	}
+	last := res.draws[len(res.draws)-1]
+	if !last.Blank || last.Rank != engine.BlankRank || last.Letter != "?" {
+		t.Fatalf("winning draw = %+v, want a blank (rank %d, '?')", last, engine.BlankRank)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSeedFirstMoveTieRedraw(t *testing.T) {
+	a, b, c := uuid.New(), uuid.New(), uuid.New()
+	// Round 1: a→bag[0]='a'(0), b→bag[0]='a'(0), c→bag[7]='b'(1) → a,b tie best.
+	// Round 2 (a,b only): a→bag[0]='a'(0), b→bag[8]='b'(1) → a wins.
+	res, err := seedFirstMove(engine.VariantEnglish, []uuid.UUID{a, b, c}, scriptIntn(t, 0, 0, 7, 0, 8))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("seedFirstMove: %v", err)
+	}
+	if res.winner != a {
+		t.Fatalf("winner = %v, want %v", res.winner, a)
+	}
+	if len(res.draws) != 5 {
+		t.Fatalf("draws = %d, want 5 (3 in round 1, 2 in round 2)", len(res.draws))
+	}
+	if res.draws[2].Round != 1 || res.draws[3].Round != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("round boundaries wrong: %+v", res.draws)
+	}
+	// The full table keeps every account's seating order, winner first.
+	if got := res.order; got[0] != a || got[1] != b || got[2] != c {
+		t.Fatalf("order = %v, want [a b c]", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSeedFirstMoveTooFewAccounts(t *testing.T) {
+	if _, err := seedFirstMove(engine.VariantEnglish, []uuid.UUID{uuid.New()}, scriptIntn(t)); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("want error for a single account")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSeedFirstMovePerpetualTieCapped(t *testing.T) {
+	a, b := uuid.New(), uuid.New()
+	// Always drawing bag[0] gives both players an 'a' every round — a tie that never
+	// resolves; the round cap must turn it into an error, not an infinite loop.
+	alwaysZero := drawIntn(func(int) (int, error) { return 0, nil })
+	if _, err := seedFirstMove(engine.VariantEnglish, []uuid.UUID{a, b}, alwaysZero); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("want error when ties never resolve")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRotateToFirst(t *testing.T) {
+	a, b, c, d := uuid.New(), uuid.New(), uuid.New(), uuid.New()
+	tests := []struct {
+		name     string
+		accounts []uuid.UUID
+		winner   uuid.UUID
+		want     []uuid.UUID
+	}{
+		{"two winner second", []uuid.UUID{a, b}, b, []uuid.UUID{b, a}},
+		{"three winner first", []uuid.UUID{a, b, c}, a, []uuid.UUID{a, b, c}},
+		{"four winner third", []uuid.UUID{a, b, c, d}, c, []uuid.UUID{c, d, a, b}},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got := rotateToFirst(tt.accounts, tt.winner)
+			if len(got) != len(tt.want) {
+				t.Fatalf("len = %d, want %d", len(got), len(tt.want))
+			}
+			for i := range got {
+				if got[i] != tt.want[i] {
+					t.Fatalf("rotate = %v, want %v", got, tt.want)
+				}
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}

backend/internal/game/service.go

@@ -38,6 +38,11 @@ type Service struct {
 	version string
 	clock   func() time.Time
 	rng     func() int64
+	// firstMoveEntropy returns the entropy source for one game's first-move draw
+	// (docs/ARCHITECTURE.md §6). The default is crypto/rand — an honest, seedless draw;
+	// tests override it via SetFirstMoveEntropy for a deterministic turn order. It is a
+	// factory so a stateful test source restarts cleanly per game.
+	firstMoveEntropy func() drawIntn
 	pub              notify.Publisher
 	// aiTrigger, when set, is called after an honest-AI game is created or advanced and
 	// is still on a robot's potential turn, so the robot replies at once instead of
@@ -67,6 +72,7 @@ func NewService(store *Store, accounts *account.Store, registry *engine.Registry
 		version:          cfg.DictVersion,
 		clock:            clock,
 		rng:              randomSeed,
+		firstMoveEntropy: func() drawIntn { return cryptoIntn },
 		pub:              notify.Nop{},
 		metrics:          defaultGameMetrics(),
 		log:              log,
@@ -101,6 +107,18 @@ func (svc *Service) SetNudgeClearer(fn func(ctx context.Context, gameID, account
 	svc.clearNudges = fn
 }
 
+// SetFirstMoveEntropy overrides the entropy source for the first-move draw
+// (docs/ARCHITECTURE.md §6). It must be called during wiring or test setup before any
+// game is created; the production default is crypto/rand and is never overridden.
+// factory returns a fresh draw function per game, so a stateful deterministic test
+// source restarts cleanly for each game. It exists for deterministic tests.
+func (svc *Service) SetFirstMoveEntropy(factory func() func(n int) (int, error)) {
+	if factory == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	svc.firstMoveEntropy = func() drawIntn { return drawIntn(factory()) }
+}
+
 // triggerAI fires the honest-AI fast-move hook for an active vs_ai game (best-effort,
 // fire-and-forget). It is a no-op for non-AI games, finished games and when no hook is
 // installed, so callers can invoke it unconditionally after a create or commit.
@@ -191,15 +209,32 @@ func (svc *Service) Create(ctx context.Context, params CreateParams) (Game, erro
 		}
 	}
 	seen := make(map[uuid.UUID]bool, len(params.Seats))
-	seats := make([]seatInsert, len(params.Seats))
-	for i, id := range params.Seats {
+	for _, id := range params.Seats {
 		if seen[id] {
 			return Game{}, fmt.Errorf("%w: account %s seated twice", ErrInvalidConfig, id)
 		}
 		seen[id] = true
-		// Snapshot each seat's display name at creation. For a vs-AI game this stamps the
-		// robot's seeded account name (unchanged behaviour); a disguised auto-match robot
-		// instead gets a fresh per-game name when the reaper attaches it (AttachRobot).
+	}
+
+	// Decide who moves first by the official draw (docs/ARCHITECTURE.md §6): each seated
+	// account draws a tile, the one closest to "A" leads (a blank supersedes all letters),
+	// ties re-drawing until a single leader remains. Each draw uses fresh entropy, not the
+	// game seed, so the recorded draws — persisted with the game — are the only account of
+	// the outcome. The winner takes seat 0; the rest keep their order.
+	seeding, err := seedFirstMove(params.Variant, params.Seats, svc.firstMoveEntropy())
+	if err != nil {
+		if errors.Is(err, engine.ErrUnknownVariant) {
+			return Game{}, fmt.Errorf("%w: %v", ErrInvalidConfig, err)
+		}
+		return Game{}, err
+	}
+
+	// Build the seats in the drawn turn order, snapshotting each seat's display name. For a
+	// vs-AI game this stamps the robot's seeded account name (unchanged behaviour); a
+	// disguised auto-match robot instead gets a fresh per-game name when the reaper attaches
+	// it (AttachRobot).
+	seats := make([]seatInsert, len(seeding.order))
+	for i, id := range seeding.order {
 		acc, err := svc.accounts.GetByID(ctx, id)
 		if err != nil {
 			if errors.Is(err, account.ErrNotFound) {
@@ -249,15 +284,15 @@ func (svc *Service) Create(ctx context.Context, params CreateParams) (Game, erro
 		multipleWordsPerTurn: params.MultipleWordsPerTurn,
 		vsAI:                 params.VsAI,
 	}
-	if err := svc.store.CreateGame(ctx, ins, seats); err != nil {
+	if err := svc.store.CreateGame(ctx, ins, seats, seeding.draws); err != nil {
 		return Game{}, err
 	}
-	svc.cache.put(id, g, params.Variant.String())
 	svc.metrics.recordStarted(ctx, params.Variant, params.VsAI)
 	created, err := svc.store.GetGame(ctx, id)
 	if err != nil {
 		return Game{}, err
 	}
+	svc.cache.put(id, g, params.Variant.String(), created.Seats)
 	// Honest-AI game seated with a robot: if the robot moves first, reply at once
 	// (the periodic driver is the fallback). No-op for every human-only game.
 	svc.triggerAI(created)
@@ -312,14 +347,27 @@ func (svc *Service) OpenOrJoin(ctx context.Context, accountID uuid.UUID, params
 		status:               StatusOpen,
 		openDeadline:         &deadline,
 	}
-	// Seat the caller at seat 0 or seat 1 (seat 0 always moves first), snapshotting their
-	// display name; the other seat is left empty (a zero seatInsert) for the opponent.
-	caller := seatInsert{accountID: accountID, displayName: acc.DisplayName}
-	seats := []seatInsert{caller, {}}
-	if seed&1 == 1 {
-		seats = []seatInsert{{}, caller}
+	// Decide the first move now by the official draw, with the not-yet-arrived opponent as a
+	// synthetic placeholder (uuid.Nil): the draw fixes who sits at seat 0 — and so moves
+	// first — before either player acts (docs/ARCHITECTURE.md §6). The caller takes their
+	// drawn seat; the opponent seat is left empty. The opponent's draw rows are recorded with
+	// a NULL account and back-filled when a real opponent joins. Each draw uses fresh entropy,
+	// not the game seed. seats/draws are used only when a fresh game is opened.
+	seeding, err := seedFirstMove(params.Variant, []uuid.UUID{accountID, uuid.Nil}, svc.firstMoveEntropy())
+	if err != nil {
+		if errors.Is(err, engine.ErrUnknownVariant) {
+			return Game{}, false, fmt.Errorf("%w: %v", ErrInvalidConfig, err)
 		}
-	gameID, joined, created, err := svc.store.OpenOrJoin(ctx, accountID, acc.DisplayName, ins, seats, exclude)
+		return Game{}, false, err
+	}
+	caller := seatInsert{accountID: accountID, displayName: acc.DisplayName}
+	seats := make([]seatInsert, len(seeding.order))
+	for seat, who := range seeding.order {
+		if who == accountID {
+			seats[seat] = caller // the empty opponent seat stays a zero seatInsert
+		}
+	}
+	gameID, joined, created, err := svc.store.OpenOrJoin(ctx, accountID, acc.DisplayName, ins, seats, exclude, seeding.draws)
 	if err != nil {
 		return Game{}, false, err
 	}
@@ -506,16 +554,6 @@ func (svc *Service) GameVariant(ctx context.Context, gameID uuid.UUID) (engine.V
 	return svc.store.GetGameVariant(ctx, gameID)
 }
 
-// GameLanguage returns the game's language tag ("en"/"ru"), derived from its variant, so a
-// game push routes out-of-app to the game's own bot rather than the recipient's last-login bot.
-func (svc *Service) GameLanguage(ctx context.Context, gameID uuid.UUID) (string, error) {
-	v, err := svc.GameVariant(ctx, gameID)
-	if err != nil {
-		return "", err
-	}
-	return v.Language(), nil
-}
-
 // RobotSchedule returns a game's bag seed and turn-start time, for the admin console's
 // robot-schedule panel (the deterministic play-to-win intent and next-move ETA).
 func (svc *Service) RobotSchedule(ctx context.Context, gameID uuid.UUID) (seed int64, turnStartedAt time.Time, err error) {
@@ -547,8 +585,9 @@ func (svc *Service) transition(ctx context.Context, gameID, accountID uuid.UUID,
 		return MoveResult{}, ErrNotAPlayer
 	}
 	// A move is allowed while the game is active or still open (the starter may move on
-	// their turn before an opponent joins); only a finished game rejects it. The turn
-	// check below keeps the starter off the still-empty opponent seat.
+	// their turn before an opponent joins; the first-move draw ran when the game opened, so
+	// the seats are already fixed); only a finished game rejects it. The turn check below
+	// keeps the starter off the still-empty opponent seat.
 	if pre.Status == StatusFinished {
 		return MoveResult{}, ErrFinished
 	}
@@ -691,9 +730,6 @@ func (svc *Service) emitMove(ctx context.Context, post Game, rec engine.MoveReco
 		}
 		intents = append(intents, notify.OpponentMoved(s.AccountID, post.ID, rec, summary, bagLen))
 	}
-	// Game pushes are routed out-of-app by the game's own language, not the recipient's
-	// last-login bot.
-	lang := post.Variant.Language()
 	switch post.Status {
 	case StatusActive:
 		// Honest-AI games suppress your_turn: the robot replies instantly, so a "your turn"
@@ -708,7 +744,6 @@ func (svc *Service) emitMove(ctx context.Context, post Game, rec engine.MoveReco
 			}
 			opponent := svc.displayName(ctx, post.Seats, rec.Player)
 			yourTurn := notify.YourTurn(next, post.ID, deadline, opponent, action, word, scoreLine(post, post.ToMove), post.MoveCount)
-			yourTurn.Language = lang
 			intents = append(intents, yourTurn)
 		}
 	case StatusFinished:
@@ -720,7 +755,6 @@ func (svc *Service) emitMove(ctx context.Context, post Game, rec engine.MoveReco
 				continue
 			}
 			over := notify.GameOver(s.AccountID, post.ID, seatResult(post.Seats, s.Seat), scoreLine(post, s.Seat), summary)
-			over.Language = lang
 			intents = append(intents, over)
 		}
 	}
@@ -856,26 +890,35 @@ func (svc *Service) timeoutGame(ctx context.Context, gameID uuid.UUID, now time.
 // EvaluatePlay previews a tentative play for a seated player against the current
 // board without committing it: whether it is legal and what it would score.
 func (svc *Service) EvaluatePlay(ctx context.Context, gameID, accountID uuid.UUID, tiles []engine.TileRecord) (EvalResult, error) {
+	unlock := svc.locks.lock(gameID)
+	defer unlock()
+
+	// Hot path: an active game stays cached — the engine game is mutated in place across
+	// moves and evicted only when it finishes — so on a hit the cached live game and its
+	// immutable seat list answer the membership check and the score with no DB read. This
+	// preview is fired on every tile placement, the hottest gameplay call at scale.
+	g, seats, ok := svc.cache.get(gameID)
+	if !ok {
+		// Cold path: load and validate from the store, then replay into the cache.
 		pre, err := svc.store.GetGame(ctx, gameID)
 		if err != nil {
 			return EvalResult{}, err
 		}
-	if _, ok := pre.seatOf(accountID); !ok {
-		return EvalResult{}, ErrNotAPlayer
-	}
 		if pre.Status == StatusFinished {
 			return EvalResult{}, ErrFinished
 		}
-
-	unlock := svc.locks.lock(gameID)
-	defer unlock()
-	g, err := svc.liveGame(ctx, pre)
-	if err != nil {
+		if g, err = svc.liveGame(ctx, pre); err != nil {
 			return EvalResult{}, err
 		}
+		seats = pre.Seats
+	}
+	if !seatedIn(seats, accountID) {
+		return EvalResult{}, ErrNotAPlayer
+	}
+
 	validateStart := time.Now()
 	rec, err := g.EvaluatePlay(tiles)
-	svc.metrics.recordValidate(ctx, pre.Variant, validateStart)
+	svc.metrics.recordValidate(ctx, g.Variant(), validateStart)
 	if err != nil {
 		if errors.Is(err, engine.ErrIllegalPlay) {
 			return EvalResult{Valid: false}, nil
@@ -1287,6 +1330,14 @@ func (svc *Service) History(ctx context.Context, gameID uuid.UUID) (HistoryView,
 	return HistoryView{Game: g, Moves: moves}, nil
 }
 
+// SetupDraws returns a game's recorded first-move draws (docs/ARCHITECTURE.md §6), ordered by
+// round then pick. It backs the admin console's first-move section. An auto-match opponent's
+// draws carry uuid.Nil until a real opponent joins and back-fills them; an empty slice means
+// the game predates the draw record.
+func (svc *Service) SetupDraws(ctx context.Context, gameID uuid.UUID) ([]SetupDraw, error) {
+	return svc.store.SetupDraws(ctx, gameID)
+}
+
 // ExportGCG renders a game as GCG text from the journal alone (no dictionary). It
 // is allowed only on a finished game: exporting an in-progress game would leak the
 // full move journal mid-play, so an active game yields ErrGameActive.
@@ -1317,7 +1368,7 @@ func (svc *Service) ExportGCG(ctx context.Context, gameID uuid.UUID) (string, er
 // liveGame returns the live engine.Game for pre, rebuilding it from the journal
 // on a cache miss. Callers must hold the per-game lock.
 func (svc *Service) liveGame(ctx context.Context, pre Game) (*engine.Game, error) {
-	if g, ok := svc.cache.get(pre.ID); ok {
+	if g, _, ok := svc.cache.get(pre.ID); ok {
 		return g, nil
 	}
 	g, err := svc.replay(ctx, pre)
@@ -1332,7 +1383,7 @@ func (svc *Service) liveGame(ctx context.Context, pre Game) (*engine.Game, error
 		}
 	}
 	if !g.Over() {
-		svc.cache.put(pre.ID, g, pre.Variant.String())
+		svc.cache.put(pre.ID, g, pre.Variant.String(), pre.Seats)
 	}
 	return g, nil
 }

backend/internal/game/store.go

@@ -127,11 +127,14 @@ type seatInsert struct {
 	displayName string
 }
 
-// CreateGame inserts the games row and one game_players row per seat (seat 0
-// first) inside a single transaction.
-func (s *Store) CreateGame(ctx context.Context, ins gameInsert, seats []seatInsert) error {
+// CreateGame inserts the games row, one game_players row per seat (seat 0 first) and
+// the first-move seeding draws inside a single transaction.
+func (s *Store) CreateGame(ctx context.Context, ins gameInsert, seats []seatInsert, draws []SetupDraw) error {
 	return withTx(ctx, s.db, func(tx *sql.Tx) error {
-		return insertGameTx(ctx, tx, ins, seats)
+		if err := insertGameTx(ctx, tx, ins, seats); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		return insertSetupDrawsTx(ctx, tx, ins.id, draws)
 	})
 }
 
@@ -173,6 +176,30 @@ func insertGameTx(ctx context.Context, tx *sql.Tx, ins gameInsert, seats []seatI
 	return nil
 }
 
+// insertSetupDrawsTx appends the first-move seeding draws for game gameID on tx —
+// the dictionary-independent record of how the first player was chosen
+// (docs/ARCHITECTURE.md §6). The games row must already exist on tx (the foreign
+// key), so it runs after insertGameTx. An empty draws slice is a no-op.
+func insertSetupDrawsTx(ctx context.Context, tx *sql.Tx, gameID uuid.UUID, draws []SetupDraw) error {
+	for _, d := range draws {
+		// A uuid.Nil account marks the synthetic opponent of an auto-match draw, persisted as
+		// a NULL account_id and back-filled when a real opponent joins.
+		var acc any = d.Account
+		if d.Account == uuid.Nil {
+			acc = postgres.NULL
+		}
+		di := table.GameSetupDraws.INSERT(
+			table.GameSetupDraws.GameID, table.GameSetupDraws.Round, table.GameSetupDraws.PickNo,
+			table.GameSetupDraws.AccountID, table.GameSetupDraws.Letter, table.GameSetupDraws.IsBlank,
+			table.GameSetupDraws.DrawRank,
+		).VALUES(gameID, d.Round, d.PickNo, acc, d.Letter, d.Blank, d.Rank)
+		if _, err := di.ExecContext(ctx, tx); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("insert setup draw round %d pick %d: %w", d.Round, d.PickNo, err)
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 // openMatchKey hashes an auto-match bucket (variant + per-turn word rule) into the
 // advisory-lock key that serialises concurrent enqueues for that bucket, so two
 // players never both open a game instead of pairing.
@@ -199,8 +226,9 @@ func openMatchKey(variant string, multipleWords bool) int64 {
 // arrangement (the caller and uuid.Nil for the still-empty opponent, in the chosen
 // order) used only when a game is created; callerName is the caller's display-name
 // snapshot, stamped on their seat whether they open a fresh game or fill another
-// player's open one.
-func (s *Store) OpenOrJoin(ctx context.Context, accountID uuid.UUID, callerName string, ins gameInsert, seats []seatInsert, exclude []uuid.UUID) (gameID uuid.UUID, joined, created bool, err error) {
+// player's open one. seats and draws (the first-move draw recorded against the synthetic
+// opponent, docs/ARCHITECTURE.md §6) are used only when a game is created.
+func (s *Store) OpenOrJoin(ctx context.Context, accountID uuid.UUID, callerName string, ins gameInsert, seats []seatInsert, exclude []uuid.UUID, draws []SetupDraw) (gameID uuid.UUID, joined, created bool, err error) {
 	err = withTx(ctx, s.db, func(tx *sql.Tx) error {
 		if _, e := tx.ExecContext(ctx, `SELECT pg_advisory_xact_lock($1)`,
 			openMatchKey(ins.variant, ins.multipleWordsPerTurn)); e != nil {
@@ -222,7 +250,7 @@ func (s *Store) OpenOrJoin(ctx context.Context, accountID uuid.UUID, callerName
 			  LIMIT 1 FOR UPDATE SKIP LOCKED`,
 			ins.variant, ins.multipleWordsPerTurn, accountID, uuidArrayLiteral(exclude)).Scan(&other); {
 		case e == nil:
-			if er := fillOpenSeat(ctx, tx, other, accountID, callerName); er != nil {
+			if er := fillAndActivate(ctx, tx, other, accountID, callerName); er != nil {
 				return er
 			}
 			gameID, joined = other, true
@@ -230,10 +258,15 @@ func (s *Store) OpenOrJoin(ctx context.Context, accountID uuid.UUID, callerName
 		case !errors.Is(e, sql.ErrNoRows):
 			return fmt.Errorf("find open game: %w", e)
 		}
-		// 2. None waiting — open a fresh game seating the caller (the other seat empty).
+		// 2. None waiting — open a fresh game seating the caller (the other seat empty) and
+		// recording the first-move draw; the synthetic opponent's rows carry a NULL account
+		// until a real opponent joins and back-fills them.
 		if e := insertGameTx(ctx, tx, ins, seats); e != nil {
 			return e
 		}
+		if e := insertSetupDrawsTx(ctx, tx, ins.id, draws); e != nil {
+			return e
+		}
 		gameID, created = ins.id, true
 		return nil
 	})
@@ -258,7 +291,7 @@ func (s *Store) AttachRobot(ctx context.Context, gameID, robotID uuid.UUID, disp
 		if status != StatusOpen {
 			return nil
 		}
-		if e := fillOpenSeat(ctx, tx, gameID, robotID, displayName); e != nil {
+		if e := fillAndActivate(ctx, tx, gameID, robotID, displayName); e != nil {
 			return e
 		}
 		attached = true
@@ -267,15 +300,23 @@ func (s *Store) AttachRobot(ctx context.Context, gameID, robotID uuid.UUID, disp
 	return attached, err
 }
 
-// fillOpenSeat seats accountID in an open game's empty opponent seat — stamping
-// displayName as the seat's display-name snapshot — and flips the game to active with a
-// fresh turn clock. The caller holds the game row.
-func fillOpenSeat(ctx context.Context, tx *sql.Tx, gameID, accountID uuid.UUID, displayName string) error {
+// fillAndActivate seats accountID in an open game's empty opponent seat — stamping
+// displayName as the seat's snapshot — back-fills the first-move draw rows the open game
+// recorded for the then-unknown opponent (docs/ARCHITECTURE.md §6), and flips the game to
+// active with a fresh turn clock. The seat the joiner takes was already fixed by the draw at
+// open time, so the journal (any opening move the starter made while waiting) is never
+// disturbed. The caller holds the game row.
+func fillAndActivate(ctx context.Context, tx *sql.Tx, gameID, accountID uuid.UUID, displayName string) error {
 	if _, err := tx.ExecContext(ctx,
 		`UPDATE backend.game_players SET account_id = $2, display_name = $3 WHERE game_id = $1 AND account_id IS NULL`,
 		gameID, accountID, displayName); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("fill opponent seat: %w", err)
 	}
+	if _, err := tx.ExecContext(ctx,
+		`UPDATE backend.game_setup_draws SET account_id = $2 WHERE game_id = $1 AND account_id IS NULL`,
+		gameID, accountID); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("back-fill opponent draws: %w", err)
+	}
 	if _, err := tx.ExecContext(ctx,
 		`UPDATE backend.games SET status = 'active', open_deadline_at = NULL, turn_started_at = now(), updated_at = now()
 		  WHERE game_id = $1`, gameID); err != nil {
@@ -314,27 +355,33 @@ func (s *Store) ExpiredOpen(ctx context.Context, now time.Time) ([]OpenGame, err
 // GetGame loads the games row joined with its seats (ordered by seat), or
 // ErrNotFound.
 func (s *Store) GetGame(ctx context.Context, id uuid.UUID) (Game, error) {
-	gstmt := postgres.SELECT(table.Games.AllColumns).
-		FROM(table.Games).
+	// One round-trip: the game joined with its seats. A LEFT JOIN keeps a (would-be)
+	// seatless game returning the game with no seats, exactly as the prior two-query
+	// version did; ORDER BY seat preserves seat order. The games columns repeat per seat
+	// row — cheap at 2-4 seats, and one round-trip instead of two, which matters because
+	// GetGame is the universal "load the game" step on every game operation.
+	stmt := postgres.SELECT(table.Games.AllColumns, table.GamePlayers.AllColumns).
+		FROM(table.Games.LEFT_JOIN(table.GamePlayers, table.GamePlayers.GameID.EQ(table.Games.GameID))).
 		WHERE(table.Games.GameID.EQ(postgres.UUID(id))).
-		LIMIT(1)
-	var grow model.Games
-	if err := gstmt.QueryContext(ctx, s.db, &grow); err != nil {
-		if errors.Is(err, qrm.ErrNoRows) {
-			return Game{}, ErrNotFound
+		ORDER_BY(table.GamePlayers.Seat.ASC())
+	var rows []struct {
+		model.Games
+		model.GamePlayers
 	}
+	if err := stmt.QueryContext(ctx, s.db, &rows); err != nil {
 		return Game{}, fmt.Errorf("game: get %s: %w", id, err)
 	}
-
-	sstmt := postgres.SELECT(table.GamePlayers.AllColumns).
-		FROM(table.GamePlayers).
-		WHERE(table.GamePlayers.GameID.EQ(postgres.UUID(id))).
-		ORDER_BY(table.GamePlayers.Seat.ASC())
-	var srows []model.GamePlayers
-	if err := sstmt.QueryContext(ctx, s.db, &srows); err != nil {
-		return Game{}, fmt.Errorf("game: get seats %s: %w", id, err)
+	if len(rows) == 0 {
+		return Game{}, ErrNotFound
 	}
-	return projectGame(grow, srows)
+	seats := make([]model.GamePlayers, 0, len(rows))
+	for i := range rows {
+		// Skip the phantom all-NULL seat row a LEFT JOIN yields for a seatless game.
+		if rows[i].GamePlayers.GameID == id {
+			seats = append(seats, rows[i].GamePlayers)
+		}
+	}
+	return projectGame(rows[0].Games, seats)
 }
 
 // GetGameVariant reads just a game's variant — a cheap single-column lookup the edge uses
@@ -587,6 +634,37 @@ func (s *Store) GetJournal(ctx context.Context, id uuid.UUID) ([]HistoryMove, er
 	return out, nil
 }
 
+// SetupDraws loads the ordered first-move seeding draws for a game (round then pick
+// order), or an empty slice for a game created before the draw was recorded. It
+// backs the admin console's first-move section.
+func (s *Store) SetupDraws(ctx context.Context, id uuid.UUID) ([]SetupDraw, error) {
+	stmt := postgres.SELECT(table.GameSetupDraws.AllColumns).
+		FROM(table.GameSetupDraws).
+		WHERE(table.GameSetupDraws.GameID.EQ(postgres.UUID(id))).
+		ORDER_BY(table.GameSetupDraws.Round.ASC(), table.GameSetupDraws.PickNo.ASC())
+	var rows []model.GameSetupDraws
+	if err := stmt.QueryContext(ctx, s.db, &rows); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("game: get setup draws %s: %w", id, err)
+	}
+	out := make([]SetupDraw, len(rows))
+	for i, r := range rows {
+		// A NULL account is the synthetic opponent of an auto-match draw not yet back-filled.
+		acc := uuid.Nil
+		if r.AccountID != nil {
+			acc = *r.AccountID
+		}
+		out[i] = SetupDraw{
+			Round:   int(r.Round),
+			PickNo:  int(r.PickNo),
+			Account: acc,
+			Letter:  r.Letter,
+			Blank:   r.IsBlank,
+			Rank:    int(r.DrawRank),
+		}
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
 // CommitMove appends the move and applies the post-move game state — the turn
 // cursor and per-seat scores, plus the finish stamp and statistics when the move
 // ended the game — in one transaction.

backend/internal/game/types.go

@@ -184,6 +184,18 @@ func (g Game) seatOf(accountID uuid.UUID) (int, bool) {
 	return 0, false
 }
 
+// seatedIn reports whether accountID holds a seat in seats. It backs the read-side
+// membership check against the cached, immutable seat list, so a hot read can skip
+// loading the game from the store.
+func seatedIn(seats []Seat, accountID uuid.UUID) bool {
+	for _, s := range seats {
+		if s.AccountID == accountID {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
 // MoveResult is the outcome of a committed transition: the decoded move and the
 // post-move game, plus the actor's own refilled rack and the bag size after the draw
 // (Rack/BagLen), so the mover renders the next state from the response without a

backend/internal/inttest/account_test.go

@@ -118,10 +118,13 @@ func TestProvisionTelegramSeedsNewAccountOnly(t *testing.T) {
 	store := account.NewStore(testDB)
 	ext := "tg-" + uuid.NewString()
 
-	acc, err := store.ProvisionTelegram(ctx, ext, "ru-RU", "thehandle", "Иван")
+	acc, created, err := store.ProvisionTelegram(ctx, ext, "ru-RU", "thehandle", "Иван")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("provision telegram: %v", err)
 	}
+	if !created {
+		t.Error("created = false on first contact, want true")
+	}
 	if acc.PreferredLanguage != "ru" {
 		t.Errorf("PreferredLanguage = %q, want ru", acc.PreferredLanguage)
 	}
@@ -133,10 +136,13 @@ func TestProvisionTelegramSeedsNewAccountOnly(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// A later login with different fields returns the same account, unchanged.
-	again, err := store.ProvisionTelegram(ctx, ext, "en", "other", "Other")
+	again, created, err := store.ProvisionTelegram(ctx, ext, "en", "other", "Other")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("re-provision telegram: %v", err)
 	}
+	if created {
+		t.Error("created = true on a repeat login, want false")
+	}
 	if again.ID != acc.ID {
 		t.Errorf("re-provision id = %s, want %s", again.ID, acc.ID)
 	}
@@ -150,7 +156,7 @@ func TestProvisionTelegramSeedsNewAccountOnly(t *testing.T) {
 // language CHECK.
 func TestProvisionTelegramUnknownLanguageDefaults(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := context.Background()
-	acc, err := account.NewStore(testDB).ProvisionTelegram(ctx, "tg-"+uuid.NewString(), "fr", "", "")
+	acc, _, err := account.NewStore(testDB).ProvisionTelegram(ctx, "tg-"+uuid.NewString(), "fr", "", "")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("provision telegram: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -159,46 +165,6 @@ func TestProvisionTelegramUnknownLanguageDefaults(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-// TestServiceLanguageRoundTrip checks SetServiceLanguage persists the push-routing
-// language (the bot a Telegram user last signed in through): a fresh account has
-// none, a set value reads back, a later login overwrites it (last-login-wins), and
-// an empty value is a no-op. The push-target route coalesces it with the preferred
-// language.
-func TestServiceLanguageRoundTrip(t *testing.T) {
-	ctx := context.Background()
-	store := account.NewStore(testDB)
-	acc, err := store.ProvisionTelegram(ctx, "tg-"+uuid.NewString(), "en", "", "Player")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("provision telegram: %v", err)
-	}
-	if acc.ServiceLanguage != "" {
-		t.Errorf("fresh ServiceLanguage = %q, want empty", acc.ServiceLanguage)
-	}
-
-	if err := store.SetServiceLanguage(ctx, acc.ID, "ru"); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("set service language: %v", err)
-	}
-	if got, err := store.GetByID(ctx, acc.ID); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("get by id: %v", err)
-	} else if got.ServiceLanguage != "ru" {
-		t.Errorf("ServiceLanguage = %q, want ru", got.ServiceLanguage)
-	}
-
-	// A later login through the other bot updates it; a subsequent empty value
-	// (a non-Telegram login) leaves it unchanged.
-	if err := store.SetServiceLanguage(ctx, acc.ID, "en"); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("update service language: %v", err)
-	}
-	if err := store.SetServiceLanguage(ctx, acc.ID, ""); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("noop service language: %v", err)
-	}
-	if got, err := store.GetByID(ctx, acc.ID); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("get by id: %v", err)
-	} else if got.ServiceLanguage != "en" {
-		t.Errorf("ServiceLanguage after update+noop = %q, want en", got.ServiceLanguage)
-	}
-}
-
 // TestHighRateFlagRoundTrip covers the soft high-rate marker: a fresh account
 // is unflagged, FlagHighRate stamps it exactly once (a second sustained episode
 // never moves the timestamp), ClearHighRateFlag reverses it, and a re-flag after
@@ -206,7 +172,7 @@ func TestServiceLanguageRoundTrip(t *testing.T) {
 func TestHighRateFlagRoundTrip(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	store := account.NewStore(testDB)
-	acc, err := store.ProvisionTelegram(ctx, "tg-"+uuid.NewString(), "en", "", "Player")
+	acc, _, err := store.ProvisionTelegram(ctx, "tg-"+uuid.NewString(), "en", "", "Player")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("provision telegram: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -262,7 +228,7 @@ func TestIdentityExternalID(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	store := account.NewStore(testDB)
 	ext := "tg-" + uuid.NewString()
-	acc, err := store.ProvisionTelegram(ctx, ext, "en", "", "Tg User")
+	acc, _, err := store.ProvisionTelegram(ctx, ext, "en", "", "Tg User")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("provision telegram: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -287,7 +253,7 @@ func TestIdentityExternalID(t *testing.T) {
 func TestNotificationsInAppOnlyRoundTrip(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	store := account.NewStore(testDB)
-	acc, err := store.ProvisionTelegram(ctx, "tg-"+uuid.NewString(), "en", "", "Player")
+	acc, _, err := store.ProvisionTelegram(ctx, "tg-"+uuid.NewString(), "en", "", "Player")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("provision telegram: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -299,6 +265,7 @@ func TestNotificationsInAppOnlyRoundTrip(t *testing.T) {
 		PreferredLanguage:      "en",
 		TimeZone:               "UTC",
 		NotificationsInAppOnly: false,
+		VariantPreferences:     []string{"erudit_ru"},
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("update profile: %v", err)

backend/internal/inttest/admin_test.go

@@ -206,6 +206,12 @@ func TestConsoleGameDetailRobotSchedule(t *testing.T) {
 	if !strings.Contains(body, "~40%") {
 		t.Error("robot play-to-win target caption missing")
 	}
+	if !strings.Contains(body, "First-move draw") {
+		t.Error("first-move draw section missing from the game detail")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(body, `id="replay-board"`) {
+		t.Error("replay board container missing from the game detail")
+	}
 }
 
 // TestConsoleThrottledViewAndFlagClear drives the rate-limit surface end to
@@ -216,7 +222,7 @@ func TestConsoleGameDetailRobotSchedule(t *testing.T) {
 func TestConsoleThrottledViewAndFlagClear(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	accounts := account.NewStore(testDB)
-	acc, err := accounts.ProvisionTelegram(ctx, "tg-"+uuid.NewString(), "en", "", "Throttled Player")
+	acc, _, err := accounts.ProvisionTelegram(ctx, "tg-"+uuid.NewString(), "en", "", "Throttled Player")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("provision: %v", err)
 	}

backend/internal/inttest/banner_console_test.go

@@ -256,7 +256,8 @@ func TestBannerSurvivesProfileUpdate(t *testing.T) {
 	id := provisionAccount(t)
 
 	body := `{"display_name":"Tester","preferred_language":"ru","time_zone":"UTC","away_start":"00:00",` +
-		`"away_end":"00:00","block_chat":false,"block_friend_requests":false,"notifications_in_app_only":true}`
+		`"away_end":"00:00","block_chat":false,"block_friend_requests":false,"notifications_in_app_only":true,` +
+		`"variant_preferences":["erudit_ru"]}`
 	rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
 	req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPut, "/api/v1/user/profile", strings.NewReader(body))
 	req.Header.Set("X-User-ID", id.String())

backend/internal/inttest/chat_access_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,315 @@
+//go:build integration
+
+package inttest
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/google/uuid"
+	"go.uber.org/zap/zaptest"
+
+	"scrabble/backend/internal/account"
+	"scrabble/backend/internal/notify"
+	"scrabble/backend/internal/server"
+	"scrabble/backend/internal/session"
+)
+
+// chatAccessBody mirrors the backend's /internal/chat-access JSON for the test.
+type chatAccessBody struct {
+	ExternalID string `json:"external_id"`
+	Registered bool   `json:"registered"`
+	Eligible   bool   `json:"eligible"`
+}
+
+// chatAccess issues the gateway-internal chat-access query and asserts a 200.
+func chatAccess(t *testing.T, srv *server.Server, body string) chatAccessBody {
+	t.Helper()
+	rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, "/api/v1/internal/chat-access", strings.NewReader(body))
+	req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+	srv.Handler().ServeHTTP(rec, req)
+	if rec.Code != http.StatusOK {
+		t.Fatalf("chat-access %s = %d: %s", body, rec.Code, rec.Body.String())
+	}
+	var b chatAccessBody
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(rec.Body.Bytes(), &b); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("decode chat-access: %v", err)
+	}
+	return b
+}
+
+// TestChatAccessResolver drives the gateway-internal eligibility resolver over HTTP:
+// the registered/suspended/chat_muted truth table by Telegram identity and by account
+// id, the suspension dominating the chat_muted role, an unknown identity reported
+// unregistered, and an account with no Telegram identity carrying an empty external_id.
+func TestChatAccessResolver(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	accounts := account.NewStore(testDB)
+	srv := server.New(":0", server.Deps{Logger: zaptest.NewLogger(t), DB: testDB, Accounts: accounts})
+
+	ext := "tg-" + uuid.NewString()
+	acc, _, err := accounts.ProvisionTelegram(ctx, ext, "en", "", "Chatter")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("provision: %v", err)
+	}
+	id := acc.ID
+
+	byExt := func() chatAccessBody { return chatAccess(t, srv, `{"external_id":"`+ext+`"}`) }
+	byUser := func() chatAccessBody { return chatAccess(t, srv, `{"user_id":"`+id.String()+`"}`) }
+
+	// A registered, unsuspended, unmuted account is eligible by either address, and the
+	// account-id query resolves back to its Telegram identity.
+	if b := byExt(); !b.Registered || !b.Eligible || b.ExternalID != ext {
+		t.Fatalf("fresh by external_id = %+v, want registered+eligible+ext", b)
+	}
+	if b := byUser(); !b.Registered || !b.Eligible || b.ExternalID != ext {
+		t.Fatalf("fresh by user_id = %+v, want registered+eligible+ext", b)
+	}
+
+	// A suspension mutes; a lift restores.
+	if _, err := accounts.Suspend(ctx, id, nil, "", "", nil); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("suspend: %v", err)
+	}
+	if b := byExt(); !b.Registered || b.Eligible {
+		t.Fatalf("suspended = %+v, want registered but not eligible", b)
+	}
+	if err := accounts.LiftSuspension(ctx, id); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("lift: %v", err)
+	}
+	if b := byExt(); !b.Eligible {
+		t.Fatalf("after lift = %+v, want eligible", b)
+	}
+
+	// The chat_muted role mutes independently; a revoke restores.
+	if err := accounts.GrantRole(ctx, id, account.RoleChatMuted); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("grant chat_muted: %v", err)
+	}
+	if b := byExt(); !b.Registered || b.Eligible {
+		t.Fatalf("chat_muted = %+v, want registered but not eligible", b)
+	}
+
+	// Suspension dominates: while chat_muted is set, lifting a concurrent suspension
+	// must not re-grant chat (the role still mutes).
+	if _, err := accounts.Suspend(ctx, id, nil, "", "", nil); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("suspend over mute: %v", err)
+	}
+	if b := byExt(); b.Eligible {
+		t.Fatalf("suspended+muted = %+v, want not eligible", b)
+	}
+	if err := accounts.LiftSuspension(ctx, id); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("lift over mute: %v", err)
+	}
+	if b := byExt(); b.Eligible {
+		t.Fatalf("lifted but still muted = %+v, want not eligible", b)
+	}
+	if err := accounts.RevokeRole(ctx, id, account.RoleChatMuted); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("revoke chat_muted: %v", err)
+	}
+	if b := byExt(); !b.Eligible {
+		t.Fatalf("after revoke = %+v, want eligible", b)
+	}
+
+	// An unknown Telegram identity is unregistered (and thus left muted).
+	if b := chatAccess(t, srv, `{"external_id":"tg-missing-`+uuid.NewString()+`"}`); b.Registered || b.Eligible {
+		t.Fatalf("unknown identity = %+v, want neither registered nor eligible", b)
+	}
+
+	// An account with no Telegram identity (a guest) carries an empty external_id, so
+	// the gateway has nothing to gate.
+	guest := provisionGuest(t)
+	if b := chatAccess(t, srv, `{"user_id":"`+guest.String()+`"}`); b.ExternalID != "" || b.Registered {
+		t.Fatalf("guest by user_id = %+v, want empty external_id and not registered", b)
+	}
+
+	// A request naming neither address is a bad request.
+	rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, "/api/v1/internal/chat-access", strings.NewReader(`{}`))
+	req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+	srv.Handler().ServeHTTP(rec, req)
+	if rec.Code != http.StatusBadRequest {
+		t.Fatalf("empty query = %d, want 400", rec.Code)
+	}
+}
+
+// captureNotifier records every published intent so a test can assert which live
+// events a console action emitted.
+type captureNotifier struct {
+	mu      sync.Mutex
+	intents []notify.Intent
+}
+
+func (c *captureNotifier) Publish(in ...notify.Intent) {
+	c.mu.Lock()
+	defer c.mu.Unlock()
+	c.intents = append(c.intents, in...)
+}
+
+// count returns how many intents of kind addressed to user were captured.
+func (c *captureNotifier) count(user uuid.UUID, kind string) int {
+	c.mu.Lock()
+	defer c.mu.Unlock()
+	n := 0
+	for _, in := range c.intents {
+		if in.UserID == user && in.Kind == kind {
+			n++
+		}
+	}
+	return n
+}
+
+// TestChatAccessPublishedOnModeration drives the admin console and asserts each
+// moderation action that can change chat eligibility — block, unblock, and the
+// chat_muted role grant/revoke — emits the chat_access_changed signal the gateway
+// turns into a chat-gate command.
+func TestChatAccessPublishedOnModeration(t *testing.T) {
+	notifier := &captureNotifier{}
+	srv := server.New(":0", server.Deps{
+		Logger:   zaptest.NewLogger(t),
+		DB:       testDB,
+		Accounts: account.NewStore(testDB),
+		Games:    newGameService(),
+		Registry: testRegistry,
+		DictDir:  dictDir(),
+		Notifier: notifier,
+	})
+	h := srv.Handler()
+	id := provisionAccount(t)
+	base := "http://admin.test/_gm/users/" + id.String()
+	const origin = "http://admin.test"
+
+	steps := []struct {
+		name, path, body string
+		want             string
+	}{
+		{"block", "/block", "duration=permanent", "Blocked"},
+		{"unblock", "/unblock", "", "Unblocked"},
+		{"grant chat_muted", "/grant-role", "role=chat_muted", "Role granted"},
+		{"revoke chat_muted", "/revoke-role", "role=chat_muted", "Role revoked"},
+	}
+	for i, s := range steps {
+		code, body := consoleDo(h, http.MethodPost, base+s.path, s.body, origin)
+		if code != http.StatusOK || !strings.Contains(body, s.want) {
+			t.Fatalf("%s = %d, has %q = %v", s.name, code, s.want, strings.Contains(body, s.want))
+		}
+		if got := notifier.count(id, notify.KindChatAccessChanged); got != i+1 {
+			t.Fatalf("after %s: chat_access_changed count = %d, want %d", s.name, got, i+1)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// TestChatAccessPublishedOnFirstRegistration checks that a Telegram first contact
+// (the sessions/telegram endpoint creating the account) emits chat_access_changed —
+// the re-grant for a user who joined the moderated chat before registering — and that
+// a repeat login does not re-emit.
+func TestChatAccessPublishedOnFirstRegistration(t *testing.T) {
+	notifier := &captureNotifier{}
+	srv := server.New(":0", server.Deps{
+		Logger:   zaptest.NewLogger(t),
+		DB:       testDB,
+		Accounts: account.NewStore(testDB),
+		Sessions: session.NewService(session.NewStore(testDB), session.NewCache()),
+		Notifier: notifier,
+	})
+	h := srv.Handler()
+	ext := "tg-" + uuid.NewString()
+
+	post := func() {
+		rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+		req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, "/api/v1/internal/sessions/telegram",
+			strings.NewReader(`{"external_id":"`+ext+`","language_code":"en","first_name":"Reg"}`))
+		req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+		h.ServeHTTP(rec, req)
+		if rec.Code != http.StatusOK {
+			t.Fatalf("telegram auth = %d: %s", rec.Code, rec.Body.String())
+		}
+	}
+
+	post()
+	acc, err := account.NewStore(testDB).AccountByIdentity(context.Background(), account.KindTelegram, ext)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("lookup: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got := notifier.count(acc.ID, notify.KindChatAccessChanged); got != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("first registration: chat_access_changed count = %d, want 1", got)
+	}
+	// A repeat login (the account already exists) must not re-emit.
+	post()
+	if got := notifier.count(acc.ID, notify.KindChatAccessChanged); got != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("repeat login: chat_access_changed count = %d, want still 1", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestSuspensionsExpiredBetween checks the sweeper's window query: a non-lifted
+// temporary block whose expiry falls in the window is returned, while one outside the
+// window, a permanent block, and a lifted block are not.
+func TestSuspensionsExpiredBetween(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	accounts := account.NewStore(testDB)
+
+	// A temporary block whose expiry already lapsed at a known instant.
+	tempID := provisionAccount(t)
+	expiry := time.Now().Add(-time.Hour).Truncate(time.Second)
+	if _, err := accounts.Suspend(ctx, tempID, &expiry, "", "", nil); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("suspend temp: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	contains := func(ids []uuid.UUID, want uuid.UUID) bool {
+		for _, id := range ids {
+			if id == want {
+				return true
+			}
+		}
+		return false
+	}
+
+	// A window straddling the expiry returns the account.
+	got, err := accounts.SuspensionsExpiredBetween(ctx, expiry.Add(-time.Minute), expiry.Add(time.Minute))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expired between: %v", err)
+	}
+	if !contains(got, tempID) {
+		t.Fatalf("window over expiry missing the lapsed block %s", tempID)
+	}
+	// A window entirely after the expiry does not.
+	got, err = accounts.SuspensionsExpiredBetween(ctx, expiry.Add(time.Minute), expiry.Add(2*time.Minute))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expired between (after): %v", err)
+	}
+	if contains(got, tempID) {
+		t.Fatalf("window after expiry should not return %s", tempID)
+	}
+
+	// A permanent block never appears, even in a wide window.
+	permID := provisionAccount(t)
+	if _, err := accounts.Suspend(ctx, permID, nil, "", "", nil); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("suspend perm: %v", err)
+	}
+	// A lifted block does not appear either. The block must still be in force when lifted
+	// (LiftSuspension only lifts in-force blocks), so its expiry is in the future and the
+	// wide window below still covers it — yet lifted_at excludes it.
+	liftID := provisionAccount(t)
+	liftExpiry := time.Now().Add(30 * time.Minute).Truncate(time.Second)
+	if _, err := accounts.Suspend(ctx, liftID, &liftExpiry, "", "", nil); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("suspend lift: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := accounts.LiftSuspension(ctx, liftID); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("lift: %v", err)
+	}
+	wide, err := accounts.SuspensionsExpiredBetween(ctx, time.Now().Add(-2*time.Hour), time.Now().Add(time.Hour))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expired between (wide): %v", err)
+	}
+	if contains(wide, permID) {
+		t.Fatalf("permanent block %s must not be reported as expired", permID)
+	}
+	if contains(wide, liftID) {
+		t.Fatalf("lifted block %s must not be reported as expired", liftID)
+	}
+}

backend/internal/inttest/dictionary_update_test.go

@@ -134,11 +134,13 @@ func TestDictionaryUpdateFlow(t *testing.T) {
 // newGameServiceOn builds a game service over the shared pool but a caller-supplied
 // dictionary directory, version and registry, for the isolated dictionary tests.
 func newGameServiceOn(dir, version string, reg *engine.Registry) *game.Service {
-	return game.NewService(
+	svc := game.NewService(
 		game.NewStore(testDB), account.NewStore(testDB), reg,
 		game.Config{DictDir: dir, DictVersion: version, TimeoutSweepInterval: time.Minute, CacheTTL: time.Hour},
 		zap.NewNop(),
 	)
+	svc.SetFirstMoveEntropy(seatZeroFirstMove)
+	return svc
 }
 
 // seedDawgs copies the committed DAWG of every variant from src into dst (flat).

backend/internal/inttest/email_test.go

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"regexp"
+	"slices"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
@@ -134,12 +135,20 @@ func TestUpdateProfilePersists(t *testing.T) {
 	store := account.NewStore(testDB)
 	acc := provisionAccount(t)
 
+	// A fresh account defaults to Erudit only (the DB-level column default).
+	if def, err := store.GetByID(ctx, acc); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("get default: %v", err)
+	} else if want := []string{"erudit_ru"}; !slices.Equal(def.VariantPreferences, want) {
+		t.Errorf("default variant preferences = %v, want %v", def.VariantPreferences, want)
+	}
+
 	updated, err := store.UpdateProfile(ctx, acc, account.ProfileUpdate{
 		DisplayName:         "Kaya",
 		PreferredLanguage:   "ru",
 		TimeZone:            "Europe/Moscow",
 		BlockChat:           true,
 		BlockFriendRequests: true,
+		VariantPreferences:  []string{"scrabble_en", "erudit_ru"},
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("update profile: %v", err)
@@ -157,6 +166,10 @@ func TestUpdateProfilePersists(t *testing.T) {
 	if reloaded.TimeZone != "Europe/Moscow" || !reloaded.BlockChat {
 		t.Errorf("profile did not persist: %+v", reloaded)
 	}
+	// The text[] column round-trips and is stored canonically (Erudit-first).
+	if want := []string{"erudit_ru", "scrabble_en"}; !slices.Equal(reloaded.VariantPreferences, want) {
+		t.Errorf("variant preferences = %v, want %v", reloaded.VariantPreferences, want)
+	}
 }
 
 // TestUpdateProfileOffsetTimezone checks the UTC-offset timezone: it is
@@ -170,6 +183,7 @@ func TestUpdateProfileOffsetTimezone(t *testing.T) {
 		DisplayName:        "Kaya",
 		PreferredLanguage:  "en",
 		TimeZone:           "+03:00",
+		VariantPreferences: []string{"erudit_ru"},
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("update with offset timezone: %v", err)

backend/internal/inttest/feedback_test.go

@@ -145,48 +145,33 @@ func TestFeedbackReplyHiddenAfterNewMessage(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestFeedbackSnapshotsLanguages(t *testing.T) {
+func TestFeedbackSnapshotsLanguage(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	svc := newFeedbackService()
 	acc := provisionAccount(t)
 	if _, err := testDB.ExecContext(ctx,
-		`UPDATE backend.accounts SET preferred_language = 'en', service_language = 'ru' WHERE account_id = $1`, acc); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("set languages: %v", err)
+		`UPDATE backend.accounts SET preferred_language = 'en' WHERE account_id = $1`, acc); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("set language: %v", err)
 	}
-	// A Telegram (connector) message snapshots both the interface language and the bot.
+	// A message snapshots the sender's interface language at submit time.
 	if err := svc.Submit(ctx, acc, "from telegram", nil, "", "telegram", ""); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("submit: %v", err)
 	}
 	id := latestFeedbackID(t, svc, acc)
 	if m, err := svc.AdminGet(ctx, id); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("admin get: %v", err)
-	} else if m.Lang != "en" || m.ChannelLang != "ru" {
-		t.Fatalf("snapshot = lang %q / channel_lang %q, want en / ru", m.Lang, m.ChannelLang)
+	} else if m.Lang != "en" {
+		t.Fatalf("snapshot = lang %q, want en", m.Lang)
 	}
 	// Changing the account afterwards must not change the stored snapshot.
 	if _, err := testDB.ExecContext(ctx,
-		`UPDATE backend.accounts SET preferred_language = 'ru', service_language = 'en' WHERE account_id = $1`, acc); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("change languages: %v", err)
+		`UPDATE backend.accounts SET preferred_language = 'ru' WHERE account_id = $1`, acc); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("change language: %v", err)
 	}
 	if m, err := svc.AdminGet(ctx, id); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
-	} else if m.Lang != "en" || m.ChannelLang != "ru" {
-		t.Fatalf("snapshot drifted after account change = lang %q / channel_lang %q", m.Lang, m.ChannelLang)
-	}
-
-	// A non-connector channel records no bot language even when the account has one.
-	acc2 := provisionAccount(t)
-	if _, err := testDB.ExecContext(ctx,
-		`UPDATE backend.accounts SET preferred_language = 'en', service_language = 'ru' WHERE account_id = $1`, acc2); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("set languages 2: %v", err)
-	}
-	if err := svc.Submit(ctx, acc2, "from web", nil, "", "web", ""); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("submit web: %v", err)
-	}
-	if m, err := svc.AdminGet(ctx, latestFeedbackID(t, svc, acc2)); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	} else if m.Lang != "en" || m.ChannelLang != "" {
-		t.Fatalf("web snapshot = lang %q / channel_lang %q, want en / empty", m.Lang, m.ChannelLang)
+	} else if m.Lang != "en" {
+		t.Fatalf("snapshot drifted after account change = lang %q, want en", m.Lang)
 	}
 }
 

backend/internal/inttest/first_move_draw_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,154 @@
+//go:build integration
+
+package inttest
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/google/uuid"
+
+	"scrabble/backend/internal/engine"
+	"scrabble/backend/internal/game"
+)
+
+// The first-move-draw suite covers the official seeding (docs/ARCHITECTURE.md §6): the draw is
+// recorded with the game, decides seat 0 (the first mover), and — in auto-match — runs against
+// a synthetic opponent at open time whose draw rows are back-filled when a real opponent joins.
+
+// TestCreateRecordsFirstMoveDraws checks a directly-seated game records the draw against the
+// real seated accounts and seats the drawn leader (the suite's deterministic draw elects the
+// first-listed account) at seat 0.
+func TestCreateRecordsFirstMoveDraws(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	svc := newGameService()
+	a := provisionAccount(t)
+	b := provisionAccount(t)
+	g, err := svc.Create(ctx, game.CreateParams{Variant: engine.VariantEnglish, Seats: []uuid.UUID{a, b}, TurnTimeout: 24 * time.Hour, Seed: 1})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("create: %v", err)
+	}
+	if g.Seats[0].AccountID != a || g.Seats[1].AccountID != b {
+		t.Fatalf("seats = [%s %s], want [a b]", g.Seats[0].AccountID, g.Seats[1].AccountID)
+	}
+	draws, err := svc.SetupDraws(ctx, g.ID)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("setup draws: %v", err)
+	}
+	// seatZeroFirstMove resolves in one round: the first contender (a) draws a blank and wins.
+	if len(draws) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("draws = %d, want 2 (one round, two players)", len(draws))
+	}
+	if draws[0].Account != a || !draws[0].Blank {
+		t.Fatalf("draw[0] = %+v, want a having drawn a blank", draws[0])
+	}
+	if draws[1].Account != b {
+		t.Fatalf("draw[1] account = %s, want b", draws[1].Account)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestAutoMatchDrawBackfilledOnJoin checks an open auto-match game records the draw at open
+// time against the synthetic opponent (a NULL account) and back-fills those rows to the real
+// opponent when they join.
+func TestAutoMatchDrawBackfilledOnJoin(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	clearOpenGames(t)
+	svc := newGameService()
+	starter := provisionAccount(t)
+	g := openGame(t, svc, starter, evenOpeningSeed(t))
+
+	draws, err := svc.SetupDraws(ctx, g.ID)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("setup draws: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(draws) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("open draws = %d, want 2", len(draws))
+	}
+	var nullSeen, starterSeen bool
+	for _, d := range draws {
+		switch d.Account {
+		case uuid.Nil:
+			nullSeen = true
+		case starter:
+			starterSeen = true
+		}
+	}
+	if !nullSeen || !starterSeen {
+		t.Fatalf("open draws = %+v, want the starter and a NULL synthetic opponent", draws)
+	}
+
+	joiner := provisionAccount(t)
+	if _, joined, err := svc.OpenOrJoin(ctx, joiner, openParams(0), time.Now().Add(time.Minute), nil); err != nil || !joined {
+		t.Fatalf("join = (joined %v, err %v), want joined", joined, err)
+	}
+	after, err := svc.SetupDraws(ctx, g.ID)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("setup draws after join: %v", err)
+	}
+	for _, d := range after {
+		if d.Account == uuid.Nil {
+			t.Fatalf("draw still NULL after join: %+v", d)
+		}
+		if d.Account != starter && d.Account != joiner {
+			t.Fatalf("draw account %s is neither player", d.Account)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// TestReplayTimeline checks the admin replay timeline reconstructs the dealt racks and one
+// played move: the step count, the drawn tiles, the bag remainder, the running score and the
+// turn cursor.
+func TestReplayTimeline(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	svc := newGameService()
+	a := provisionAccount(t)
+	b := provisionAccount(t)
+	seed := evenOpeningSeed(t)
+	g, err := svc.Create(ctx, game.CreateParams{Variant: engine.VariantEnglish, Seats: []uuid.UUID{a, b}, TurnTimeout: 24 * time.Hour, Seed: seed})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("create: %v", err)
+	}
+	hint, ok := newMirror(t, seed, 2).HintView()
+	if !ok || len(hint.Tiles) == 0 {
+		t.Fatal("no opening move for the seed")
+	}
+	if _, err := svc.SubmitPlay(ctx, g.ID, a, hint.Tiles); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("play: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	tl, err := svc.ReplayTimeline(ctx, g.ID)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("replay timeline: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(tl.Steps) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("steps = %d, want 2 (deal + one move)", len(tl.Steps))
+	}
+	deal := tl.Steps[0]
+	if deal.Move != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("step 0 must be the deal, got move %+v", deal.Move)
+	}
+	rackSize := len(deal.Racks[0])
+	if rackSize == 0 || len(deal.Racks) != 2 || len(deal.Racks[1]) != rackSize {
+		t.Fatalf("deal racks = %v, want two equal full racks", deal.Racks)
+	}
+	move := tl.Steps[1]
+	if move.Move == nil || move.Move.Action != "play" {
+		t.Fatalf("step 1 move = %+v, want a play", move.Move)
+	}
+	if len(move.Drawn) != len(hint.Tiles) {
+		t.Fatalf("drawn = %v, want %d refilled tiles", move.Drawn, len(hint.Tiles))
+	}
+	if move.BagLen != deal.BagLen-len(hint.Tiles) {
+		t.Fatalf("bag after play = %d, want %d", move.BagLen, deal.BagLen-len(hint.Tiles))
+	}
+	if len(move.Racks[0]) != rackSize {
+		t.Fatalf("mover rack after refill = %d, want %d", len(move.Racks[0]), rackSize)
+	}
+	if move.Scores[0] <= 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("seat 0 score after play = %d, want > 0", move.Scores[0])
+	}
+	if move.ToMove != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("to_move after seat 0 play = %d, want 1", move.ToMove)
+	}
+}

backend/internal/inttest/game_limit_test.go

@@ -97,10 +97,12 @@ func TestGameLimitGate(t *testing.T) {
 	if !gamesListAtLimit(t, srv, human) {
 		t.Fatalf("at %d games at_game_limit must be true", game.MaxActiveQuickGames)
 	}
-	if rec := userPost(t, srv, "/api/v1/user/lobby/enqueue", human, `{"variant":"scrabble_en"}`); rec.Code != http.StatusConflict || errorCode(t, rec) != "game_limit_reached" {
+	// erudit_ru is in the default variant preferences, so the variant gate passes and the
+	// game-limit gate is what fires here.
+	if rec := userPost(t, srv, "/api/v1/user/lobby/enqueue", human, `{"variant":"erudit_ru"}`); rec.Code != http.StatusConflict || errorCode(t, rec) != "game_limit_reached" {
 		t.Fatalf("enqueue at limit = (%d, %q), want (409, game_limit_reached)", rec.Code, errorCode(t, rec))
 	}
-	invBody := fmt.Sprintf(`{"variant":"scrabble_en","invitee_ids":[%q]}`, opp.String())
+	invBody := fmt.Sprintf(`{"variant":"erudit_ru","invitee_ids":[%q]}`, opp.String())
 	if rec := userPost(t, srv, "/api/v1/user/invitations", human, invBody); rec.Code != http.StatusConflict || errorCode(t, rec) != "game_limit_reached" {
 		t.Fatalf("invitation at limit = (%d, %q), want (409, game_limit_reached)", rec.Code, errorCode(t, rec))
 	}

backend/internal/inttest/game_test.go

@@ -543,6 +543,12 @@ func TestEvaluatePlayPreview(t *testing.T) {
 	if bad.Valid {
 		t.Error("disconnected play must be invalid")
 	}
+
+	// A non-seated account cannot preview: with the game warm in the live cache, the
+	// membership check runs against the cached seat list (the hot path that skips GetGame).
+	if _, err := svc.EvaluatePlay(ctx, g.ID, provisionAccount(t), hint.Tiles); !errors.Is(err, game.ErrNotAPlayer) {
+		t.Errorf("evaluate by a non-player = %v, want ErrNotAPlayer", err)
+	}
 }
 
 // TestConcurrentSubmitSerialized confirms the per-game lock lets only one of two

backend/internal/inttest/helpers.go

@@ -26,9 +26,10 @@ import (
 // assembly, and the stats reader. Helpers used by a single test file stay in
 // that file; everything reused across files lives here.
 
-// newGameService builds a game service over the shared pool and registry.
+// newGameService builds a game service over the shared pool and registry, with a
+// deterministic first-move draw so the suite keeps a stable turn order.
 func newGameService() *game.Service {
-	return game.NewService(
+	svc := game.NewService(
 		game.NewStore(testDB),
 		account.NewStore(testDB),
 		testRegistry,
@@ -40,6 +41,39 @@ func newGameService() *game.Service {
 		},
 		zap.NewNop(),
 	)
+	svc.SetFirstMoveEntropy(seatZeroFirstMove)
+	return svc
+}
+
+// seatZeroFirstMove is a first-move-draw entropy factory that always elects the first
+// listed account as the leader, keeping the integration suite's turn order stable
+// despite the real draw's randomness: the first contender draws a blank — the best
+// possible tile — and wins outright, the rest draw the first remaining tile. It is a
+// factory so each game restarts the one-shot "blank" pick.
+func seatZeroFirstMove() func(n int) (int, error) {
+	first := true
+	return func(n int) (int, error) {
+		if first {
+			first = false
+			return n - 1, nil // a blank sits last in the bag → best rank
+		}
+		return 0, nil
+	}
+}
+
+// seatOneFirstMove is a first-move-draw entropy factory that elects the second contender (in
+// auto-match, the synthetic opponent) as the leader, so the caller is seated at seat 1: the
+// first contender draws the first remaining tile and the second draws a blank, winning.
+func seatOneFirstMove() func(n int) (int, error) {
+	pick := 0
+	return func(n int) (int, error) {
+		i := 0
+		if pick == 1 {
+			i = n - 1 // the second contender draws a blank → best rank
+		}
+		pick++
+		return i, nil
+	}
 }
 
 // newSocialService builds a social service over the shared pool, reading game

backend/internal/inttest/open_match_test.go

@@ -18,8 +18,9 @@ import (
 // The open-game suite covers an auto-match game that a player enters immediately and
 // waits inside (status 'open', the opponent seat empty) until a human or a robot joins.
 
-// evenOpeningSeed returns an even seed (so OpenOrJoin seats the starter at seat 0, which
-// moves first) whose fresh two-player English opening rack has a legal move.
+// evenOpeningSeed returns a seed whose fresh two-player English opening rack (seat 0) has a
+// legal move, for tests that drive or attempt an opening play. It scans even seeds; seat
+// order no longer depends on the seed — the first-move draw decides it (docs/ARCHITECTURE.md §6).
 func evenOpeningSeed(t *testing.T) int64 {
 	t.Helper()
 	for seed := int64(2); seed <= 400; seed += 2 {
@@ -59,9 +60,9 @@ func openGame(t *testing.T, svc *game.Service, starter uuid.UUID, seed int64) ga
 	return g
 }
 
-// TestOpenGameStarterMovesThenWaits checks the starter (seat 0) may move on their turn
-// while the game is open, after which it is the empty opponent seat's turn and the
-// starter just waits.
+// TestOpenGameStarterMovesThenWaits checks the starter may move on their turn while the game
+// is open (the first-move draw, run when the game opened, put them at seat 0), after which it
+// is the empty opponent seat's turn and the starter just waits.
 func TestOpenGameStarterMovesThenWaits(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	clearOpenGames(t)
@@ -89,28 +90,30 @@ func TestOpenGameStarterMovesThenWaits(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-// TestOpenGameStarterWaitsWhenOpponentMovesFirst checks that when the starter is seated
-// at seat 1 (odd seed), the still-empty seat 0 is to move, so the starter cannot act.
+// TestOpenGameStarterWaitsWhenOpponentMovesFirst checks that when the first-move draw seats
+// the starter at seat 1 (the synthetic opponent won the open draw), the still-empty seat 0 is
+// to move, so the starter cannot act until an opponent fills it.
 func TestOpenGameStarterWaitsWhenOpponentMovesFirst(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	clearOpenGames(t)
 	svc := newGameService()
+	svc.SetFirstMoveEntropy(seatOneFirstMove) // the synthetic opponent wins → the caller sits at seat 1
 	starter := provisionAccount(t)
 	g, _, err := svc.OpenOrJoin(ctx, starter, openParams(1), time.Now().Add(time.Minute), nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("open: %v", err)
 	}
 	if g.ToMove != 0 || g.Seats[0].AccountID != uuid.Nil {
-		t.Fatalf("odd-seed open game: to_move %d seat0 %s, want the empty seat 0 to move", g.ToMove, g.Seats[0].AccountID)
+		t.Fatalf("opponent-won open draw: to_move %d seat0 %s, want the empty seat 0 to move", g.ToMove, g.Seats[0].AccountID)
 	}
 	if _, err := svc.Pass(ctx, g.ID, starter); !errors.Is(err, game.ErrNotYourTurn) {
 		t.Fatalf("starter acting on the empty seat's turn = %v, want ErrNotYourTurn", err)
 	}
 }
 
-// TestOpenGameJoinAfterStarterMoved checks a second human joins an open game even after
-// the starter has already made their first move, landing on the board mid-opening and
-// able to act on their turn.
+// TestOpenGameJoinAfterStarterMoved checks a second human joins an open game even after the
+// starter has already made their first move: the seats were fixed by the draw at open, so the
+// joiner takes the empty seat without disturbing the journal, and can act on their turn.
 func TestOpenGameJoinAfterStarterMoved(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	clearOpenGames(t)

backend/internal/inttest/seat_display_name_test.go

@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ func TestSeatNameFrozenAfterRename(t *testing.T) {
 
 	starter := provisionAccount(t)
 	if _, err := accounts.UpdateProfile(ctx, starter, account.ProfileUpdate{
-		DisplayName: "Original Name", PreferredLanguage: "en", TimeZone: "UTC",
+		DisplayName: "Original Name", PreferredLanguage: "en", TimeZone: "UTC", VariantPreferences: []string{"erudit_ru"},
 	}); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("set name: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ func TestSeatNameFrozenAfterRename(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Rename the account; the snapshot on the already-taken seat must not follow.
 	if _, err := accounts.UpdateProfile(ctx, starter, account.ProfileUpdate{
-		DisplayName: "Renamed Player99", PreferredLanguage: "en", TimeZone: "UTC",
+		DisplayName: "Renamed Player99", PreferredLanguage: "en", TimeZone: "UTC", VariantPreferences: []string{"erudit_ru"},
 	}); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("rename: %v", err)
 	}

backend/internal/inttest/social_test.go

@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ func TestFriendRequestRefusedByToggleAndBlock(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Toggle: the addressee does not accept friend requests.
 	a, b := provisionAccount(t), provisionAccount(t)
-	if _, err := store.UpdateProfile(ctx, b, account.ProfileUpdate{DisplayName: "Player", PreferredLanguage: "en", TimeZone: "UTC", BlockFriendRequests: true}); err != nil {
+	if _, err := store.UpdateProfile(ctx, b, account.ProfileUpdate{DisplayName: "Player", PreferredLanguage: "en", TimeZone: "UTC", BlockFriendRequests: true, VariantPreferences: []string{"erudit_ru"}}); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("set toggle: %v", err)
 	}
 	if err := svc.SendFriendRequest(ctx, a, b); !errors.Is(err, social.ErrRequestBlocked) {
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ func TestChatPostListAndBlocks(t *testing.T) {
 	if _, err := svc.PostMessage(ctx, other, seats2[0], "hi", ""); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("post 2: %v", err)
 	}
-	if _, err := store.UpdateProfile(ctx, seats2[1], account.ProfileUpdate{DisplayName: "Player", PreferredLanguage: "en", TimeZone: "UTC", BlockChat: true}); err != nil {
+	if _, err := store.UpdateProfile(ctx, seats2[1], account.ProfileUpdate{DisplayName: "Player", PreferredLanguage: "en", TimeZone: "UTC", BlockChat: true, VariantPreferences: []string{"erudit_ru"}}); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("set block_chat: %v", err)
 	}
 	if msgs, _ := svc.Messages(ctx, other, seats2[1]); len(msgs) != 0 {
@@ -588,32 +588,6 @@ func TestRespondPublishesToRequester(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-// TestNudgeRoutedByGameLanguage checks a nudge's out-of-app push carries the game's language, so
-// it is delivered by the game's bot rather than the recipient's last-login bot.
-func TestNudgeRoutedByGameLanguage(t *testing.T) {
-	ctx := context.Background()
-	svc := newSocialService()
-	pub := &capturePublisher{}
-	svc.SetNotifier(pub)
-
-	gameID, seats := newGameWithSeats(t, 2) // an English game; seat 0 is to move
-	if _, err := svc.Nudge(ctx, gameID, seats[1]); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("nudge: %v", err)
-	}
-	found := false
-	for _, in := range pub.intents {
-		if in.Kind == notify.KindNudge {
-			found = true
-			if in.Language != "en" {
-				t.Errorf("nudge language = %q, want en (the game's language)", in.Language)
-			}
-		}
-	}
-	if !found {
-		t.Fatal("no nudge intent published")
-	}
-}
-
 // TestAdminListMessages checks the admin moderation list: real messages only
 // (nudges excluded), the game / sender pins, the sender glob masks, and the source label.
 func TestAdminListMessages(t *testing.T) {

backend/internal/inttest/suspension_gate_test.go

@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ func TestSuspensionGate(t *testing.T) {
 		Accounts: accounts,
 	})
 
-	acc, err := accounts.ProvisionTelegram(ctx, "tg-"+uuid.NewString(), "ru", "", "Blocked")
+	acc, _, err := accounts.ProvisionTelegram(ctx, "tg-"+uuid.NewString(), "ru", "", "Blocked")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("provision: %v", err)
 	}

backend/internal/inttest/userlist_test.go

@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ func TestUserListFilter(t *testing.T) {
 	st := account.NewStore(testDB)
 	uniq := uuid.NewString()
 
-	human, err := st.ProvisionTelegram(ctx, "tg-"+uniq, "en", "", "Zzqxhuman")
+	human, _, err := st.ProvisionTelegram(ctx, "tg-"+uniq, "en", "", "Zzqxhuman")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("provision human: %v", err)
 	}

backend/internal/inttest/variant_preference_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+//go:build integration
+
+package inttest
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"net/http"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"go.uber.org/zap/zaptest"
+
+	"scrabble/backend/internal/account"
+	"scrabble/backend/internal/server"
+)
+
+// TestVariantPreferenceGate covers the New Game gate: a player may start a quick game
+// or create a friend invitation only in a variant they have enabled in their profile
+// (a fresh account defaults to Erudit only), and any other variant is refused with 400.
+// The complementary case — an invited friend accepting an invitation in a variant they
+// have NOT enabled — is exercised by TestGameLimitGate, where a default-Erudit human
+// accepts an English invitation over HTTP.
+func TestVariantPreferenceGate(t *testing.T) {
+	clearOpenGames(t)
+	srv := server.New(":0", server.Deps{
+		Logger:      zaptest.NewLogger(t),
+		DB:          testDB,
+		Accounts:    account.NewStore(testDB),
+		Games:       newGameService(),
+		Matchmaker:  newMatchmaker(t, newRobotService(t, newGameService()), time.Minute, 0),
+		Invitations: newInvitationService(),
+	})
+
+	human := provisionAccount(t) // default preferences: erudit_ru only
+	opp := provisionAccount(t)
+
+	// A variant outside the player's preferences is refused on both create paths.
+	if rec := userPost(t, srv, "/api/v1/user/lobby/enqueue", human, `{"variant":"scrabble_en"}`); rec.Code != http.StatusBadRequest {
+		t.Fatalf("enqueue non-preferred variant = %d (%s), want 400", rec.Code, rec.Body.String())
+	}
+	invBody := fmt.Sprintf(`{"variant":"scrabble_en","invitee_ids":[%q]}`, opp.String())
+	if rec := userPost(t, srv, "/api/v1/user/invitations", human, invBody); rec.Code != http.StatusBadRequest {
+		t.Fatalf("invitation non-preferred variant = %d (%s), want 400", rec.Code, rec.Body.String())
+	}
+
+	// The default-enabled variant (Erudit) is allowed: the quick enqueue opens a game.
+	if rec := userPost(t, srv, "/api/v1/user/lobby/enqueue", human, `{"variant":"erudit_ru"}`); rec.Code != http.StatusOK {
+		t.Fatalf("enqueue preferred variant = %d (%s), want 200", rec.Code, rec.Body.String())
+	}
+	clearOpenGames(t)
+}

backend/internal/lobby/matchmaker.go

@@ -206,7 +206,6 @@ func (m *Matchmaker) announceOpponent(ctx context.Context, g game.Game, joinerID
 		return
 	}
 	intent := notify.OpponentJoined(starter, g.ID, state)
-	intent.Language = g.Variant.Language()
 	m.pub.Publish(intent)
 }
 

backend/internal/notify/events.go

@@ -216,6 +216,16 @@ func BannerChanged(userID uuid.UUID) Intent {
 	return Notification(userID, NotifyBanner)
 }
 
+// ChatAccessChanged signals that userID's eligibility to write in the moderated
+// Telegram discussion chat may have changed (an admin block/unblock, a chat_muted
+// grant/revoke, or a temporary block lapsing). It carries no payload: the gateway
+// resolves the user's Telegram identity and current eligibility and pushes the
+// resulting chat-gate command to the bot. Unlike the lobby notifications it is an
+// infra signal — a distinct top-level kind, never an out-of-app rendered message.
+func ChatAccessChanged(userID uuid.UUID) Intent {
+	return Intent{UserID: userID, Kind: KindChatAccessChanged, EventID: eventID()}
+}
+
 // eventID returns a best-effort correlation id for one emitted event.
 func eventID() string {
 	if id, err := uuid.NewV7(); err == nil {

backend/internal/notify/notify.go

@@ -35,6 +35,13 @@ const (
 	// KindGameOver announces a finished game to each seated player, driving the
 	// out-of-app "game over" push.
 	KindGameOver = "game_over"
+	// KindChatAccessChanged signals that a player's eligibility to write in the
+	// moderated Telegram discussion chat may have changed (an admin block or unblock,
+	// a chat_muted grant or revoke, or a temporary block lapsing). It carries no
+	// payload and is never fanned out to in-app clients: the gateway consumes it to
+	// resolve the player's Telegram identity and current eligibility and push the
+	// resulting chat-gate command to the bot.
+	KindChatAccessChanged = "chat_access_changed"
 )
 
 // Notification sub-kinds carried in a KindNotification event payload; the client
@@ -82,11 +89,6 @@ type Intent struct {
 	Kind    string
 	Payload []byte
 	EventID string
-	// Language routes an out-of-app push to a specific per-language bot: for a
-	// game event it is the game's language ("en"/"ru"), so the notification comes from the
-	// game's bot rather than the recipient's last-login bot. Empty falls back to the
-	// recipient's service language at the gateway.
-	Language string
 }
 
 // Publisher accepts live-event intents. Implementations must be safe for

backend/internal/postgres/jet/backend/model/accounts.go

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ package model
 
 import (
 	"github.com/google/uuid"
+	"github.com/lib/pq"
 	"time"
 )
 
@@ -29,6 +30,6 @@ type Accounts struct {
 	PaidAccount            bool
 	MergedInto             *uuid.UUID
 	MergedAt               *time.Time
-	ServiceLanguage        *string
 	FlaggedHighRateAt      *time.Time
+	VariantPreferences     pq.StringArray
 }

backend/internal/postgres/jet/backend/model/feedback_messages.go

@@ -20,12 +20,11 @@ type FeedbackMessages struct {
 	AttachmentName *string
 	SenderIP       *string
 	Channel        string
-	Lang           *string
-	ChannelLang    *string
 	ReadAt         *time.Time
 	ArchivedAt     *time.Time
 	ReplyBody      *string
 	RepliedAt      *time.Time
 	ReplyReadAt    *time.Time
 	CreatedAt      time.Time
+	Lang           *string
 }

backend/internal/postgres/jet/backend/model/game_setup_draws.go

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+//
+// Code generated by go-jet DO NOT EDIT.
+//
+// WARNING: Changes to this file may cause incorrect behavior
+// and will be lost if the code is regenerated
+//
+
+package model
+
+import (
+	"github.com/google/uuid"
+	"time"
+)
+
+type GameSetupDraws struct {
+	GameID    uuid.UUID `sql:"primary_key"`
+	Round     int16     `sql:"primary_key"`
+	PickNo    int16     `sql:"primary_key"`
+	AccountID *uuid.UUID
+	Letter    string
+	IsBlank   bool
+	DrawRank  int16
+	CreatedAt time.Time
+}

backend/internal/postgres/jet/backend/table/accounts.go

@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ type accountsTable struct {
 	PaidAccount            postgres.ColumnBool
 	MergedInto             postgres.ColumnString
 	MergedAt               postgres.ColumnTimestampz
-	ServiceLanguage        postgres.ColumnString
 	FlaggedHighRateAt      postgres.ColumnTimestampz
+	VariantPreferences     postgres.ColumnStringArray
 
 	AllColumns     postgres.ColumnList
 	MutableColumns postgres.ColumnList
@@ -92,11 +92,11 @@ func newAccountsTableImpl(schemaName, tableName, alias string) accountsTable {
 		PaidAccountColumn            = postgres.BoolColumn("paid_account")
 		MergedIntoColumn             = postgres.StringColumn("merged_into")
 		MergedAtColumn               = postgres.TimestampzColumn("merged_at")
-		ServiceLanguageColumn        = postgres.StringColumn("service_language")
 		FlaggedHighRateAtColumn      = postgres.TimestampzColumn("flagged_high_rate_at")
-		allColumns                   = postgres.ColumnList{AccountIDColumn, DisplayNameColumn, PreferredLanguageColumn, TimeZoneColumn, BlockChatColumn, BlockFriendRequestsColumn, CreatedAtColumn, UpdatedAtColumn, AwayStartColumn, AwayEndColumn, HintBalanceColumn, IsGuestColumn, NotificationsInAppOnlyColumn, PaidAccountColumn, MergedIntoColumn, MergedAtColumn, ServiceLanguageColumn, FlaggedHighRateAtColumn}
-		mutableColumns               = postgres.ColumnList{DisplayNameColumn, PreferredLanguageColumn, TimeZoneColumn, BlockChatColumn, BlockFriendRequestsColumn, CreatedAtColumn, UpdatedAtColumn, AwayStartColumn, AwayEndColumn, HintBalanceColumn, IsGuestColumn, NotificationsInAppOnlyColumn, PaidAccountColumn, MergedIntoColumn, MergedAtColumn, ServiceLanguageColumn, FlaggedHighRateAtColumn}
-		defaultColumns               = postgres.ColumnList{DisplayNameColumn, PreferredLanguageColumn, TimeZoneColumn, BlockChatColumn, BlockFriendRequestsColumn, CreatedAtColumn, UpdatedAtColumn, AwayStartColumn, AwayEndColumn, HintBalanceColumn, IsGuestColumn, NotificationsInAppOnlyColumn, PaidAccountColumn}
+		VariantPreferencesColumn     = postgres.StringArrayColumn("variant_preferences")
+		allColumns                   = postgres.ColumnList{AccountIDColumn, DisplayNameColumn, PreferredLanguageColumn, TimeZoneColumn, BlockChatColumn, BlockFriendRequestsColumn, CreatedAtColumn, UpdatedAtColumn, AwayStartColumn, AwayEndColumn, HintBalanceColumn, IsGuestColumn, NotificationsInAppOnlyColumn, PaidAccountColumn, MergedIntoColumn, MergedAtColumn, FlaggedHighRateAtColumn, VariantPreferencesColumn}
+		mutableColumns               = postgres.ColumnList{DisplayNameColumn, PreferredLanguageColumn, TimeZoneColumn, BlockChatColumn, BlockFriendRequestsColumn, CreatedAtColumn, UpdatedAtColumn, AwayStartColumn, AwayEndColumn, HintBalanceColumn, IsGuestColumn, NotificationsInAppOnlyColumn, PaidAccountColumn, MergedIntoColumn, MergedAtColumn, FlaggedHighRateAtColumn, VariantPreferencesColumn}
+		defaultColumns               = postgres.ColumnList{DisplayNameColumn, PreferredLanguageColumn, TimeZoneColumn, BlockChatColumn, BlockFriendRequestsColumn, CreatedAtColumn, UpdatedAtColumn, AwayStartColumn, AwayEndColumn, HintBalanceColumn, IsGuestColumn, NotificationsInAppOnlyColumn, PaidAccountColumn, VariantPreferencesColumn}
 	)
 
 	return accountsTable{
@@ -119,8 +119,8 @@ func newAccountsTableImpl(schemaName, tableName, alias string) accountsTable {
 		PaidAccount:            PaidAccountColumn,
 		MergedInto:             MergedIntoColumn,
 		MergedAt:               MergedAtColumn,
-		ServiceLanguage:        ServiceLanguageColumn,
 		FlaggedHighRateAt:      FlaggedHighRateAtColumn,
+		VariantPreferences:     VariantPreferencesColumn,
 
 		AllColumns:     allColumns,
 		MutableColumns: mutableColumns,

backend/internal/postgres/jet/backend/table/feedback_messages.go

@@ -24,14 +24,13 @@ type feedbackMessagesTable struct {
 	AttachmentName postgres.ColumnString
 	SenderIP       postgres.ColumnString
 	Channel        postgres.ColumnString
-	Lang           postgres.ColumnString
-	ChannelLang    postgres.ColumnString
 	ReadAt         postgres.ColumnTimestampz
 	ArchivedAt     postgres.ColumnTimestampz
 	ReplyBody      postgres.ColumnString
 	RepliedAt      postgres.ColumnTimestampz
 	ReplyReadAt    postgres.ColumnTimestampz
 	CreatedAt      postgres.ColumnTimestampz
+	Lang           postgres.ColumnString
 
 	AllColumns     postgres.ColumnList
 	MutableColumns postgres.ColumnList
@@ -80,16 +79,15 @@ func newFeedbackMessagesTableImpl(schemaName, tableName, alias string) feedbackM
 		AttachmentNameColumn = postgres.StringColumn("attachment_name")
 		SenderIPColumn       = postgres.StringColumn("sender_ip")
 		ChannelColumn        = postgres.StringColumn("channel")
-		LangColumn           = postgres.StringColumn("lang")
-		ChannelLangColumn    = postgres.StringColumn("channel_lang")
 		ReadAtColumn         = postgres.TimestampzColumn("read_at")
 		ArchivedAtColumn     = postgres.TimestampzColumn("archived_at")
 		ReplyBodyColumn      = postgres.StringColumn("reply_body")
 		RepliedAtColumn      = postgres.TimestampzColumn("replied_at")
 		ReplyReadAtColumn    = postgres.TimestampzColumn("reply_read_at")
 		CreatedAtColumn      = postgres.TimestampzColumn("created_at")
-		allColumns           = postgres.ColumnList{MessageIDColumn, AccountIDColumn, BodyColumn, AttachmentColumn, AttachmentNameColumn, SenderIPColumn, ChannelColumn, LangColumn, ChannelLangColumn, ReadAtColumn, ArchivedAtColumn, ReplyBodyColumn, RepliedAtColumn, ReplyReadAtColumn, CreatedAtColumn}
-		mutableColumns       = postgres.ColumnList{AccountIDColumn, BodyColumn, AttachmentColumn, AttachmentNameColumn, SenderIPColumn, ChannelColumn, LangColumn, ChannelLangColumn, ReadAtColumn, ArchivedAtColumn, ReplyBodyColumn, RepliedAtColumn, ReplyReadAtColumn, CreatedAtColumn}
+		LangColumn           = postgres.StringColumn("lang")
+		allColumns           = postgres.ColumnList{MessageIDColumn, AccountIDColumn, BodyColumn, AttachmentColumn, AttachmentNameColumn, SenderIPColumn, ChannelColumn, ReadAtColumn, ArchivedAtColumn, ReplyBodyColumn, RepliedAtColumn, ReplyReadAtColumn, CreatedAtColumn, LangColumn}
+		mutableColumns       = postgres.ColumnList{AccountIDColumn, BodyColumn, AttachmentColumn, AttachmentNameColumn, SenderIPColumn, ChannelColumn, ReadAtColumn, ArchivedAtColumn, ReplyBodyColumn, RepliedAtColumn, ReplyReadAtColumn, CreatedAtColumn, LangColumn}
 		defaultColumns       = postgres.ColumnList{CreatedAtColumn}
 	)
 
@@ -104,14 +102,13 @@ func newFeedbackMessagesTableImpl(schemaName, tableName, alias string) feedbackM
 		AttachmentName: AttachmentNameColumn,
 		SenderIP:       SenderIPColumn,
 		Channel:        ChannelColumn,
-		Lang:           LangColumn,
-		ChannelLang:    ChannelLangColumn,
 		ReadAt:         ReadAtColumn,
 		ArchivedAt:     ArchivedAtColumn,
 		ReplyBody:      ReplyBodyColumn,
 		RepliedAt:      RepliedAtColumn,
 		ReplyReadAt:    ReplyReadAtColumn,
 		CreatedAt:      CreatedAtColumn,
+		Lang:           LangColumn,
 
 		AllColumns:     allColumns,
 		MutableColumns: mutableColumns,

backend/internal/postgres/jet/backend/table/game_setup_draws.go

@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+//
+// Code generated by go-jet DO NOT EDIT.
+//
+// WARNING: Changes to this file may cause incorrect behavior
+// and will be lost if the code is regenerated
+//
+
+package table
+
+import (
+	"github.com/go-jet/jet/v2/postgres"
+)
+
+var GameSetupDraws = newGameSetupDrawsTable("backend", "game_setup_draws", "")
+
+type gameSetupDrawsTable struct {
+	postgres.Table
+
+	// Columns
+	GameID    postgres.ColumnString
+	Round     postgres.ColumnInteger
+	PickNo    postgres.ColumnInteger
+	AccountID postgres.ColumnString
+	Letter    postgres.ColumnString
+	IsBlank   postgres.ColumnBool
+	DrawRank  postgres.ColumnInteger
+	CreatedAt postgres.ColumnTimestampz
+
+	AllColumns     postgres.ColumnList
+	MutableColumns postgres.ColumnList
+	DefaultColumns postgres.ColumnList
+}
+
+type GameSetupDrawsTable struct {
+	gameSetupDrawsTable
+
+	EXCLUDED gameSetupDrawsTable
+}
+
+// AS creates new GameSetupDrawsTable with assigned alias
+func (a GameSetupDrawsTable) AS(alias string) *GameSetupDrawsTable {
+	return newGameSetupDrawsTable(a.SchemaName(), a.TableName(), alias)
+}
+
+// Schema creates new GameSetupDrawsTable with assigned schema name
+func (a GameSetupDrawsTable) FromSchema(schemaName string) *GameSetupDrawsTable {
+	return newGameSetupDrawsTable(schemaName, a.TableName(), a.Alias())
+}
+
+// WithPrefix creates new GameSetupDrawsTable with assigned table prefix
+func (a GameSetupDrawsTable) WithPrefix(prefix string) *GameSetupDrawsTable {
+	return newGameSetupDrawsTable(a.SchemaName(), prefix+a.TableName(), a.TableName())
+}
+
+// WithSuffix creates new GameSetupDrawsTable with assigned table suffix
+func (a GameSetupDrawsTable) WithSuffix(suffix string) *GameSetupDrawsTable {
+	return newGameSetupDrawsTable(a.SchemaName(), a.TableName()+suffix, a.TableName())
+}
+
+func newGameSetupDrawsTable(schemaName, tableName, alias string) *GameSetupDrawsTable {
+	return &GameSetupDrawsTable{
+		gameSetupDrawsTable: newGameSetupDrawsTableImpl(schemaName, tableName, alias),
+		EXCLUDED:            newGameSetupDrawsTableImpl("", "excluded", ""),
+	}
+}
+
+func newGameSetupDrawsTableImpl(schemaName, tableName, alias string) gameSetupDrawsTable {
+	var (
+		GameIDColumn    = postgres.StringColumn("game_id")
+		RoundColumn     = postgres.IntegerColumn("round")
+		PickNoColumn    = postgres.IntegerColumn("pick_no")
+		AccountIDColumn = postgres.StringColumn("account_id")
+		LetterColumn    = postgres.StringColumn("letter")
+		IsBlankColumn   = postgres.BoolColumn("is_blank")
+		DrawRankColumn  = postgres.IntegerColumn("draw_rank")
+		CreatedAtColumn = postgres.TimestampzColumn("created_at")
+		allColumns      = postgres.ColumnList{GameIDColumn, RoundColumn, PickNoColumn, AccountIDColumn, LetterColumn, IsBlankColumn, DrawRankColumn, CreatedAtColumn}
+		mutableColumns  = postgres.ColumnList{AccountIDColumn, LetterColumn, IsBlankColumn, DrawRankColumn, CreatedAtColumn}
+		defaultColumns  = postgres.ColumnList{IsBlankColumn, CreatedAtColumn}
+	)
+
+	return gameSetupDrawsTable{
+		Table: postgres.NewTable(schemaName, tableName, alias, allColumns...),
+
+		//Columns
+		GameID:    GameIDColumn,
+		Round:     RoundColumn,
+		PickNo:    PickNoColumn,
+		AccountID: AccountIDColumn,
+		Letter:    LetterColumn,
+		IsBlank:   IsBlankColumn,
+		DrawRank:  DrawRankColumn,
+		CreatedAt: CreatedAtColumn,
+
+		AllColumns:     allColumns,
+		MutableColumns: mutableColumns,
+		DefaultColumns: defaultColumns,
+	}
+}

backend/internal/postgres/jet/backend/table/table_use_schema.go

@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ func UseSchema(schema string) {
 	GameInvitations = GameInvitations.FromSchema(schema)
 	GameMoves = GameMoves.FromSchema(schema)
 	GamePlayers = GamePlayers.FromSchema(schema)
+	GameSetupDraws = GameSetupDraws.FromSchema(schema)
 	Games = Games.FromSchema(schema)
 	Identities = Identities.FromSchema(schema)
 	Sessions = Sessions.FromSchema(schema)

backend/internal/postgres/migrations/00002_aborted_end_reason.sql

@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
--- +goose Up
--- Allow end_reason = 'aborted': a game whose journal can no longer be reconstructed (a
--- recorded move became illegal under tightened rules) is closed as a draw rather than left
--- unopenable. See engine.EndAborted and Service.voidGame.
-SET search_path = backend, pg_catalog;
-ALTER TABLE games DROP CONSTRAINT games_end_reason_chk;
-ALTER TABLE games ADD CONSTRAINT games_end_reason_chk CHECK (
-    end_reason IS NULL OR end_reason IN ('out_of_tiles', 'scoreless', 'resign', 'timeout', 'aborted')
-);
-
--- +goose Down
-SET search_path = backend, pg_catalog;
-ALTER TABLE games DROP CONSTRAINT games_end_reason_chk;
-ALTER TABLE games ADD CONSTRAINT games_end_reason_chk CHECK (
-    end_reason IS NULL OR end_reason IN ('out_of_tiles', 'scoreless', 'resign', 'timeout')
-);

backend/internal/postgres/migrations/00003_account_suspensions.sql

@@ -1,45 +0,0 @@
--- +goose Up
--- Manual account blocking ("suspension"), the operator's hard counterpart to the soft,
--- reversible accounts.flagged_high_rate_at marker. Named "suspension" throughout the schema
--- and Go to stay distinct from the peer-to-peer `blocks` table (one player muting another);
--- the wire/UI vocabulary the player sees is "blocked". A suspension forces the player to
--- forfeit every active game and replaces their whole UI with a terminal "blocked" screen until
--- it is lifted or (for a temporary one) expires. See docs/ARCHITECTURE.md §12.
-SET search_path = backend, pg_catalog;
-
--- The operator-editable reason picklist, one row per reason with its English and Russian text.
--- A suspension snapshots the chosen text (account_suspensions.reason_en/ru), so editing or
--- deleting a reason here never changes or breaks a reason already shown to a blocked player.
-CREATE TABLE suspension_reasons (
-    reason_id  uuid        PRIMARY KEY,
-    text_en    text        NOT NULL,
-    text_ru    text        NOT NULL,
-    created_at timestamptz NOT NULL DEFAULT now(),
-    updated_at timestamptz NOT NULL DEFAULT now()
-);
-
--- The block history: one row per block. blocked_until is NULL for a permanent block and the
--- expiry instant for a temporary one; lifted_at is stamped when an operator unblocks early.
--- reason_en/reason_ru are the text snapshot taken at block time (NULL when no reason was
--- cited); reason_id keeps a loose link to the picklist entry for later analytics and is nulled
--- if that entry is deleted (the snapshot remains the source of truth shown to the player). An
--- account is currently blocked when its newest row has lifted_at IS NULL AND (blocked_until IS
--- NULL OR blocked_until > now()).
-CREATE TABLE account_suspensions (
-    suspension_id uuid        PRIMARY KEY,
-    account_id    uuid        NOT NULL REFERENCES accounts (account_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
-    blocked_at    timestamptz NOT NULL DEFAULT now(),
-    blocked_until timestamptz,
-    reason_en     text,
-    reason_ru     text,
-    reason_id     uuid        REFERENCES suspension_reasons (reason_id) ON DELETE SET NULL,
-    lifted_at     timestamptz
-);
--- The enforcement gate looks up the newest suspension for an account on every authenticated
--- request; this index serves that "latest by account" probe.
-CREATE INDEX account_suspensions_account_idx ON account_suspensions (account_id, blocked_at DESC);
-
--- +goose Down
-SET search_path = backend, pg_catalog;
-DROP TABLE IF EXISTS account_suspensions;
-DROP TABLE IF EXISTS suspension_reasons;

backend/internal/postgres/migrations/00004_feedback.sql

@@ -1,55 +0,0 @@
--- +goose Up
--- User feedback ("Обратная связь"): a flat list of messages a registered player sends to the
--- operators from Settings -> Info, each with an optional single attachment, plus the operator's
--- inline reply shown back to the player. Distinct from the in-game chat_messages (peer-to-peer)
--- and from the out-of-app Telegram messages. Also introduces account_roles, the project's first
--- per-account role table, replacing per-feature boolean flags. See docs/ARCHITECTURE.md.
-SET search_path = backend, pg_catalog;
-
--- One feedback message. read_at marks "the operator has dealt with this" (set by every console
--- action: read / reply / archive; never by merely opening the detail). The anti-spam gate forbids
--- a new submission while the player has any read_at IS NULL message. archived_at files a handled
--- message away. The reply lives on the same row: reply_body/replied_at are stamped when the
--- operator answers; reply_read_at is stamped when the player's app first fetches the reply for
--- display ("delivered = read"), and the reply is hidden from the player one week after that.
--- attachment is the raw bytes (capped at 1,000,000 in Go); attachment_name carries the original
--- file name (its extension drives the safe content-type at serve time). sender_ip is the
--- gateway-forwarded client IP (validated, like chat); channel is the submitting platform
--- (telegram/ios/android/web, validated in Go). The sender's interface/bot language snapshots
--- (lang, channel_lang) are added additively in 00005.
-CREATE TABLE feedback_messages (
-    message_id      uuid        PRIMARY KEY,
-    account_id      uuid        NOT NULL REFERENCES accounts (account_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
-    body            text        NOT NULL,
-    attachment      bytea,
-    attachment_name text,
-    sender_ip       text,
-    channel         text        NOT NULL,
-    read_at         timestamptz,
-    archived_at     timestamptz,
-    reply_body      text,
-    replied_at      timestamptz,
-    reply_read_at   timestamptz,
-    created_at      timestamptz NOT NULL DEFAULT now()
-);
--- The per-player probes (anti-spam "has unread", "latest message", "latest reply") and the
--- console's user-scoped search all look an account up newest-first.
-CREATE INDEX feedback_messages_account_idx ON feedback_messages (account_id, created_at DESC);
--- The console queue lists messages newest-first across all accounts.
-CREATE INDEX feedback_messages_created_idx ON feedback_messages (created_at DESC);
-
--- Named per-account roles. A reusable replacement for per-feature boolean flags: the first role,
--- 'feedback_banned', forbids only feedback submission (not the whole account, unlike a
--- suspension). Roles are validated in Go (no CHECK here) so new ones need no migration. Granted
--- from the feedback console (the "block" checkbox on delete) and granted/revoked from /users.
-CREATE TABLE account_roles (
-    account_id uuid        NOT NULL REFERENCES accounts (account_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
-    role       text        NOT NULL,
-    granted_at timestamptz NOT NULL DEFAULT now(),
-    PRIMARY KEY (account_id, role)
-);
-
--- +goose Down
-SET search_path = backend, pg_catalog;
-DROP TABLE IF EXISTS account_roles;
-DROP TABLE IF EXISTS feedback_messages;

backend/internal/postgres/migrations/00005_feedback_languages.sql

@@ -1,15 +0,0 @@
--- +goose Up
--- Snapshot the sender's languages on each feedback message, taken at submit time so the
--- operator console shows the state as it was, not the account's current settings (the same
--- snapshot discipline as a suspension's reason). lang is the sender's interface language;
--- channel_lang is the connector bot language (en/ru) when the message arrived through an
--- external connector (Telegram), else NULL. Additive over 00004 so it applies forward-safe.
-SET search_path = backend, pg_catalog;
-
-ALTER TABLE feedback_messages ADD COLUMN lang text;
-ALTER TABLE feedback_messages ADD COLUMN channel_lang text;
-
--- +goose Down
-SET search_path = backend, pg_catalog;
-ALTER TABLE feedback_messages DROP COLUMN IF EXISTS channel_lang;
-ALTER TABLE feedback_messages DROP COLUMN IF EXISTS lang;

backend/internal/postgres/migrations/00006_ad_banners.sql

@@ -1,86 +0,0 @@
--- +goose Up
--- Server-driven advertising banner ("advertising network"): operator-managed campaigns rotated in
--- the client's one-line announcement strip. A campaign is one placement order with a show weight
--- (percent); simultaneously active campaigns compete for shows in proportion to their weights. The
--- single perpetual default campaign fills the unsold remainder up to 100%. Each campaign carries
--- one or more bilingual messages (en + ru, both mandatory), shown by the viewer's bot (service)
--- language. Display timings are global (one settings row). Eligibility (who sees a banner at all)
--- reuses account fields + the no_banner role, so it needs no schema here. See docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
--- and internal/ads.
-SET search_path = backend, pg_catalog;
-
--- One advertising campaign = one placement order. weight is the show percentage (1..100). is_default
--- marks the single perpetual house campaign that fills the remainder up to 100% and is never deleted;
--- it has no validity window (its stored weight is nominal — the rotation derives its effective weight
--- as max(0, 100 - sum of active timed weights)). A time-limited campaign is active while now() lies in
--- [starts_at, ends_at] (a null bound is open-ended on that side). enabled toggles a campaign without
--- deleting it.
-CREATE TABLE ad_campaigns (
-    campaign_id uuid        PRIMARY KEY,
-    name        text        NOT NULL,
-    weight      integer     NOT NULL,
-    is_default  boolean     NOT NULL DEFAULT false,
-    enabled     boolean     NOT NULL DEFAULT true,
-    starts_at   timestamptz,
-    ends_at     timestamptz,
-    created_at  timestamptz NOT NULL DEFAULT now(),
-    updated_at  timestamptz NOT NULL DEFAULT now(),
-    CONSTRAINT ad_campaigns_weight_chk CHECK (weight BETWEEN 1 AND 100),
-    -- The default campaign is perpetual (no window).
-    CONSTRAINT ad_campaigns_default_window_chk CHECK (NOT is_default OR (starts_at IS NULL AND ends_at IS NULL)),
-    -- A closed window must not be inverted.
-    CONSTRAINT ad_campaigns_window_chk CHECK (starts_at IS NULL OR ends_at IS NULL OR starts_at <= ends_at)
-);
--- At most one default campaign.
-CREATE UNIQUE INDEX ad_campaigns_default_idx ON ad_campaigns (is_default) WHERE is_default;
-
--- One bilingual message of a campaign. Both languages are mandatory: the client shows the variant for
--- the viewer's bot (service) language. position orders the messages within a campaign (the round-robin
--- order when the campaign wins a display slot). body_* is minimal markdown (text + links).
-CREATE TABLE ad_messages (
-    message_id  uuid        PRIMARY KEY,
-    campaign_id uuid        NOT NULL REFERENCES ad_campaigns (campaign_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
-    position    integer     NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
-    body_en     text        NOT NULL,
-    body_ru     text        NOT NULL,
-    created_at  timestamptz NOT NULL DEFAULT now(),
-    updated_at  timestamptz NOT NULL DEFAULT now()
-);
--- Messages of a campaign are read in display order.
-CREATE INDEX ad_messages_campaign_idx ON ad_messages (campaign_id, position);
-
--- Global banner display timings, a single row (id is always TRUE). The client rotator reads these:
--- hold_ms is how long one message shows; edge_pause_ms and scroll_px_per_sec drive the scroll of a
--- message wider than the strip; the transition between messages is fade_out_ms -> gap_ms -> fade_in_ms.
--- All are clamped in Go on update.
-CREATE TABLE ad_settings (
-    id                boolean     PRIMARY KEY DEFAULT true,
-    hold_ms           integer     NOT NULL,
-    edge_pause_ms     integer     NOT NULL,
-    scroll_px_per_sec integer     NOT NULL,
-    fade_out_ms       integer     NOT NULL,
-    gap_ms            integer     NOT NULL,
-    fade_in_ms        integer     NOT NULL,
-    updated_at        timestamptz NOT NULL DEFAULT now(),
-    CONSTRAINT ad_settings_singleton_chk CHECK (id)
-);
-
--- Seed the perpetual default campaign with one bilingual house message, and the default timings
--- (the previous hardcoded UI defaults plus the new fade sequence). Fixed UUIDs keep the seed
--- deterministic across environments.
-INSERT INTO ad_campaigns (campaign_id, name, weight, is_default, enabled)
-VALUES ('00000000-0000-0000-0000-0000000000ad', 'Default (house)', 100, true, true);
-INSERT INTO ad_messages (message_id, campaign_id, position, body_en, body_ru)
-VALUES (
-    '00000000-0000-0000-0000-0000000000a1', '00000000-0000-0000-0000-0000000000ad', 0,
-    'Tip: a play using all 7 tiles earns a +50 bonus.',
-    'Совет: ход всеми 7 фишками приносит бонус +50 очков.'
-);
-INSERT INTO ad_settings (id, hold_ms, edge_pause_ms, scroll_px_per_sec, fade_out_ms, gap_ms, fade_in_ms)
-VALUES (true, 60000, 5000, 40, 1000, 250, 1000);
-
--- +goose Down
-SET search_path = backend, pg_catalog;
-DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ad_settings;
-DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ad_messages;
-DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ad_campaigns;

backend/internal/postgres/migrations/00007_seat_display_name.sql

@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
--- +goose Up
--- A per-seat snapshot of the player's display name, captured when the seat is taken:
--- the human's then-current display name, or a disguised robot's freshly composed
--- per-game name. Storing the name on the seat (rather than always reading the account)
--- freezes what the opponent sees for the life of the game — a later rename no longer
--- rewrites past games — and lets the small robot pool present an ever-changing crowd of
--- differently named opponents. An empty value means "no snapshot": the reader falls back
--- to the account's current display name (legacy rows / pre-migration games). See
--- docs/ARCHITECTURE.md §7.
-SET search_path = backend, pg_catalog;
-
-ALTER TABLE game_players ADD COLUMN display_name text NOT NULL DEFAULT '';
-
--- +goose Down
-SET search_path = backend, pg_catalog;
-ALTER TABLE game_players DROP COLUMN display_name;

backend/internal/postgres/migrations/00008_chat_unread.sql

@@ -1,20 +0,0 @@
--- +goose Up
--- A per-message bitmask of the seats that have NOT yet read this chat entry: bit i is
--- set while seat i still has the message unread, and is cleared when that seat reads it
--- (opens the move history / chat, or — for a nudge — takes its move). A text message
--- starts with the bits of every seated recipient except the sender; a nudge starts with
--- only the awaited player's bit. The mask is inverted so "anything unread" is a plain
--- `unread_seats <> 0`, which the lobby badge, the admin filter and the unread gauge all
--- use. The read time itself is not retained. See docs/ARCHITECTURE.md §8 (Read receipts).
-SET search_path = backend, pg_catalog;
-
-ALTER TABLE chat_messages ADD COLUMN unread_seats smallint NOT NULL DEFAULT 0;
-
--- Partial index serving the unread scans (per-viewer lobby lookup, admin unread filter,
--- the unread-count gauge): only the comparatively few still-unread rows are indexed.
-CREATE INDEX chat_messages_unread_idx ON chat_messages (game_id) WHERE unread_seats <> 0;
-
--- +goose Down
-SET search_path = backend, pg_catalog;
-DROP INDEX chat_messages_unread_idx;
-ALTER TABLE chat_messages DROP COLUMN unread_seats;

backend/internal/postgres/migrations/00009_best_move.sql

@@ -1,25 +0,0 @@
--- +goose Up
--- Per-account, per-variant best single move: the highest-scoring play the account has
--- ever made in each game variant. It exists so the statistics screen can show the word
--- itself broken down by variant, not just the dimensionless aggregate
--- account_stats.max_word_points. tiles is the move's main word as an ordered JSON array of
--- {letter, value, blank} objects (value 0 and blank true for a wildcard), so the client
--- renders it as game tiles without needing the variant's alphabet table. score is the
--- play's total points (every word it formed plus the all-tiles bonus), matching
--- max_word_points. A row is replaced only by a strictly higher-scoring play. It is written
--- at game finish alongside account_stats; guest and honest-AI games never record statistics,
--- so they never write here. See docs/ARCHITECTURE.md §9.
-SET search_path = backend, pg_catalog;
-
-CREATE TABLE account_best_move (
-    account_id uuid        NOT NULL REFERENCES accounts (account_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
-    variant    text        NOT NULL,
-    score      integer     NOT NULL,
-    tiles      jsonb       NOT NULL,
-    updated_at timestamptz NOT NULL DEFAULT now(),
-    PRIMARY KEY (account_id, variant)
-);
-
--- +goose Down
-SET search_path = backend, pg_catalog;
-DROP TABLE IF EXISTS account_best_move;

backend/internal/postgres/migrations/00010_stats_moves_hints.sql

@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
--- +goose Up
--- account_stats gains two lifetime counters for the player's statistics screen: moves — the
--- player's plays (tile placements; passes and exchanges do not count) — and hints_used — every
--- hint the player took (the free per-game allowance plus the wallet-charged ones). Both are
--- summed at game finish over the same games that feed the rest of account_stats (durable
--- non-guest accounts; honest-AI games are skipped), so the screen can show the "hint share"
--- = hints_used / moves. See docs/ARCHITECTURE.md §9.
-SET search_path = backend, pg_catalog;
-
-ALTER TABLE account_stats ADD COLUMN moves      integer NOT NULL DEFAULT 0;
-ALTER TABLE account_stats ADD COLUMN hints_used integer NOT NULL DEFAULT 0;
-
--- +goose Down
-SET search_path = backend, pg_catalog;
-ALTER TABLE account_stats DROP COLUMN hints_used;
-ALTER TABLE account_stats DROP COLUMN moves;

backend/internal/postgres/migrations/00011_robot_blocks.sql

@@ -1,27 +0,0 @@
--- +goose Up
--- Per-game blocks of a disguised-robot opponent. A disguised robot is a shared pool
--- account reused across games under different per-game names, so it must never go into
--- `blocks` (that would make the same robot look blocked in the blocker's other games under
--- other names, leaking that it is a bot, and show its pool name instead of the one seen).
--- Each such block is recorded here against the specific game + seat, snapshotting the name
--- the player saw, so the blocked list shows it as a distinct personality and the in-game
--- card re-marks that one seat. The real robot account is never blocked, so the matchmaker
--- leaves robots free. Unblocking deletes the row.
-SET search_path = backend, pg_catalog;
-
-CREATE TABLE robot_blocks (
-    id           uuid        PRIMARY KEY,
-    blocker_id   uuid        NOT NULL REFERENCES accounts (account_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
-    game_id      uuid        NOT NULL REFERENCES games (game_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
-    seat         smallint    NOT NULL,
-    robot_id     uuid        NOT NULL REFERENCES accounts (account_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
-    display_name text        NOT NULL,
-    created_at   timestamptz NOT NULL DEFAULT now(),
-    UNIQUE (blocker_id, game_id, seat)
-);
-
-CREATE INDEX robot_blocks_blocker_idx ON robot_blocks (blocker_id);
-
--- +goose Down
-SET search_path = backend, pg_catalog;
-DROP TABLE robot_blocks;

backend/internal/postgres/migrations/00012_robot_friend_requests.sql

@@ -1,28 +0,0 @@
--- +goose Up
--- Per-game friend requests sent to a disguised-robot opponent. A disguised robot is a
--- shared pool account reused across games under different per-game names, so such a
--- request must never go into `friendships` (that would befriend/await the shared robot
--- account, leak that it is a bot across the requester's other games under other names,
--- and pin the in-game "request sent" state to the shared account instead of this seat).
--- Each request is recorded here against the specific game + seat, snapshotting the name
--- the player saw, so the in-game scoreboard can re-mark that one seat as already
--- requested. The robot ignores it (it never becomes a friendship); a background reaper
--- deletes a row once its game has been finished for more than the retention window.
-SET search_path = backend, pg_catalog;
-
-CREATE TABLE robot_friend_requests (
-    id           uuid        PRIMARY KEY,
-    requester_id uuid        NOT NULL REFERENCES accounts (account_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
-    game_id      uuid        NOT NULL REFERENCES games (game_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
-    seat         smallint    NOT NULL,
-    robot_id     uuid        NOT NULL REFERENCES accounts (account_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
-    display_name text        NOT NULL,
-    created_at   timestamptz NOT NULL DEFAULT now(),
-    UNIQUE (requester_id, game_id, seat)
-);
-
-CREATE INDEX robot_friend_requests_requester_idx ON robot_friend_requests (requester_id);
-
--- +goose Down
-SET search_path = backend, pg_catalog;
-DROP TABLE robot_friend_requests;

backend/internal/pushgrpc/server.go

@@ -58,7 +58,6 @@ func (s *Service) Subscribe(req *pushv1.SubscribeRequest, stream grpc.ServerStre
 				Kind:    in.Kind,
 				Payload: in.Payload,
 				EventId: in.EventID,
-				Language: in.Language,
 			}
 			if err := stream.Send(ev); err != nil {
 				return err

backend/internal/server/banner.go

@@ -88,13 +88,9 @@ func (s *Server) bannerFor(ctx context.Context, acc account.Account) *bannerDTO
 	}
 }
 
-// bannerLang resolves the message language for a viewer: the bot (service)
-// language they last signed in through, falling back to the interface language
-// and then English.
+// bannerLang resolves the message language for a viewer: their interface language
+// (Russian, or English by default).
 func bannerLang(acc account.Account) string {
-	if acc.ServiceLanguage == "ru" || acc.ServiceLanguage == "en" {
-		return acc.ServiceLanguage
-	}
 	if acc.PreferredLanguage == "ru" {
 		return "ru"
 	}

backend/internal/server/chataccess.go

@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+package server
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"net/http"
+
+	"github.com/gin-gonic/gin"
+	"github.com/google/uuid"
+
+	"scrabble/backend/internal/account"
+	"scrabble/backend/internal/notify"
+)
+
+// chatAccessRequest is the gateway's chat write-eligibility query, addressed either
+// by Telegram identity (ExternalID — the join path, when the bot sees a user enter
+// the chat) or by account id (UserID — the change path, resolving an emitted
+// chat-access-changed event). Exactly one field is set.
+type chatAccessRequest struct {
+	ExternalID string `json:"external_id"`
+	UserID     string `json:"user_id"`
+}
+
+// chatAccessResponse is the resolved eligibility. ExternalID echoes the account's
+// Telegram identity (empty when it has none — the gateway then has nothing to gate);
+// Registered reports whether the lookup found an account at all; Eligible is the
+// final gate the bot applies (registered and neither admin-suspended nor chat-muted).
+type chatAccessResponse struct {
+	ExternalID string `json:"external_id"`
+	Registered bool   `json:"registered"`
+	Eligible   bool   `json:"eligible"`
+}
+
+// handleChatAccess resolves whether a Telegram user may write in the moderated
+// discussion chat. It is gateway-internal: the gateway's bot-link serves the bot's
+// join-time query (by external_id) and resolves an emitted chat-access-changed event
+// (by user_id) through it.
+func (s *Server) handleChatAccess(c *gin.Context) {
+	var req chatAccessRequest
+	if err := c.ShouldBindJSON(&req); err != nil {
+		abortBadRequest(c, "invalid body")
+		return
+	}
+	switch {
+	case req.ExternalID != "":
+		s.respondChatAccessByExternalID(c, req.ExternalID)
+	case req.UserID != "":
+		s.respondChatAccessByUserID(c, req.UserID)
+	default:
+		abortBadRequest(c, "external_id or user_id required")
+	}
+}
+
+// respondChatAccessByExternalID answers the join-path query: an unknown identity is
+// reported unregistered (and left muted); a known one carries its current eligibility.
+func (s *Server) respondChatAccessByExternalID(c *gin.Context, externalID string) {
+	ctx := c.Request.Context()
+	resp := chatAccessResponse{ExternalID: externalID}
+	acc, err := s.accounts.AccountByIdentity(ctx, account.KindTelegram, externalID)
+	if errors.Is(err, account.ErrNotFound) {
+		c.JSON(http.StatusOK, resp)
+		return
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		s.abortErr(c, err)
+		return
+	}
+	resp.Registered = true
+	eligible, err := s.chatEligible(ctx, acc.ID)
+	if err != nil {
+		s.abortErr(c, err)
+		return
+	}
+	resp.Eligible = eligible
+	c.JSON(http.StatusOK, resp)
+}
+
+// respondChatAccessByUserID answers the change-path query: an account with no
+// Telegram identity carries an empty external_id (nothing for the gateway to gate);
+// otherwise it carries the identity and the current eligibility.
+func (s *Server) respondChatAccessByUserID(c *gin.Context, raw string) {
+	ctx := c.Request.Context()
+	uid, err := uuid.Parse(raw)
+	if err != nil {
+		abortBadRequest(c, "invalid user_id")
+		return
+	}
+	var resp chatAccessResponse
+	ext, err := s.accounts.IdentityExternalID(ctx, uid, account.KindTelegram)
+	if errors.Is(err, account.ErrNotFound) {
+		c.JSON(http.StatusOK, resp)
+		return
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		s.abortErr(c, err)
+		return
+	}
+	resp.ExternalID = ext
+	resp.Registered = true
+	eligible, err := s.chatEligible(ctx, uid)
+	if err != nil {
+		s.abortErr(c, err)
+		return
+	}
+	resp.Eligible = eligible
+	c.JSON(http.StatusOK, resp)
+}
+
+// chatEligible reports whether the account may write in the moderated discussion
+// chat: not currently admin-suspended and not holding the chat_muted role. A
+// suspension dominates — it mutes regardless of the role. Registration is established
+// by the caller's identity lookup.
+func (s *Server) chatEligible(ctx context.Context, accountID uuid.UUID) (bool, error) {
+	if _, blocked, err := s.accounts.CurrentSuspension(ctx, accountID); err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	} else if blocked {
+		return false, nil
+	}
+	muted, err := s.accounts.HasRole(ctx, accountID, account.RoleChatMuted)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+	return !muted, nil
+}
+
+// publishChatAccessChange emits the chat-access-changed signal for the account, so
+// the gateway re-resolves the player's chat eligibility and pushes the chat-gate
+// command to the bot. Best-effort (notify.Nop when no notifier is wired).
+func (s *Server) publishChatAccessChange(id uuid.UUID) {
+	s.notifier.Publish(notify.ChatAccessChanged(id))
+}

backend/internal/server/dto.go

@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ type sessionResponse struct {
 	UserID      string `json:"user_id"`
 	IsGuest     bool   `json:"is_guest"`
 	DisplayName string `json:"display_name"`
-	ServiceLanguage string `json:"service_language"`
 }
 
 // okResponse is a simple success acknowledgement.
@@ -49,6 +48,10 @@ type profileResponse struct {
 	BlockFriendRequests    bool   `json:"block_friend_requests"`
 	IsGuest                bool   `json:"is_guest"`
 	NotificationsInAppOnly bool   `json:"notifications_in_app_only"`
+	// VariantPreferences is the set of game variants the player allows themselves to
+	// be matched into (engine.Variant stable labels), Erudit-first. It gates the New
+	// Game picker and the matchmaker; never empty.
+	VariantPreferences []string `json:"variant_preferences"`
 	// Banner is the advertising-banner block: present only for a viewer eligible to
 	// see the banner (a free account with an empty hint wallet and without the
 	// no_banner role), absent otherwise. See banner.go.
@@ -181,7 +184,6 @@ func sessionResponseFor(token string, acc account.Account) sessionResponse {
 		UserID:      acc.ID.String(),
 		IsGuest:     acc.IsGuest,
 		DisplayName: acc.DisplayName,
-		ServiceLanguage: acc.ServiceLanguage,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -199,6 +201,7 @@ func profileResponseFor(acc account.Account) profileResponse {
 		BlockFriendRequests:    acc.BlockFriendRequests,
 		IsGuest:                acc.IsGuest,
 		NotificationsInAppOnly: acc.NotificationsInAppOnly,
+		VariantPreferences:     acc.VariantPreferences,
 	}
 }
 

backend/internal/server/handlers.go

@@ -37,11 +37,23 @@ func (s *Server) registerRoutes() {
 		// before delivering an out-of-app notification.
 		in.POST("/push-target", s.handlePushTarget)
 	}
+	if s.accounts != nil {
+		// Moderated-chat write eligibility for the Telegram bot: resolve a Telegram
+		// identity (the bot's join-time query) or an account id (a chat-access-changed
+		// event) to whether the user may write in the discussion chat. It needs only the
+		// account store, not the session service, so it registers independently.
+		s.internal.POST("/chat-access", s.handleChatAccess)
+	}
 	if s.ratewatch != nil {
 		// The gateway's periodic rate-limiter rejection summary: feeds the
 		// admin console's throttled view and the high-rate auto-flag.
 		s.internal.POST("/ratelimit/report", s.handleRateLimitReport)
 	}
+	if s.banview != nil {
+		// The gateway's periodic active-ban sync: feeds the admin console's
+		// active-bans panel and returns the operator's pending unbans.
+		s.internal.POST("/bans/sync", s.handleBanSync)
+	}
 	u := s.user
 	if s.accounts != nil {
 		u.GET("/profile", s.handleProfile)

backend/internal/server/handlers_account.go

@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ type updateProfileRequest struct {
 	BlockChat              bool     `json:"block_chat"`
 	BlockFriendRequests    bool     `json:"block_friend_requests"`
 	NotificationsInAppOnly bool     `json:"notifications_in_app_only"`
+	VariantPreferences     []string `json:"variant_preferences"`
 }
 
 // statsDTO is a durable account's lifetime statistics (the derived games-played and
@@ -92,6 +93,7 @@ func (s *Server) handleUpdateProfile(c *gin.Context) {
 		BlockChat:              req.BlockChat,
 		BlockFriendRequests:    req.BlockFriendRequests,
 		NotificationsInAppOnly: req.NotificationsInAppOnly,
+		VariantPreferences:     req.VariantPreferences,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		s.abortErr(c, err)

backend/internal/server/handlers_admin_console.go

@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ func (s *Server) registerConsole(router *gin.Engine) {
 	gm.POST("/reasons/:id/update", s.consoleUpdateReason)
 	gm.POST("/reasons/:id/delete", s.consoleDeleteReason)
 	gm.GET("/throttled", s.consoleThrottled)
+	gm.POST("/bans/unban", s.consoleUnban)
 	gm.GET("/games", s.consoleGames)
 	gm.GET("/games/:id", s.consoleGameDetail)
 	gm.GET("/complaints", s.consoleComplaints)
@@ -424,7 +425,6 @@ func (s *Server) consoleUserMessage(c *gin.Context) {
 	}
 	back := "/_gm/users/" + id.String()
 	text := trimForm(c, "text")
-	language := trimForm(c, "language")
 	switch {
 	case text == "":
 		s.renderConsoleMessage(c, "Nothing sent", "the message was empty", back)
@@ -436,14 +436,14 @@ func (s *Server) consoleUserMessage(c *gin.Context) {
 			s.renderConsoleMessage(c, "No Telegram", "this account has no Telegram identity", back)
 			return
 		}
-		delivered, err := s.connector.SendToUser(ctx, ext, text, language)
+		delivered, err := s.connector.SendToUser(ctx, ext, text)
 		if err != nil {
 			s.consoleError(c, err)
 			return
 		}
 		body := "message delivered"
 		if !delivered {
-			body = "not delivered (the user may not have started that bot)"
+			body = "not delivered (the user may not have started the bot)"
 		}
 		s.renderConsoleMessage(c, "Sent", body, back)
 	}
@@ -523,6 +523,34 @@ func (s *Server) consoleGameDetail(c *gin.Context) {
 			}
 		}
 	}
+	// First-move draw (docs/ARCHITECTURE.md §6) and the step-by-step replay timeline. Both are
+	// best-effort: a game that predates the draw or cannot be replayed still renders its
+	// summary and seats.
+	names := make(map[string]string, len(view.Seats))
+	for _, st := range view.Seats {
+		names[st.AccountID] = st.DisplayName
+	}
+	if draws, derr := s.games.SetupDraws(ctx, g.ID); derr == nil {
+		for _, d := range draws {
+			row := adminconsole.SetupDrawRow{Round: d.Round, Letter: strings.ToUpper(d.Letter), Blank: d.Blank, Rank: d.Rank}
+			if d.Account == uuid.Nil {
+				row.Name = "(opponent)"
+			} else {
+				row.Name = names[d.Account.String()]
+				row.AccountID = d.Account.String()
+			}
+			view.SetupDraws = append(view.SetupDraws, row)
+		}
+	}
+	if len(view.Seats) > 0 {
+		view.FirstMover = view.Seats[0].DisplayName
+	}
+	if tl, terr := s.games.ReplayTimeline(ctx, g.ID); terr == nil {
+		if rj, jerr := buildReplayJSON(g.Variant, tl, view.Seats); jerr == nil {
+			view.ReplayJSON = rj
+			view.HasReplay = len(tl.Steps) > 0
+		}
+	}
 	s.renderConsole(c, "game_detail", "games", "Game", view)
 }
 
@@ -805,21 +833,20 @@ func (s *Server) consoleBroadcast(c *gin.Context) {
 // consolePostBroadcast posts an operator message to the connector's game channel.
 func (s *Server) consolePostBroadcast(c *gin.Context) {
 	text := trimForm(c, "text")
-	language := trimForm(c, "language")
 	switch {
 	case text == "":
 		s.renderConsoleMessage(c, "Nothing sent", "the message was empty", "/_gm/broadcast")
 	case s.connector == nil:
 		s.renderConsoleMessage(c, "Not configured", "the connector is not configured (set BACKEND_CONNECTOR_ADDR)", "/_gm/broadcast")
 	default:
-		delivered, err := s.connector.SendToGameChannel(c.Request.Context(), text, language)
+		delivered, err := s.connector.SendToGameChannel(c.Request.Context(), text)
 		if err != nil {
 			s.consoleError(c, err)
 			return
 		}
 		body := "posted to the game channel"
 		if !delivered {
-			body = "not delivered (that bot has no game channel configured)"
+			body = "not delivered (the bot has no game channel configured)"
 		}
 		s.renderConsoleMessage(c, "Broadcast", body, "/_gm/broadcast")
 	}
@@ -848,6 +875,13 @@ func (s *Server) consoleThrottled(c *gin.Context) {
 			view.Episodes = append(view.Episodes, row)
 		}
 	}
+	if s.banview != nil {
+		for _, b := range s.banview.Recent() {
+			view.Bans = append(view.Bans, adminconsole.BanRow{
+				IP: b.IP, Reason: b.Reason, Since: fmtTime(b.Since), Expires: fmtTime(b.Expires),
+			})
+		}
+	}
 	flagged, err := s.accounts.ListFlaggedHighRate(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
 		s.consoleError(c, err)
@@ -861,6 +895,21 @@ func (s *Server) consoleThrottled(c *gin.Context) {
 	s.renderConsole(c, "throttled", "throttled", "Throttled", view)
 }
 
+// consoleUnban lifts a temporary IP ban — the operator's manual override. The
+// gateway applies it on its next active-ban sync, so the ban clears within the
+// sync interval rather than immediately.
+func (s *Server) consoleUnban(c *gin.Context) {
+	ip := trimForm(c, "ip")
+	if ip == "" {
+		s.renderConsoleMessage(c, "Invalid", "an IP address is required", "/_gm/throttled")
+		return
+	}
+	if s.banview != nil {
+		s.banview.RequestUnban(ip)
+	}
+	s.renderConsoleMessage(c, "Unban requested", fmt.Sprintf("%s will be unbanned on the next gateway sync", ip), "/_gm/throttled")
+}
+
 // consoleClearHighRateFlag clears the soft high-rate marker — the operator's
 // reversible review action.
 func (s *Server) consoleClearHighRateFlag(c *gin.Context) {
@@ -938,6 +987,9 @@ func (s *Server) consoleBlockUser(c *gin.Context) {
 		s.consoleError(c, err)
 		return
 	}
+	// Re-evaluate the player's moderated-chat write access: a block mutes them in
+	// the discussion chat if they are currently in it.
+	s.publishChatAccessChange(id)
 	s.renderConsoleMessage(c, "Blocked", fmt.Sprintf("account blocked; %d game(s) forfeited", forfeited), back)
 }
 
@@ -952,6 +1004,9 @@ func (s *Server) consoleUnblockUser(c *gin.Context) {
 		s.consoleError(c, err)
 		return
 	}
+	// Re-evaluate the player's moderated-chat write access: an unblock restores it
+	// (unless they are still chat-muted) for a member currently in the chat.
+	s.publishChatAccessChange(id)
 	s.renderConsoleMessage(c, "Unblocked", "the block was lifted; lost games are not restored", "/_gm/users/"+id.String())
 }
 

backend/internal/server/handlers_admin_feedback.go

@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func (s *Server) consoleFeedbackDetail(c *gin.Context) {
 	}
 	view := adminconsole.FeedbackDetailView{
 		ID: m.ID.String(), AccountID: m.AccountID.String(), SenderName: m.SenderName,
-		Source: m.Source, Channel: m.Channel, InterfaceLanguage: m.Lang, BotLanguage: m.ChannelLang,
+		Source: m.Source, Channel: m.Channel, InterfaceLanguage: m.Lang,
 		IP: m.SenderIP, Body: m.Body,
 		HasAttachment: m.HasAttachment, AttachmentName: m.AttachmentName, IsImage: feedback.IsImage(m.AttachmentName),
 		Read: m.Read, Archived: m.Archived, Replied: m.Replied, ReplyBody: m.ReplyBody,
@@ -248,6 +248,9 @@ func (s *Server) consoleGrantRole(c *gin.Context) {
 	if role == account.RoleNoBanner {
 		s.publishBannerChange(id)
 	}
+	if role == account.RoleChatMuted {
+		s.publishChatAccessChange(id)
+	}
 	s.renderConsoleMessage(c, "Role granted", "granted "+role, back)
 }
 
@@ -270,6 +273,9 @@ func (s *Server) consoleRevokeRole(c *gin.Context) {
 	if role == account.RoleNoBanner {
 		s.publishBannerChange(id)
 	}
+	if role == account.RoleChatMuted {
+		s.publishChatAccessChange(id)
+	}
 	s.renderConsoleMessage(c, "Role revoked", "revoked "+role, back)
 }
 

backend/internal/server/handlers_admin_replay.go

@@ -0,0 +1,168 @@
+package server
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"html/template"
+	"strings"
+
+	"scrabble/backend/internal/adminconsole"
+	"scrabble/backend/internal/engine"
+	"scrabble/backend/internal/game"
+)
+
+// The admin game-replay payload embedded in the game_detail page for its vanilla-JS stepper:
+// the premium board layout, the seats and one step per replay frame (the dealt racks, then
+// one per move) carrying the resulting racks, scores, turn cursor and bag size. Letters are
+// upper-cased for display and carry their tile value (0 renders without a subscript).
+
+type replayTileJSON struct {
+	L string `json:"l"`
+	V int    `json:"v"`
+	B bool   `json:"b,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type replayPlaceJSON struct {
+	R int    `json:"r"`
+	C int    `json:"c"`
+	L string `json:"l"`
+	V int    `json:"v"`
+	B bool   `json:"b,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type replayMoveJSON struct {
+	Seat       int               `json:"seat"`
+	Action     string            `json:"action"`
+	Words      []string          `json:"words,omitempty"`
+	Score      int               `json:"score"`
+	Placements []replayPlaceJSON `json:"placements,omitempty"`
+	Exchanged  []replayTileJSON  `json:"exchanged,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type replayStepJSON struct {
+	Move   *replayMoveJSON    `json:"move"`
+	Drawn  []replayTileJSON   `json:"drawn,omitempty"`
+	Racks  [][]replayTileJSON `json:"racks"`
+	Scores []int              `json:"scores"`
+	ToMove int                `json:"toMove"`
+	BagLen int                `json:"bagLen"`
+}
+
+type replaySeatJSON struct {
+	Seat      int    `json:"seat"`
+	Name      string `json:"name"`
+	AccountID string `json:"accountId"`
+}
+
+type replayDataJSON struct {
+	Centre  [2]int           `json:"centre"`
+	Premium [][]string       `json:"premium"`
+	Seats   []replaySeatJSON `json:"seats"`
+	Steps   []replayStepJSON `json:"steps"`
+}
+
+// buildReplayJSON renders a game's replay timeline as the JSON the stepper consumes, resolving
+// each tile's value from the variant's alphabet. The result is safe to embed in a <script>:
+// encoding/json escapes <, > and & to \u00xx, so a user-chosen seat name cannot break out.
+func buildReplayJSON(variant engine.Variant, tl game.ReplayTimelineView, seats []adminconsole.SeatRow) (template.JS, error) {
+	values := map[string]int{}
+	if table, err := engine.AlphabetTable(variant); err == nil {
+		for _, e := range table {
+			values[e.Letter] = e.Value
+		}
+	}
+	tile := func(letter string, blank bool) replayTileJSON {
+		v := 0
+		if !blank {
+			v = values[strings.ToLower(letter)]
+		}
+		return replayTileJSON{L: strings.ToUpper(letter), V: v, B: blank}
+	}
+	tiles := func(letters []string) []replayTileJSON {
+		out := make([]replayTileJSON, len(letters))
+		for i, l := range letters {
+			out[i] = tile(l, l == "?")
+		}
+		return out
+	}
+
+	data := replayDataJSON{Centre: [2]int{7, 7}, Premium: premiumGrid(variant)}
+	for _, s := range seats {
+		data.Seats = append(data.Seats, replaySeatJSON{Seat: s.Seat, Name: s.DisplayName, AccountID: s.AccountID})
+	}
+	for _, st := range tl.Steps {
+		js := replayStepJSON{
+			Racks:  make([][]replayTileJSON, len(st.Racks)),
+			Scores: st.Scores,
+			ToMove: st.ToMove,
+			BagLen: st.BagLen,
+			Drawn:  tiles(st.Drawn),
+		}
+		for i, r := range st.Racks {
+			js.Racks[i] = tiles(r)
+		}
+		if st.Move != nil {
+			m := &replayMoveJSON{Seat: st.Move.Seat, Action: st.Move.Action, Words: st.Move.Words, Score: st.Move.Score}
+			for _, p := range st.Move.Tiles {
+				t := tile(p.Letter, p.Blank)
+				m.Placements = append(m.Placements, replayPlaceJSON{R: p.Row, C: p.Col, L: t.L, V: t.V, B: t.B})
+			}
+			m.Exchanged = tiles(st.Move.Exchanged)
+			js.Move = m
+		}
+		data.Steps = append(data.Steps, js)
+	}
+	b, err := json.Marshal(data)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	return template.JS(b), nil
+}
+
+// premiumRows is the standard Scrabble premium-square layout: T triple-word, D double-word,
+// t triple-letter, d double-letter, * the centre double-word, '.' a plain square.
+var premiumRows = []string{
+	"T..d...T...d..T",
+	".D...t...t...D.",
+	"..D...d.d...D..",
+	"d..D...d...D..d",
+	"....D.....D....",
+	".t...t...t...t.",
+	"..d...d.d...d..",
+	"T..d...*...d..T",
+	"..d...d.d...d..",
+	".t...t...t...t.",
+	"....D.....D....",
+	"d..D...d...D..d",
+	"..D...d.d...D..",
+	".D...t...t...D.",
+	"T..d...T...d..T",
+}
+
+// premiumGrid returns the 15×15 premium-square codes ("tw"/"dw"/"tl"/"dl"/"") for variant.
+// Erudite carries no double-word premium on the centre square (only the start star).
+func premiumGrid(variant engine.Variant) [][]string {
+	code := func(ch byte) string {
+		switch ch {
+		case 'T':
+			return "tw"
+		case 'D', '*':
+			return "dw"
+		case 't':
+			return "tl"
+		case 'd':
+			return "dl"
+		}
+		return ""
+	}
+	grid := make([][]string, len(premiumRows))
+	for r, row := range premiumRows {
+		grid[r] = make([]string, len(row))
+		for c := 0; c < len(row); c++ {
+			grid[r][c] = code(row[c])
+		}
+	}
+	if variant == engine.VariantErudit {
+		grid[7][7] = ""
+	}
+	return grid
+}

backend/internal/server/handlers_auth.go

@@ -19,36 +19,33 @@ import (
 // telegramAuthRequest carries the identity the connector extracted from a
 // validated initData payload. Username, FirstName and LanguageCode seed a
 // brand-new account's display name and language (first contact only).
-// ServiceLanguage is the validating bot's language tag (en/ru); it is recorded on
-// every login (the bot the user last came through) and routes their out-of-app push.
 type telegramAuthRequest struct {
 	ExternalID   string `json:"external_id"`
 	Username     string `json:"username"`
 	FirstName    string `json:"first_name"`
 	LanguageCode string `json:"language_code"`
-	ServiceLanguage string `json:"service_language"`
 }
 
 // handleTelegramAuth provisions (or finds) the account bound to a Telegram
 // identity and mints a session for it, seeding a new account's display name and
-// language from the supplied Telegram fields and recording the validating bot's
-// service language (updated every login) so out-of-app push routes to that bot.
+// language from the supplied Telegram fields (first contact only).
 func (s *Server) handleTelegramAuth(c *gin.Context) {
 	var req telegramAuthRequest
 	if err := c.ShouldBindJSON(&req); err != nil || req.ExternalID == "" {
 		abortBadRequest(c, "external_id is required")
 		return
 	}
-	acc, err := s.accounts.ProvisionTelegram(c.Request.Context(), req.ExternalID, req.LanguageCode, req.Username, req.FirstName)
+	acc, created, err := s.accounts.ProvisionTelegram(c.Request.Context(), req.ExternalID, req.LanguageCode, req.Username, req.FirstName)
 	if err != nil {
 		s.abortErr(c, err)
 		return
 	}
-	if err := s.accounts.SetServiceLanguage(c.Request.Context(), acc.ID, req.ServiceLanguage); err != nil {
-		s.abortErr(c, err)
-		return
+	if created {
+		// First registration: re-evaluate moderated-chat write access, so a user who
+		// joined the chat before registering is granted on the spot (no chat_member
+		// event fires on registration).
+		s.publishChatAccessChange(acc.ID)
 	}
-	acc.ServiceLanguage = req.ServiceLanguage // reflect this login's bot in the session response
 	s.mintSession(c, acc)
 }
 
@@ -59,10 +56,9 @@ type pushTargetRequest struct {
 
 // pushTargetResponse carries what the gateway needs to route an out-of-app push:
 // the recipient's Telegram external_id (empty when they have no Telegram
-// identity, e.g. a guest or email-only account), the language that both selects the
-// delivering bot and renders the message (the account's service language, the bot
-// it last signed in through, falling back to its preferred language), and whether
-// they confined notifications to the in-app stream.
+// identity, e.g. a guest or email-only account), the language the single bot renders
+// the message in (the account's interface language), and whether they confined
+// notifications to the in-app stream.
 type pushTargetResponse struct {
 	ExternalID             string `json:"external_id"`
 	Language               string `json:"language"`
@@ -94,15 +90,9 @@ func (s *Server) handlePushTarget(c *gin.Context) {
 		s.abortErr(c, err)
 		return
 	}
-	// Route by the bot the user last signed in through; fall back to the interface
-	// language for an account that has never come through a tagged bot.
-	language := acc.ServiceLanguage
-	if language == "" {
-		language = acc.PreferredLanguage
-	}
 	c.JSON(http.StatusOK, pushTargetResponse{
 		ExternalID:             ext,
-		Language:               language,
+		Language:               acc.PreferredLanguage,
 		NotificationsInAppOnly: acc.NotificationsInAppOnly,
 	})
 }

backend/internal/server/handlers_bans.go

@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+package server
+
+import (
+	"net/http"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/gin-gonic/gin"
+
+	"scrabble/backend/internal/banview"
+)
+
+// banSyncRequest mirrors the gateway's active-ban report: every entry is one
+// currently-enforced IP ban.
+type banSyncRequest struct {
+	Active []banSyncEntry `json:"active"`
+}
+
+// banSyncEntry is one active ban in the sync request.
+type banSyncEntry struct {
+	IP      string    `json:"ip"`
+	Reason  string    `json:"reason"`
+	Since   time.Time `json:"since"`
+	Expires time.Time `json:"expires"`
+}
+
+// banSyncResponse returns the IPs an operator has marked for unban for the gateway
+// to apply on its next sync.
+type banSyncResponse struct {
+	Unban []string `json:"unban"`
+}
+
+// handleBanSync ingests the gateway's active-ban report into the ban view (the
+// admin console's active-bans panel) and returns the operator's pending unbans.
+// Internal, gateway-only: like the rate-limit report it trusts the network
+// segment and carries no user identity.
+func (s *Server) handleBanSync(c *gin.Context) {
+	var req banSyncRequest
+	if err := c.ShouldBindJSON(&req); err != nil {
+		abortBadRequest(c, "invalid ban sync")
+		return
+	}
+	bans := make([]banview.Ban, 0, len(req.Active))
+	for _, e := range req.Active {
+		bans = append(bans, banview.Ban{IP: e.IP, Reason: e.Reason, Since: e.Since, Expires: e.Expires})
+	}
+	s.banview.Ingest(bans)
+	c.JSON(http.StatusOK, banSyncResponse{Unban: s.banview.DrainUnbans()})
+}

backend/internal/server/handlers_invitations.go

@@ -104,6 +104,9 @@ func (s *Server) handleCreateInvitation(c *gin.Context) {
 		abortBadRequest(c, "unknown variant")
 		return
 	}
+	if !s.ensureVariantAllowed(c, uid, variant.String()) {
+		return
+	}
 	settings := lobby.InvitationSettings{
 		Variant:              variant,
 		HintsAllowed:         req.HintsAllowed,

backend/internal/server/handlers_user.go

@@ -2,8 +2,10 @@ package server
 
 import (
 	"net/http"
+	"slices"
 
 	"github.com/gin-gonic/gin"
+	"github.com/google/uuid"
 
 	"scrabble/backend/internal/engine"
 )
@@ -134,6 +136,24 @@ func (s *Server) handleGameState(c *gin.Context) {
 	c.JSON(http.StatusOK, dto)
 }
 
+// ensureVariantAllowed reports whether the caller's profile permits creating a game
+// of variant — it must be one of their VariantPreferences. It aborts the request
+// with 400 and returns false otherwise. Only the player who creates a game (quick
+// match, vs-AI or a friend invitation) is gated this way; an invited friend may
+// accept an invitation in any variant.
+func (s *Server) ensureVariantAllowed(c *gin.Context, uid uuid.UUID, variant string) bool {
+	acc, err := s.accounts.GetByID(c.Request.Context(), uid)
+	if err != nil {
+		s.abortErr(c, err)
+		return false
+	}
+	if !slices.Contains(acc.VariantPreferences, variant) {
+		abortBadRequest(c, "variant is not in your preferences")
+		return false
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
 // enqueueRequest enters per-variant auto-match under a per-turn word rule. VsAI true
 // starts an honest-AI game against a robot instead of the open/wait matchmaking path.
 type enqueueRequest struct {
@@ -162,6 +182,9 @@ func (s *Server) handleEnqueue(c *gin.Context) {
 		abortBadRequest(c, "unknown variant")
 		return
 	}
+	if !s.ensureVariantAllowed(c, uid, variant.String()) {
+		return
+	}
 	if !s.ensureUnderGameLimit(c, uid) {
 		return
 	}

backend/internal/server/server.go

@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import (
 	"scrabble/backend/internal/account"
 	"scrabble/backend/internal/adminconsole"
 	"scrabble/backend/internal/ads"
+	"scrabble/backend/internal/banview"
 	"scrabble/backend/internal/connector"
 	"scrabble/backend/internal/engine"
 	"scrabble/backend/internal/feedback"
@@ -83,6 +84,10 @@ type Deps struct {
 	// admin console's throttled view + the high-rate auto-flag. A nil RateWatch
 	// disables the internal report endpoint and the console view.
 	RateWatch *ratewatch.Watch
+	// BanView mirrors the gateway's active IP bans for the admin console and
+	// collects operator unban requests. A nil BanView disables the internal
+	// ban-sync endpoint and the console's active-bans panel.
+	BanView *banview.View
 	// Ads is the advertising-banner domain service: campaign rotation feeding the
 	// profile.get banner block, plus the banner admin console section. A nil Ads
 	// omits the banner block and disables the banner console.
@@ -115,6 +120,7 @@ type Server struct {
 	dictDir     string
 	connector   *connector.Client
 	ratewatch   *ratewatch.Watch
+	banview     *banview.View
 	ads         *ads.Service
 	notifier    notify.Publisher
 	console     *adminconsole.Renderer
@@ -164,6 +170,7 @@ func New(addr string, deps Deps) *Server {
 		dictDir:       deps.DictDir,
 		connector:     deps.Connector,
 		ratewatch:     deps.RateWatch,
+		banview:       deps.BanView,
 		ads:           deps.Ads,
 		notifier:      notifier,
 		http:          &http.Server{Addr: addr, Handler: engine},

backend/internal/social/chat.go

@@ -206,9 +206,6 @@ func (svc *Service) Nudge(ctx context.Context, gameID, senderID uuid.UUID) (Mess
 		// read "<name>: …"; an unresolved name (best-effort) falls back to the plain phrase.
 		senderName, _ := svc.games.SeatName(ctx, gameID, senderID)
 		nudge := notify.Nudge(target, gameID, senderID, senderName)
-		if lang, err := svc.games.GameLanguage(ctx, gameID); err == nil {
-			nudge.Language = lang // route by the game's bot, not the recipient's last-login one
-		}
 		svc.pub.Publish(nudge)
 	}
 	return msg, nil

backend/internal/social/social.go

@@ -44,9 +44,6 @@ type GameReader interface {
 	// one-chat-message-per-turn limit (a message counts toward the current turn when it
 	// was posted at or after this time).
 	TurnStartedAt(ctx context.Context, gameID uuid.UUID) (time.Time, error)
-	// GameLanguage is the game's language tag ("en"/"ru"), so a nudge's out-of-app push routes
-	// to the game's bot rather than the recipient's last-login bot.
-	GameLanguage(ctx context.Context, gameID uuid.UUID) (string, error)
 	// VsAI reports whether the game is an honest-AI game, in which chat and nudge are
 	// both disabled (the game still reports status 'active').
 	VsAI(ctx context.Context, gameID uuid.UUID) (bool, error)