backend/internal/game/eventwire.go

@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ func gameSummary(g Game, names []string) notify.GameSummary {
 		Players:              g.Players,
 		ToMove:               g.ToMove,
 		TurnTimeoutSecs:      int(g.TurnTimeout.Seconds()),
+		MultipleWordsPerTurn: g.MultipleWordsPerTurn,
 		MoveCount:            g.MoveCount,
 		EndReason:            g.EndReason,
 		Seats:                seats,

backend/internal/lobby/invitations.go

@@ -166,6 +166,7 @@ func (svc *InvitationService) invitationSummary(ctx context.Context, inv Invitat
 		TurnTimeoutSecs:      int(inv.Settings.TurnTimeout / time.Second),
 		HintsAllowed:         inv.Settings.HintsAllowed,
 		HintsPerPlayer:       inv.Settings.HintsPerPlayer,
+		MultipleWordsPerTurn: inv.Settings.MultipleWordsPerTurn,
 		DropoutTiles:         inv.Settings.DropoutTiles.String(),
 		Status:               inv.Status,
 		GameID:               gameID,

backend/internal/notify/encode.go

@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ func toWireGame(g GameSummary) wire.GameView {
 		Players:              g.Players,
 		ToMove:               g.ToMove,
 		TurnTimeoutSecs:      g.TurnTimeoutSecs,
+		MultipleWordsPerTurn: g.MultipleWordsPerTurn,
 		MoveCount:            g.MoveCount,
 		EndReason:            g.EndReason,
 		Seats:                seats,
@@ -109,6 +110,7 @@ func buildInvitation(b *flatbuffers.Builder, inv InvitationSummary) flatbuffers.
 		TurnTimeoutSecs:      inv.TurnTimeoutSecs,
 		HintsAllowed:         inv.HintsAllowed,
 		HintsPerPlayer:       inv.HintsPerPlayer,
+		MultipleWordsPerTurn: inv.MultipleWordsPerTurn,
 		DropoutTiles:         inv.DropoutTiles,
 		Status:               inv.Status,
 		GameID:               inv.GameID,

backend/internal/notify/payload.go

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ type GameSummary struct {
 	Players              int
 	ToMove               int
 	TurnTimeoutSecs      int
+	MultipleWordsPerTurn bool
 	MoveCount            int
 	EndReason            string
 	Seats                []SeatStanding
@@ -82,6 +83,7 @@ type InvitationSummary struct {
 	TurnTimeoutSecs      int
 	HintsAllowed         bool
 	HintsPerPlayer       int
+	MultipleWordsPerTurn bool
 	DropoutTiles         string
 	Status               string
 	GameID               string

backend/internal/server/dto.go

@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ type gameDTO struct {
 	Players              int    `json:"players"`
 	ToMove               int    `json:"to_move"`
 	TurnTimeoutSecs      int    `json:"turn_timeout_secs"`
+	MultipleWordsPerTurn bool   `json:"multiple_words_per_turn"`
 	MoveCount            int    `json:"move_count"`
 	EndReason            string `json:"end_reason"`
 	// LastActivityUnix is the lobby sort key: the current turn's start for an active
@@ -205,6 +206,7 @@ func gameDTOFromGame(g game.Game) gameDTO {
 		Players:              g.Players,
 		ToMove:               g.ToMove,
 		TurnTimeoutSecs:      int(g.TurnTimeout.Seconds()),
+		MultipleWordsPerTurn: g.MultipleWordsPerTurn,
 		MoveCount:            g.MoveCount,
 		EndReason:            g.EndReason,
 		LastActivityUnix:     last.Unix(),

docs/UI_DESIGN.md

@@ -108,7 +108,10 @@ Login uses `Screen`.
   longer merely scrolls the board out of view, which used to leave a stale-open state that
   made a follow-up plaque tap "jump" the board). The drawer carries its own **header**: a 🏁
   **Drop game** (or 📤 **Export GCG** on a finished game) at the left and the comms 💬
-  (badged with unread chat) at the right, icon-only. Each **opponent**'s card also gains a
+  (badged with unread chat) at the right, icon-only. A **single-word-rule** game (a Russian
+  game with "multiple words per turn" off) centres a **"One word per turn"** label between
+  those two icons, and the status bar shows a small **1️⃣** in the score-preview slot that
+  yields to the live word/score preview while tiles are pending; standard games show neither. Each **opponent**'s card also gains a
   🤝 **add-friend** control (non-guests; hidden once a friend, disabled once requested) that
   confirms via the fading-✅ tap, swapping the card's score for "Add friend?" while armed
   (see Controls); the name and score stay centred — the 🤝 is pinned to the card's edge.
@@ -180,11 +183,15 @@ IV 🏅; active games show Your move 🟢 / Opponent's move ⏳; invitations use
   list (Remove / Block), and a **blocked** list (Unblock). Durable accounts only — a
   guest sees a sign-in prompt.
 - **Invitations**: a lobby **section** (a 💌 row per open invitation) with Accept /
-  Decline for an invitee and a waiting/Cancel state for the inviter; creating one is the
-  **"Play with friends"** mode in `NewGame.svelte` (pick invitees, then variant / move
-  time / hints). For a **Russian** variant (auto-match or invite) a **"Multiple words per
-  turn"** checkbox (`.toggle`, **default off** = the single-word rule) appears; English
-  variants never show it.
+  Decline for an invitee and a waiting/Cancel state for the inviter; a single-word-rule
+  invitation adds a **"One word per turn"** line to the card. Creating a game lives in
+  `NewGame.svelte`: **"Play with friends"** (pick invitees, then variant / move time /
+  hints) and **auto-match** (random opponent). The auto-match variant plaques are
+  **mutually-exclusive selects** — a tap **highlights** one (an accent inset border) instead
+  of starting a game; a lone offered variant is pre-selected, and a bottom **Start game**
+  button (disabled until a variant is chosen) confirms. For a **Russian** variant (either
+  flow) a **"Multiple words per turn"** checkbox (`.toggle`, **default off** = the single-word
+  rule) appears once that variant is selected; English variants never show it.
 - **Statistics** (`screens/Stats.svelte`, the lobby 📊 tab): a 2-column grid of stat
   cards (wins / losses / draws / games / win-rate / best game / best move) — pure
   numbers, no charts.

gateway/internal/backendclient/api.go

@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ type GameResp struct {
 	Players              int        `json:"players"`
 	ToMove               int        `json:"to_move"`
 	TurnTimeoutSecs      int        `json:"turn_timeout_secs"`
+	MultipleWordsPerTurn bool       `json:"multiple_words_per_turn"`
 	MoveCount            int        `json:"move_count"`
 	EndReason            string     `json:"end_reason"`
 	LastActivityUnix     int64      `json:"last_activity_unix"`

gateway/internal/backendclient/api_social.go

@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ type InvitationResp struct {
 	TurnTimeoutSecs      int                     `json:"turn_timeout_secs"`
 	HintsAllowed         bool                    `json:"hints_allowed"`
 	HintsPerPlayer       int                     `json:"hints_per_player"`
+	MultipleWordsPerTurn bool                    `json:"multiple_words_per_turn"`
 	DropoutTiles         string                  `json:"dropout_tiles"`
 	Status               string                  `json:"status"`
 	GameID               string                  `json:"game_id"`

gateway/internal/transcode/encode.go

@@ -333,6 +333,7 @@ func toWireGame(g backendclient.GameResp) wire.GameView {
 		Players:              g.Players,
 		ToMove:               g.ToMove,
 		TurnTimeoutSecs:      g.TurnTimeoutSecs,
+		MultipleWordsPerTurn: g.MultipleWordsPerTurn,
 		MoveCount:            g.MoveCount,
 		EndReason:            g.EndReason,
 		Seats:                seats,

gateway/internal/transcode/encode_social.go

@@ -123,6 +123,7 @@ func buildInvitation(b *flatbuffers.Builder, inv backendclient.InvitationResp) f
 		TurnTimeoutSecs:      inv.TurnTimeoutSecs,
 		HintsAllowed:         inv.HintsAllowed,
 		HintsPerPlayer:       inv.HintsPerPlayer,
+		MultipleWordsPerTurn: inv.MultipleWordsPerTurn,
 		DropoutTiles:         inv.DropoutTiles,
 		Status:               inv.Status,
 		GameID:               inv.GameID,

pkg/fbs/scrabble.fbs

@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ table GameView {
   players:int;
   to_move:int;
   turn_timeout_secs:int;
+  multiple_words_per_turn:bool;
   move_count:int;
   end_reason:string;
   seats:[SeatView];
@@ -445,6 +446,7 @@ table Invitation {
   turn_timeout_secs:int;
   hints_allowed:bool;
   hints_per_player:int;
+  multiple_words_per_turn:bool;
   dropout_tiles:string;
   status:string;
   game_id:string;

pkg/fbs/scrabblefb/GameView.go

@@ -109,8 +109,20 @@ func (rcv *GameView) MutateTurnTimeoutSecs(n int32) bool {
 	return rcv._tab.MutateInt32Slot(16, n)
 }
 
-func (rcv *GameView) MoveCount() int32 {
+func (rcv *GameView) MultipleWordsPerTurn() bool {
 	o := flatbuffers.UOffsetT(rcv._tab.Offset(18))
+	if o != 0 {
+		return rcv._tab.GetBool(o + rcv._tab.Pos)
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func (rcv *GameView) MutateMultipleWordsPerTurn(n bool) bool {
+	return rcv._tab.MutateBoolSlot(18, n)
+}
+
+func (rcv *GameView) MoveCount() int32 {
+	o := flatbuffers.UOffsetT(rcv._tab.Offset(20))
 	if o != 0 {
 		return rcv._tab.GetInt32(o + rcv._tab.Pos)
 	}
@@ -118,11 +130,11 @@ func (rcv *GameView) MoveCount() int32 {
 }
 
 func (rcv *GameView) MutateMoveCount(n int32) bool {
-	return rcv._tab.MutateInt32Slot(18, n)
+	return rcv._tab.MutateInt32Slot(20, n)
 }
 
 func (rcv *GameView) EndReason() []byte {
-	o := flatbuffers.UOffsetT(rcv._tab.Offset(20))
+	o := flatbuffers.UOffsetT(rcv._tab.Offset(22))
 	if o != 0 {
 		return rcv._tab.ByteVector(o + rcv._tab.Pos)
 	}
@@ -130,7 +142,7 @@ func (rcv *GameView) EndReason() []byte {
 }
 
 func (rcv *GameView) Seats(obj *SeatView, j int) bool {
-	o := flatbuffers.UOffsetT(rcv._tab.Offset(22))
+	o := flatbuffers.UOffsetT(rcv._tab.Offset(24))
 	if o != 0 {
 		x := rcv._tab.Vector(o)
 		x += flatbuffers.UOffsetT(j) * 4
@@ -142,7 +154,7 @@ func (rcv *GameView) Seats(obj *SeatView, j int) bool {
 }
 
 func (rcv *GameView) SeatsLength() int {
-	o := flatbuffers.UOffsetT(rcv._tab.Offset(22))
+	o := flatbuffers.UOffsetT(rcv._tab.Offset(24))
 	if o != 0 {
 		return rcv._tab.VectorLen(o)
 	}
@@ -150,7 +162,7 @@ func (rcv *GameView) SeatsLength() int {
 }
 
 func (rcv *GameView) LastActivityUnix() int64 {
-	o := flatbuffers.UOffsetT(rcv._tab.Offset(24))
+	o := flatbuffers.UOffsetT(rcv._tab.Offset(26))
 	if o != 0 {
 		return rcv._tab.GetInt64(o + rcv._tab.Pos)
 	}
@@ -158,11 +170,11 @@ func (rcv *GameView) LastActivityUnix() int64 {
 }
 
 func (rcv *GameView) MutateLastActivityUnix(n int64) bool {
-	return rcv._tab.MutateInt64Slot(24, n)
+	return rcv._tab.MutateInt64Slot(26, n)
 }
 
 func GameViewStart(builder *flatbuffers.Builder) {
-	builder.StartObject(11)
+	builder.StartObject(12)
 }
 func GameViewAddId(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, id flatbuffers.UOffsetT) {
 	builder.PrependUOffsetTSlot(0, flatbuffers.UOffsetT(id), 0)
@@ -185,20 +197,23 @@ func GameViewAddToMove(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, toMove int32) {
 func GameViewAddTurnTimeoutSecs(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, turnTimeoutSecs int32) {
 	builder.PrependInt32Slot(6, turnTimeoutSecs, 0)
 }
+func GameViewAddMultipleWordsPerTurn(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, multipleWordsPerTurn bool) {
+	builder.PrependBoolSlot(7, multipleWordsPerTurn, false)
+}
 func GameViewAddMoveCount(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, moveCount int32) {
-	builder.PrependInt32Slot(7, moveCount, 0)
+	builder.PrependInt32Slot(8, moveCount, 0)
 }
 func GameViewAddEndReason(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, endReason flatbuffers.UOffsetT) {
-	builder.PrependUOffsetTSlot(8, flatbuffers.UOffsetT(endReason), 0)
+	builder.PrependUOffsetTSlot(9, flatbuffers.UOffsetT(endReason), 0)
 }
 func GameViewAddSeats(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, seats flatbuffers.UOffsetT) {
-	builder.PrependUOffsetTSlot(9, flatbuffers.UOffsetT(seats), 0)
+	builder.PrependUOffsetTSlot(10, flatbuffers.UOffsetT(seats), 0)
 }
 func GameViewStartSeatsVector(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, numElems int) flatbuffers.UOffsetT {
 	return builder.StartVector(4, numElems, 4)
 }
 func GameViewAddLastActivityUnix(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, lastActivityUnix int64) {
-	builder.PrependInt64Slot(10, lastActivityUnix, 0)
+	builder.PrependInt64Slot(11, lastActivityUnix, 0)
 }
 func GameViewEnd(builder *flatbuffers.Builder) flatbuffers.UOffsetT {
 	return builder.EndObject()

pkg/fbs/scrabblefb/Invitation.go

@@ -126,15 +126,19 @@ func (rcv *Invitation) MutateHintsPerPlayer(n int32) bool {
 	return rcv._tab.MutateInt32Slot(16, n)
 }
 
-func (rcv *Invitation) DropoutTiles() []byte {
+func (rcv *Invitation) MultipleWordsPerTurn() bool {
 	o := flatbuffers.UOffsetT(rcv._tab.Offset(18))
 	if o != 0 {
-		return rcv._tab.ByteVector(o + rcv._tab.Pos)
+		return rcv._tab.GetBool(o + rcv._tab.Pos)
 	}
-	return nil
+	return false
 }
 
-func (rcv *Invitation) Status() []byte {
+func (rcv *Invitation) MutateMultipleWordsPerTurn(n bool) bool {
+	return rcv._tab.MutateBoolSlot(18, n)
+}
+
+func (rcv *Invitation) DropoutTiles() []byte {
 	o := flatbuffers.UOffsetT(rcv._tab.Offset(20))
 	if o != 0 {
 		return rcv._tab.ByteVector(o + rcv._tab.Pos)
@@ -142,7 +146,7 @@ func (rcv *Invitation) Status() []byte {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (rcv *Invitation) GameId() []byte {
+func (rcv *Invitation) Status() []byte {
 	o := flatbuffers.UOffsetT(rcv._tab.Offset(22))
 	if o != 0 {
 		return rcv._tab.ByteVector(o + rcv._tab.Pos)
@@ -150,8 +154,16 @@ func (rcv *Invitation) GameId() []byte {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (rcv *Invitation) ExpiresAtUnix() int64 {
+func (rcv *Invitation) GameId() []byte {
 	o := flatbuffers.UOffsetT(rcv._tab.Offset(24))
+	if o != 0 {
+		return rcv._tab.ByteVector(o + rcv._tab.Pos)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (rcv *Invitation) ExpiresAtUnix() int64 {
+	o := flatbuffers.UOffsetT(rcv._tab.Offset(26))
 	if o != 0 {
 		return rcv._tab.GetInt64(o + rcv._tab.Pos)
 	}
@@ -159,11 +171,11 @@ func (rcv *Invitation) ExpiresAtUnix() int64 {
 }
 
 func (rcv *Invitation) MutateExpiresAtUnix(n int64) bool {
-	return rcv._tab.MutateInt64Slot(24, n)
+	return rcv._tab.MutateInt64Slot(26, n)
 }
 
 func InvitationStart(builder *flatbuffers.Builder) {
-	builder.StartObject(11)
+	builder.StartObject(12)
 }
 func InvitationAddId(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, id flatbuffers.UOffsetT) {
 	builder.PrependUOffsetTSlot(0, flatbuffers.UOffsetT(id), 0)
@@ -189,17 +201,20 @@ func InvitationAddHintsAllowed(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, hintsAllowed bool)
 func InvitationAddHintsPerPlayer(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, hintsPerPlayer int32) {
 	builder.PrependInt32Slot(6, hintsPerPlayer, 0)
 }
+func InvitationAddMultipleWordsPerTurn(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, multipleWordsPerTurn bool) {
+	builder.PrependBoolSlot(7, multipleWordsPerTurn, false)
+}
 func InvitationAddDropoutTiles(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, dropoutTiles flatbuffers.UOffsetT) {
-	builder.PrependUOffsetTSlot(7, flatbuffers.UOffsetT(dropoutTiles), 0)
+	builder.PrependUOffsetTSlot(8, flatbuffers.UOffsetT(dropoutTiles), 0)
 }
 func InvitationAddStatus(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, status flatbuffers.UOffsetT) {
-	builder.PrependUOffsetTSlot(8, flatbuffers.UOffsetT(status), 0)
+	builder.PrependUOffsetTSlot(9, flatbuffers.UOffsetT(status), 0)
 }
 func InvitationAddGameId(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, gameId flatbuffers.UOffsetT) {
-	builder.PrependUOffsetTSlot(9, flatbuffers.UOffsetT(gameId), 0)
+	builder.PrependUOffsetTSlot(10, flatbuffers.UOffsetT(gameId), 0)
 }
 func InvitationAddExpiresAtUnix(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, expiresAtUnix int64) {
-	builder.PrependInt64Slot(10, expiresAtUnix, 0)
+	builder.PrependInt64Slot(11, expiresAtUnix, 0)
 }
 func InvitationEnd(builder *flatbuffers.Builder) flatbuffers.UOffsetT {
 	return builder.EndObject()

pkg/wire/build.go

@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ type GameView struct {
 	Players              int
 	ToMove               int
 	TurnTimeoutSecs      int
+	MultipleWordsPerTurn bool
 	MoveCount            int
 	EndReason            string
 	Seats                []SeatView
@@ -110,6 +111,7 @@ type Invitation struct {
 	TurnTimeoutSecs      int
 	HintsAllowed         bool
 	HintsPerPlayer       int
+	MultipleWordsPerTurn bool
 	DropoutTiles         string
 	Status               string
 	GameID               string
@@ -151,6 +153,7 @@ func BuildGameView(b *flatbuffers.Builder, g GameView) flatbuffers.UOffsetT {
 	fb.GameViewAddPlayers(b, int32(g.Players))
 	fb.GameViewAddToMove(b, int32(g.ToMove))
 	fb.GameViewAddTurnTimeoutSecs(b, int32(g.TurnTimeoutSecs))
+	fb.GameViewAddMultipleWordsPerTurn(b, g.MultipleWordsPerTurn)
 	fb.GameViewAddMoveCount(b, int32(g.MoveCount))
 	fb.GameViewAddEndReason(b, endReason)
 	fb.GameViewAddSeats(b, seats)
@@ -291,6 +294,7 @@ func BuildInvitation(b *flatbuffers.Builder, inv Invitation) flatbuffers.UOffset
 	fb.InvitationAddTurnTimeoutSecs(b, int32(inv.TurnTimeoutSecs))
 	fb.InvitationAddHintsAllowed(b, inv.HintsAllowed)
 	fb.InvitationAddHintsPerPlayer(b, int32(inv.HintsPerPlayer))
+	fb.InvitationAddMultipleWordsPerTurn(b, inv.MultipleWordsPerTurn)
 	fb.InvitationAddDropoutTiles(b, dropout)
 	fb.InvitationAddStatus(b, status)
 	fb.InvitationAddGameId(b, gameID)

ui/e2e/game.spec.ts

@@ -70,16 +70,35 @@ test('new game: variant buttons show a rules summary and the move-limit', async
   await expect(page.locator('.movelimit')).toBeVisible(); // turn-time under the buttons
 });
 
-test('new game: Russian games offer the "multiple words per turn" toggle, off by default', async ({ page }) => {
+test('new game: auto-match selects a variant, then a Russian pick reveals the off-by-default toggle', async ({ page }) => {
   await page.goto('/');
   await page.getByRole('button', { name: /guest/i }).click();
   await page.getByRole('button', { name: /New/ }).click(); // auto-match
-  // The mock session supports Russian, so the single-word-rule toggle is offered and starts off.
+  // Several variants are offered, so nothing is selected: Start is disabled and there is no toggle yet.
+  const start = page.getByRole('button', { name: /Start game/i });
+  await expect(start).toBeDisabled();
+  await expect(page.getByLabel('Multiple words per turn')).toHaveCount(0);
+  // Selecting the Russian Scrabble variant highlights it, enables Start, and reveals the rule toggle (off).
+  await page.locator('.variant', { hasText: 'Скрэббл' }).click();
+  await expect(page.locator('.variant.selected')).toHaveCount(1);
+  await expect(start).toBeEnabled();
   const toggle = page.getByLabel('Multiple words per turn');
   await expect(toggle).toBeVisible();
   await expect(toggle).not.toBeChecked();
-  await toggle.check();
-  await expect(toggle).toBeChecked();
+});
+
+test('single-word game shows the one-word indicator in the status bar and the history header', async ({ page }) => {
+  await page.goto('/');
+  await page.getByRole('button', { name: /guest/i }).click();
+  // g3 is a finished Russian single-word game (vs Rick); open it from the lobby.
+  await page.getByRole('button', { name: /Rick/ }).click();
+  await expect(page.locator('[data-cell]').first()).toBeVisible();
+  await expect(page.locator('.pane')).toHaveCount(1);
+  // The status bar carries the small "1️⃣" indicator (single-word, nothing pending).
+  await expect(page.locator('.oneword')).toBeVisible();
+  // Tapping the scoreboard opens the history, whose header shows the spelled-out rule label.
+  await page.locator('.scoreboard').click();
+  await expect(page.locator('.oneword-label')).toBeVisible();
 });
 
 test('a pending tile recalls on double-tap, not on a single tap', async ({ page }) => {

ui/src/game/Game.svelte

@@ -790,6 +790,7 @@
             {:else}
               <button class="hicon" onclick={() => (resignOpen = true)} aria-label={t('game.dropGame')}>🏁</button>
             {/if}
+            {#if !view.game.multipleWordsPerTurn}<span class="oneword-label">{t('game.oneWordRule')}</span>{/if}
             <button class="hicon" onclick={() => navigate(`/game/${id}/chat`)} aria-label={t('game.chat')}>
               💬{#if (app.chatUnread[id] ?? 0) > 0}<span class="cbadge">{app.chatUnread[id]}</span>{/if}
             </button>
@@ -857,7 +858,7 @@
         <span class="turn-ind">{isMyTurn ? t('game.yourTurn') : view.game.seats[view.game.toMove]?.displayName ?? ''}</span>
       {/if}
       <span class="scores">
-        {#if preview}{preview.legal ? t('game.previewWords', { words: preview.words.join(', '), n: preview.score }) : t('game.previewIllegal')}{/if}
+        {#if preview}{preview.legal ? t('game.previewWords', { words: preview.words.join(', '), n: preview.score }) : t('game.previewIllegal')}{:else if !view.game.multipleWordsPerTurn}<span class="oneword" title={t('game.oneWordRule')}>1️⃣</span>{/if}
       </span>
     </div>
 
@@ -1103,6 +1104,18 @@
     min-width: 64px;
     text-align: right;
   }
+  .oneword {
+    font-size: 0.95rem;
+  }
+  /* The single-word-rule label centred in the history header between its two icons. */
+  .oneword-label {
+    flex: 1;
+    text-align: center;
+    font-size: 0.78rem;
+    font-weight: 600;
+    color: var(--text-muted);
+    white-space: nowrap;
+  }
   .rack-row {
     display: flex;
     flex: none;

ui/src/gen/fbs/scrabblefb/game-view.ts

@@ -66,35 +66,40 @@ turnTimeoutSecs():number {
   return offset ? this.bb!.readInt32(this.bb_pos + offset) : 0;
 }
 
-moveCount():number {
+multipleWordsPerTurn():boolean {
   const offset = this.bb!.__offset(this.bb_pos, 18);
+  return offset ? !!this.bb!.readInt8(this.bb_pos + offset) : false;
+}
+
+moveCount():number {
+  const offset = this.bb!.__offset(this.bb_pos, 20);
   return offset ? this.bb!.readInt32(this.bb_pos + offset) : 0;
 }
 
 endReason():string|null
 endReason(optionalEncoding:flatbuffers.Encoding):string|Uint8Array|null
 endReason(optionalEncoding?:any):string|Uint8Array|null {
-  const offset = this.bb!.__offset(this.bb_pos, 20);
+  const offset = this.bb!.__offset(this.bb_pos, 22);
   return offset ? this.bb!.__string(this.bb_pos + offset, optionalEncoding) : null;
 }
 
 seats(index: number, obj?:SeatView):SeatView|null {
-  const offset = this.bb!.__offset(this.bb_pos, 22);
+  const offset = this.bb!.__offset(this.bb_pos, 24);
   return offset ? (obj || new SeatView()).__init(this.bb!.__indirect(this.bb!.__vector(this.bb_pos + offset) + index * 4), this.bb!) : null;
 }
 
 seatsLength():number {
-  const offset = this.bb!.__offset(this.bb_pos, 22);
+  const offset = this.bb!.__offset(this.bb_pos, 24);
   return offset ? this.bb!.__vector_len(this.bb_pos + offset) : 0;
 }
 
 lastActivityUnix():bigint {
-  const offset = this.bb!.__offset(this.bb_pos, 24);
+  const offset = this.bb!.__offset(this.bb_pos, 26);
   return offset ? this.bb!.readInt64(this.bb_pos + offset) : BigInt('0');
 }
 
 static startGameView(builder:flatbuffers.Builder) {
-  builder.startObject(11);
+  builder.startObject(12);
 }
 
 static addId(builder:flatbuffers.Builder, idOffset:flatbuffers.Offset) {
@@ -125,16 +130,20 @@ static addTurnTimeoutSecs(builder:flatbuffers.Builder, turnTimeoutSecs:number) {
   builder.addFieldInt32(6, turnTimeoutSecs, 0);
 }
 
+static addMultipleWordsPerTurn(builder:flatbuffers.Builder, multipleWordsPerTurn:boolean) {
+  builder.addFieldInt8(7, +multipleWordsPerTurn, +false);
+}
+
 static addMoveCount(builder:flatbuffers.Builder, moveCount:number) {
-  builder.addFieldInt32(7, moveCount, 0);
+  builder.addFieldInt32(8, moveCount, 0);
 }
 
 static addEndReason(builder:flatbuffers.Builder, endReasonOffset:flatbuffers.Offset) {
-  builder.addFieldOffset(8, endReasonOffset, 0);
+  builder.addFieldOffset(9, endReasonOffset, 0);
 }
 
 static addSeats(builder:flatbuffers.Builder, seatsOffset:flatbuffers.Offset) {
-  builder.addFieldOffset(9, seatsOffset, 0);
+  builder.addFieldOffset(10, seatsOffset, 0);
 }
 
 static createSeatsVector(builder:flatbuffers.Builder, data:flatbuffers.Offset[]):flatbuffers.Offset {
@@ -150,7 +159,7 @@ static startSeatsVector(builder:flatbuffers.Builder, numElems:number) {
 }
 
 static addLastActivityUnix(builder:flatbuffers.Builder, lastActivityUnix:bigint) {
-  builder.addFieldInt64(10, lastActivityUnix, BigInt('0'));
+  builder.addFieldInt64(11, lastActivityUnix, BigInt('0'));
 }
 
 static endGameView(builder:flatbuffers.Builder):flatbuffers.Offset {
@@ -158,7 +167,7 @@ static endGameView(builder:flatbuffers.Builder):flatbuffers.Offset {
   return offset;
 }
 
-static createGameView(builder:flatbuffers.Builder, idOffset:flatbuffers.Offset, variantOffset:flatbuffers.Offset, dictVersionOffset:flatbuffers.Offset, statusOffset:flatbuffers.Offset, players:number, toMove:number, turnTimeoutSecs:number, moveCount:number, endReasonOffset:flatbuffers.Offset, seatsOffset:flatbuffers.Offset, lastActivityUnix:bigint):flatbuffers.Offset {
+static createGameView(builder:flatbuffers.Builder, idOffset:flatbuffers.Offset, variantOffset:flatbuffers.Offset, dictVersionOffset:flatbuffers.Offset, statusOffset:flatbuffers.Offset, players:number, toMove:number, turnTimeoutSecs:number, multipleWordsPerTurn:boolean, moveCount:number, endReasonOffset:flatbuffers.Offset, seatsOffset:flatbuffers.Offset, lastActivityUnix:bigint):flatbuffers.Offset {
   GameView.startGameView(builder);
   GameView.addId(builder, idOffset);
   GameView.addVariant(builder, variantOffset);
@@ -167,6 +176,7 @@ static createGameView(builder:flatbuffers.Builder, idOffset:flatbuffers.Offset,
   GameView.addPlayers(builder, players);
   GameView.addToMove(builder, toMove);
   GameView.addTurnTimeoutSecs(builder, turnTimeoutSecs);
+  GameView.addMultipleWordsPerTurn(builder, multipleWordsPerTurn);
   GameView.addMoveCount(builder, moveCount);
   GameView.addEndReason(builder, endReasonOffset);
   GameView.addSeats(builder, seatsOffset);

ui/src/gen/fbs/scrabblefb/invitation.ts

@@ -68,34 +68,39 @@ hintsPerPlayer():number {
   return offset ? this.bb!.readInt32(this.bb_pos + offset) : 0;
 }
 
+multipleWordsPerTurn():boolean {
+  const offset = this.bb!.__offset(this.bb_pos, 18);
+  return offset ? !!this.bb!.readInt8(this.bb_pos + offset) : false;
+}
+
 dropoutTiles():string|null
 dropoutTiles(optionalEncoding:flatbuffers.Encoding):string|Uint8Array|null
 dropoutTiles(optionalEncoding?:any):string|Uint8Array|null {
-  const offset = this.bb!.__offset(this.bb_pos, 18);
+  const offset = this.bb!.__offset(this.bb_pos, 20);
   return offset ? this.bb!.__string(this.bb_pos + offset, optionalEncoding) : null;
 }
 
 status():string|null
 status(optionalEncoding:flatbuffers.Encoding):string|Uint8Array|null
 status(optionalEncoding?:any):string|Uint8Array|null {
-  const offset = this.bb!.__offset(this.bb_pos, 20);
+  const offset = this.bb!.__offset(this.bb_pos, 22);
   return offset ? this.bb!.__string(this.bb_pos + offset, optionalEncoding) : null;
 }
 
 gameId():string|null
 gameId(optionalEncoding:flatbuffers.Encoding):string|Uint8Array|null
 gameId(optionalEncoding?:any):string|Uint8Array|null {
-  const offset = this.bb!.__offset(this.bb_pos, 22);
+  const offset = this.bb!.__offset(this.bb_pos, 24);
   return offset ? this.bb!.__string(this.bb_pos + offset, optionalEncoding) : null;
 }
 
 expiresAtUnix():bigint {
-  const offset = this.bb!.__offset(this.bb_pos, 24);
+  const offset = this.bb!.__offset(this.bb_pos, 26);
   return offset ? this.bb!.readInt64(this.bb_pos + offset) : BigInt('0');
 }
 
 static startInvitation(builder:flatbuffers.Builder) {
-  builder.startObject(11);
+  builder.startObject(12);
 }
 
 static addId(builder:flatbuffers.Builder, idOffset:flatbuffers.Offset) {
@@ -138,20 +143,24 @@ static addHintsPerPlayer(builder:flatbuffers.Builder, hintsPerPlayer:number) {
   builder.addFieldInt32(6, hintsPerPlayer, 0);
 }
 
+static addMultipleWordsPerTurn(builder:flatbuffers.Builder, multipleWordsPerTurn:boolean) {
+  builder.addFieldInt8(7, +multipleWordsPerTurn, +false);
+}
+
 static addDropoutTiles(builder:flatbuffers.Builder, dropoutTilesOffset:flatbuffers.Offset) {
-  builder.addFieldOffset(7, dropoutTilesOffset, 0);
+  builder.addFieldOffset(8, dropoutTilesOffset, 0);
 }
 
 static addStatus(builder:flatbuffers.Builder, statusOffset:flatbuffers.Offset) {
-  builder.addFieldOffset(8, statusOffset, 0);
+  builder.addFieldOffset(9, statusOffset, 0);
 }
 
 static addGameId(builder:flatbuffers.Builder, gameIdOffset:flatbuffers.Offset) {
-  builder.addFieldOffset(9, gameIdOffset, 0);
+  builder.addFieldOffset(10, gameIdOffset, 0);
 }
 
 static addExpiresAtUnix(builder:flatbuffers.Builder, expiresAtUnix:bigint) {
-  builder.addFieldInt64(10, expiresAtUnix, BigInt('0'));
+  builder.addFieldInt64(11, expiresAtUnix, BigInt('0'));
 }
 
 static endInvitation(builder:flatbuffers.Builder):flatbuffers.Offset {

ui/src/lib/codec.ts

@@ -238,6 +238,7 @@ function decodeGameView(g: fb.GameView): GameView {
     players: g.players(),
     toMove: g.toMove(),
     turnTimeoutSecs: g.turnTimeoutSecs(),
+    multipleWordsPerTurn: g.multipleWordsPerTurn(),
     moveCount: g.moveCount(),
     endReason: s(g.endReason()),
     lastActivityUnix: Number(g.lastActivityUnix()),
@@ -686,6 +687,7 @@ function decodeInvitationTable(i: fb.Invitation): Invitation {
     turnTimeoutSecs: i.turnTimeoutSecs(),
     hintsAllowed: i.hintsAllowed(),
     hintsPerPlayer: i.hintsPerPlayer(),
+    multipleWordsPerTurn: i.multipleWordsPerTurn(),
     dropoutTiles: s(i.dropoutTiles()),
     status: s(i.status()),
     gameId: s(i.gameId()),
@@ -721,6 +723,7 @@ function emptyGame(): GameView {
     players: 0,
     toMove: 0,
     turnTimeoutSecs: 0,
+    multipleWordsPerTurn: true,
     moveCount: 0,
     endReason: '',
     lastActivityUnix: 0,

ui/src/lib/gamedelta.test.ts

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ function gameView(moveCount: number, over = false): GameView {
     players: 2,
     toMove: 1,
     turnTimeoutSecs: 300,
+    multipleWordsPerTurn: true,
     moveCount,
     endReason: over ? 'standard' : '',
     lastActivityUnix: 0,

ui/src/lib/i18n/en.ts

@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ export const en = {
   'game.dropGame': 'Drop game',
   'game.previewWords': '{words}: {n}',
   'game.previewIllegal': 'Not a legal move',
+  'game.oneWordRule': 'One word per turn',
   'game.chooseBlank': 'Choose a letter for the blank',
   'game.exchangeTitle': 'Select tiles to exchange',
   'game.exchangeConfirm': 'Exchange {n}',
@@ -233,6 +234,7 @@ export const en = {
   'new.moveTime': 'Move time',
   'new.hintsPerPlayer': 'Hints per player',
   'new.multipleWordsPerTurn': 'Multiple words per turn',
+  'new.start': 'Start game',
   'new.invited': 'Invitation sent.',
   'new.noFriends': 'Add friends first to invite them.',
 

ui/src/lib/i18n/ru.ts

@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ export const ru: Record<MessageKey, string> = {
   'game.dropGame': 'Покинуть игру',
   'game.previewWords': '{words}: {n}',
   'game.previewIllegal': 'Недопустимый ход',
+  'game.oneWordRule': 'Одно слово за ход',
   'game.chooseBlank': 'Выберите букву для бланка',
   'game.exchangeTitle': 'Выберите фишки для обмена',
   'game.exchangeConfirm': 'Обменять {n}',
@@ -234,6 +235,7 @@ export const ru: Record<MessageKey, string> = {
   'new.moveTime': 'Время на ход',
   'new.hintsPerPlayer': 'Подсказок на игрока',
   'new.multipleWordsPerTurn': 'Несколько слов за ход',
+  'new.start': 'Начать игру',
   'new.invited': 'Приглашение отправлено.',
   'new.noFriends': 'Сначала добавьте друзей, чтобы пригласить их.',
 

ui/src/lib/lobbysort.test.ts

@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ function game(id: string, status: GameView['status'], toMove: number, lastActivi
     players: 2,
     toMove,
     turnTimeoutSecs: 0,
+    multipleWordsPerTurn: true,
     moveCount: 0,
     endReason: '',
     lastActivityUnix,

ui/src/lib/mock/client.ts

@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ export class MockGateway implements GatewayClient {
   }
 
   // --- lobby ---
-  async lobbyEnqueue(variant: Variant, _multipleWords: boolean): Promise<MatchResult> {
+  async lobbyEnqueue(variant: Variant, multipleWords: boolean): Promise<MatchResult> {
     // Simulate a 10s-style robot substitution, sped up: match found shortly.
     const id = crypto.randomUUID();
     const g: MockGame = {
@@ -154,6 +154,7 @@ export class MockGateway implements GatewayClient {
         players: 2,
         toMove: 0,
         turnTimeoutSecs: 86400,
+        multipleWordsPerTurn: multipleWords,
         moveCount: 0,
         endReason: '',
         lastActivityUnix: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000),
@@ -442,6 +443,7 @@ export class MockGateway implements GatewayClient {
       turnTimeoutSecs: settings.turnTimeoutSecs,
       hintsAllowed: settings.hintsAllowed,
       hintsPerPlayer: settings.hintsPerPlayer,
+      multipleWordsPerTurn: settings.multipleWordsPerTurn,
       dropoutTiles: settings.dropoutTiles,
       status: 'pending',
       gameId: '',

ui/src/lib/mock/data.ts

@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ export function mockInvitations(): Invitation[] {
       turnTimeoutSecs: 86400,
       hintsAllowed: true,
       hintsPerPlayer: 1,
+      multipleWordsPerTurn: true,
       dropoutTiles: 'remove',
       status: 'pending',
       gameId: '',
@@ -141,6 +142,7 @@ function activeGame(): MockGame {
       players: 2,
       toMove: 0,
       turnTimeoutSecs: 86400,
+      multipleWordsPerTurn: true,
       moveCount: G1_MOVES.length,
       endReason: '',
       lastActivityUnix: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000) - 7200,
@@ -175,6 +177,7 @@ function finishedG2(): MockGame {
       players: 2,
       toMove: 0,
       turnTimeoutSecs: 86400,
+      multipleWordsPerTurn: true,
       moveCount: 2,
       endReason: 'normal',
       lastActivityUnix: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000) - 86400,
@@ -210,6 +213,7 @@ function finishedG3(): MockGame {
       players: 2,
       toMove: 0,
       turnTimeoutSecs: 86400,
+      multipleWordsPerTurn: false,
       moveCount: 1,
       endReason: 'resignation',
       lastActivityUnix: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000) - 172800,

ui/src/lib/model.ts

@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ export interface GameView {
   players: number;
   toMove: number;
   turnTimeoutSecs: number;
+  /** true = standard Scrabble; false = the single-word rule (Russian games). */
+  multipleWordsPerTurn: boolean;
   moveCount: number;
   endReason: string;
   /** Lobby sort key: the current turn's start (active) or the finish time (finished), Unix seconds. */
@@ -177,6 +179,8 @@ export interface Invitation {
   turnTimeoutSecs: number;
   hintsAllowed: boolean;
   hintsPerPlayer: number;
+  /** true = standard Scrabble; false = the single-word rule (Russian games). */
+  multipleWordsPerTurn: boolean;
   dropoutTiles: string;
   status: string;
   gameId: string;

ui/src/lib/result.test.ts

@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ function game(seats: Seat[], status = 'finished', toMove = 0): GameView {
     players: seats.length,
     toMove,
     turnTimeoutSecs: 0,
+    multipleWordsPerTurn: true,
     moveCount: 0,
     endReason: '',
     lastActivityUnix: 0,

ui/src/screens/Lobby.svelte

@@ -160,6 +160,7 @@
                 <span class="who">{t('invitations.from', { name: inv.inviter.displayName })}</span>
                 <span class="sub">{t(variantKey[inv.variant] ?? 'new.english')}</span>
               {/if}
+              {#if !inv.multipleWordsPerTurn}<span class="sub">{t('game.oneWordRule')}</span>{/if}
             </span>
             <span class="acts">
               {#if inv.inviter.accountId === myId}

ui/src/screens/NewGame.svelte

@@ -24,7 +24,12 @@
   // "Multiple words per turn" off is the single-word rule; it is offered for Russian games
   // only (English is always standard and shows no toggle). Shared by both flows.
   let multipleWords = $state(false);
-  const autoHasRussian = $derived(variants.some((v) => supportsMultipleWordsToggle(v.id)));
+  // Auto-match: the variant is a select (highlight, no immediate enqueue) confirmed by the
+  // Start button. A lone offered variant is pre-selected; with several the player must pick.
+  let selectedAuto = $state<Variant | ''>('');
+  $effect(() => {
+    if (variants.length === 1 && !selectedAuto) selectedAuto = variants[0].id;
+  });
   const timeouts = [
     { secs: 300, key: 'time.minutes' as MessageKey, n: 5 },
     { secs: 1800, key: 'time.minutes' as MessageKey, n: 30 },
@@ -182,15 +187,14 @@
 
       {#if mode === 'auto'}
         <p class="subtitle">{t('new.subtitle')}</p>
-        {#if autoHasRussian}
-          <label class="toggle">
-            <span>{t('new.multipleWordsPerTurn')}</span>
-            <input type="checkbox" bind:checked={multipleWords} />
-          </label>
-        {/if}
         <div class="variants">
           {#each variants as v (v.id)}
-            <button class="variant" onclick={() => find(v.id)} disabled={!connection.online}>
+            <button
+              class="variant"
+              class:selected={selectedAuto === v.id}
+              onclick={() => (selectedAuto = v.id)}
+              disabled={!connection.online}
+            >
               <span class="vmain">
                 <span class="vname">{t(v.label)}</span>
                 {#if VARIANT_FLAG[v.id]}
@@ -203,7 +207,18 @@
             </button>
           {/each}
         </div>
+        {#if selectedAuto && supportsMultipleWordsToggle(selectedAuto)}
+          <label class="toggle">
+            <span>{t('new.multipleWordsPerTurn')}</span>
+            <input type="checkbox" bind:checked={multipleWords} />
+          </label>
+        {/if}
         <p class="movelimit">{t('new.moveLimit', { n: AUTO_MATCH_HOURS })}</p>
+        <button
+          class="invite"
+          disabled={!selectedAuto || !connection.online}
+          onclick={() => selectedAuto && find(selectedAuto)}
+        >{t('new.start')}</button>
       {:else if friends.length === 0}
         <p class="subtitle">{t('new.noFriends')}</p>
       {:else}
@@ -310,6 +325,12 @@
     font-size: 0.8rem;
     color: var(--text-muted);
   }
+  /* Selected auto-match variant: an accent inset border (the button no longer enqueues on
+     tap; the Start button confirms the choice). */
+  .variant.selected {
+    border-color: var(--accent);
+    box-shadow: inset 0 0 0 2px var(--accent);
+  }
   .movelimit {
     margin: 0;
     text-align: center;