diff --git a/src/components/online/RotatePrompt.tsx b/src/components/online/RotatePrompt.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d890a33
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/online/RotatePrompt.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+"use client";
+
+import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
+import { RotateCcw } from "lucide-react";
+import { useI18n } from "@/lib/i18n";
+
+/**
+ * Landscape-first nudge for the game table. The Hokm table plays best wide
+ * (UNO-style), so when a phone is held in portrait we cover the table with a
+ * "rotate your device" prompt. iOS/Safari can't be force-rotated, so this is the
+ * reliable cross-platform path. A "play anyway" escape hatch avoids trapping
+ * users whose OS rotation-lock is on.
+ */
+export function RotatePrompt() {
+  const { t } = useI18n();
+  const [portrait, setPortrait] = useState(false);
+  const [dismissed, setDismissed] = useState(false);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const check = () => {
+      const isPortrait = window.innerHeight > window.innerWidth;
+      // Only nudge on phone-sized screens (smaller side ≤ ~820px); desktops/wide
+      // tablets are already roomy enough.
+      const isPhone = Math.min(window.innerWidth, window.innerHeight) <= 820;
+      setPortrait(isPortrait && isPhone);
+    };
+    check();
+    window.addEventListener("resize", check);
+    window.addEventListener("orientationchange", check);
+    return () => {
+      window.removeEventListener("resize", check);
+      window.removeEventListener("orientationchange", check);
+    };
+  }, []);
+
+  if (!portrait || dismissed) return null;
+
+  return (
+    <div className="fixed inset-0 z-[80] flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-6 bg-navy-950/96 backdrop-blur-md p-8 text-center safe-top safe-x">
+      <RotateCcw className="size-20 text-gold-400 motion-safe:animate-[rotateHint_2.4s_ease-in-out_infinite]" />
+      <h2 className="text-2xl font-black gold-text">{t("rotate.title")}</h2>
+      <p className="max-w-xs leading-8 text-cream/70">{t("rotate.desc")}</p>
+      <button
+        onClick={() => setDismissed(true)}
+        className="mt-2 text-sm text-cream/45 underline underline-offset-4 hover:text-cream/70"
+      >
+        {t("rotate.anyway")}
+      </button>
+
+      <style>{`
+        @keyframes rotateHint {
+          0%, 40% { transform: rotate(0deg); }
+          60%, 100% { transform: rotate(-90deg); }
+        }
+      `}</style>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/src/components/screens/GameScreen.tsx b/src/components/screens/GameScreen.tsx
index 4b2872e..cf87c57 100644
--- a/src/components/screens/GameScreen.tsx
+++ b/src/components/screens/GameScreen.tsx
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from "react";
 import { GameTable } from "@/components/GameTable";
 import { PostMatchRewardsModal } from "@/components/online/PostMatchRewardsModal";
 import { MatchIntroOverlay } from "@/components/online/MatchIntroOverlay";
+import { RotatePrompt } from "@/components/online/RotatePrompt";
 import { useGameStore } from "@/lib/game-store";
 import { useSessionStore } from "@/lib/session-store";
 import { useUIStore } from "@/lib/ui-store";
@@ -58,6 +59,20 @@ export function GameScreen() {
     };
   }, []);
 
+  // Landscape-first table: best-effort lock to landscape on Android/PWA (iOS &
+  // desktop reject it — harmless). Restored to portrait/auto when leaving.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const o = (screen as unknown as { orientation?: { lock?: (m: string) => Promise<void>; unlock?: () => void } }).orientation;
+    o?.lock?.("landscape").catch(() => {});
+    return () => {
+      try {
+        o?.unlock?.();
+      } catch {
+        /* unsupported — ignore */
+      }
+    };
+  }, []);
+
   const notifyAchievements = (r: RewardResult) => {
     for (const a of r.newAchievements)
       pushNotification({
@@ -142,6 +157,9 @@ export function GameScreen() {
         onForfeit={canForfeit ? () => useGameStore.getState().forfeit() : undefined}
       />
 
+      {/* Landscape-first: nudge to rotate when held in portrait on a phone */}
+      <RotatePrompt />
+
       {/* UNO-style "players joining the table" intro (online matches, once) */}
       <AnimatePresence>
         {introPending && mode === "online" && (
diff --git a/src/lib/i18n.tsx b/src/lib/i18n.tsx
index e638e82..5145013 100644
--- a/src/lib/i18n.tsx
+++ b/src/lib/i18n.tsx
@@ -327,6 +327,9 @@ const fa: Dict = {
   "settings.audio": "تنظیمات صدا",
   "settings.sound": "افکت صدا",
   "settings.music": "موسیقی پس‌زمینه",
+  "rotate.title": "گوشی را بچرخانید",
+  "rotate.desc": "برای تجربهٔ بهترِ میز بازی، گوشی را افقی (چرخانده) نگه دارید.",
+  "rotate.anyway": "همین‌طور عمودی بازی می‌کنم",
   "settings.musicStyle": "سبک موسیقی",
   "settings.trackSantoor": "سنتی (سنتور)",
   "settings.trackPlayful": "شاد",
@@ -663,6 +666,9 @@ const en: Dict = {
   "settings.audio": "Audio",
   "settings.sound": "Sound effects",
   "settings.music": "Background music",
+  "rotate.title": "Rotate your phone",
+  "rotate.desc": "The table plays best in landscape — turn your phone sideways for the full experience.",
+  "rotate.anyway": "Keep playing in portrait",
   "settings.musicStyle": "Music style",
   "settings.trackSantoor": "Traditional (Santoor)",
   "settings.trackPlayful": "Playful",