diff --git a/src/components/GameTable.tsx b/src/components/GameTable.tsx
index b80b451..6974203 100644
--- a/src/components/GameTable.tsx
+++ b/src/components/GameTable.tsx
@@ -55,7 +55,26 @@ export function GameTable({
   const game = useGameStore((s) => s.game);
   const reset = useGameStore((s) => s.reset);
   const mode = useGameStore((s) => s.mode);
+  const seatPlayers = useGameStore((s) => s.seatPlayers);
   const { t } = useI18n();
+
+  // While waiting for the first server state broadcast, show a spinner instead
+  // of an empty green felt — prevents the "3 colored dots / stuck table" bug.
+  const connecting = mode === "online" && seatPlayers.length === 0;
+  if (connecting) {
+    return (
+      <main className="persian-pattern relative h-dvh w-full flex items-center justify-center">
+        <div className="flex flex-col items-center gap-4">
+          <motion.div
+            animate={{ rotate: 360 }}
+            transition={{ repeat: Infinity, duration: 1.5, ease: "linear" }}
+            className="size-14 border-4 border-gold-400/30 border-t-gold-400 rounded-full"
+          />
+          <p className="gold-text font-bold text-lg">{t("mm.searching")}</p>
+        </div>
+      </main>
+    );
+  }
   const [askFf, setAskFf] = useState(false);
 
   const sfx = useSoundStore((s) => s.sfx);
diff --git a/src/lib/game-store.ts b/src/lib/game-store.ts
index 5daee73..5c2828d 100644
--- a/src/lib/game-store.ts
+++ b/src/lib/game-store.ts
@@ -448,6 +448,16 @@ export const useGameStore = create<GameStore>((set, get) => {
         reconnectDeadline: null,
         seatPlayers: [],
       });
+      // Green-felt guard: if the initial state hasn't arrived after 3 s, ask the
+      // server to resend it. Repeat every 3 s until it lands (stops automatically
+      // once seatPlayers is populated, meaning applyServerState ran).
+      const resyncInterval = setInterval(() => {
+        if (get().seatPlayers.length > 0 || !get().live) {
+          clearInterval(resyncInterval);
+          return;
+        }
+        service.resync();
+      }, 3000);
     },
 
     applyServerState: (s) => {
diff --git a/src/lib/online/mock-service.ts b/src/lib/online/mock-service.ts
index 26497dd..4274630 100644
--- a/src/lib/online/mock-service.ts
+++ b/src/lib/online/mock-service.ts
@@ -984,6 +984,8 @@ export class MockOnlineService implements OnlineService {
     this.matchmaking.phase = "idle";
   }
 
+  resync() { /* mock: game runs client-side, no server resync needed */ }
+
   async playNow() {
     if (this.matchmaking.phase !== "searching" && this.matchmaking.phase !== "queued") return;
     const me = this.profile!;
diff --git a/src/lib/online/service.ts b/src/lib/online/service.ts
index e3886d4..298c4d5 100644
--- a/src/lib/online/service.ts
+++ b/src/lib/online/service.ts
@@ -134,6 +134,8 @@ export interface OnlineService {
   cancelMatchmaking(): Promise<void>;
   /** Stop waiting for online players — start now, filling empty seats with bots. */
   playNow(): Promise<void>;
+  /** Ask the server to re-broadcast the current game state (green-felt guard). */
+  resync(): void;
   onMatchmaking(cb: (state: MatchmakingState) => void): Unsubscribe;
 
   /* ----- match players (for the online game driver) ----- */
diff --git a/src/lib/online/signalr-service.ts b/src/lib/online/signalr-service.ts
index 1478a58..678350d 100644
--- a/src/lib/online/signalr-service.ts
+++ b/src/lib/online/signalr-service.ts
@@ -338,6 +338,10 @@ export class SignalrService implements OnlineService {
     await this.conn?.invoke("PlayNow");
   }
 
+  resync(): void {
+    void this.conn?.invoke("Resync").catch(() => {});
+  }
+
   onMatchmaking(cb: (s: MatchmakingState) => void): Unsubscribe {
     this.mmCbs.add(cb);
     return () => this.mmCbs.delete(cb);