diff --git a/assets/scripts/core/bot/BasicBot.ts b/assets/scripts/core/bot/BasicBot.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e1ed3f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/scripts/core/bot/BasicBot.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+import { Card } from '../cards/Card';
+import { Action, ActionType, AttackAction, DefendAction } from '../rules/Action';
+import { Phase } from '../rules/GameState';
+import { Bot } from './Bot';
+import { isTrump, PlayerView } from './PlayerView';
+
+/**
+ * The bot described in GAMEPLAY.md, implemented literally.
+ *
+ * - Opening a turn: the cheapest non-trump; a trump only if that is all it has.
+ * - Adding to an attack: every eligible non-trump it holds. Trumps go in only
+ *   when the deck is empty and its hand is nothing but trumps.
+ * - Defending: the cheapest card that does the job, non-trumps first, and a
+ *   take only when nothing in hand can beat the attack.
+ *
+ * Deliberately simple and entirely deterministic — it is the baseline a smarter
+ * opponent will be measured against, and the workhorse of the soak tests.
+ *
+ * Two points GAMEPLAY.md leaves open, decided here: cards are added one per
+ * decision, cheapest first (the rules core serialises additions anyway), and
+ * when several attacks are unbeaten the lowest slot is answered first.
+ */
+export class BasicBot implements Bot {
+    readonly name: string;
+
+    constructor(name = 'basic') {
+        this.name = name;
+    }
+
+    decide(view: PlayerView): Action {
+        if (!view.onMove || view.legalActions.length === 0) {
+            throw new Error(`${this.name} was asked to move out of turn`);
+        }
+
+        switch (view.phase) {
+            case Phase.Attack:
+                return this._openTurn(view);
+            case Phase.Reinforce:
+                return this._reinforce(view);
+            case Phase.Defence:
+                return this._defend(view);
+            default:
+                return view.legalActions[0];
+        }
+    }
+
+    /** Cheapest non-trump, or the cheapest trump when the hand is all trumps. */
+    private _openTurn(view: PlayerView): Action {
+        const attacks = view.legalActions.filter(isAttack);
+        return bestBy(attacks, (a) => cost(view, a.card));
+    }
+
+    private _reinforce(view: PlayerView): Action {
+        const attacks = view.legalActions.filter(isAttack);
+        const nonTrump = attacks.filter((a) => !isTrump(view, a.card));
+
+        if (nonTrump.length > 0) {
+            return bestBy(nonTrump, (a) => a.card.rank);
+        }
+
+        // Throwing trumps away is only worth it at the very end of a game, when
+        // the deck is exhausted and there is nothing else left to throw.
+        const holdingOnlyTrumps = view.hand.every((card) => isTrump(view, card));
+        if (attacks.length > 0 && view.deckRemaining === 0 && holdingOnlyTrumps) {
+            return bestBy(attacks, (a) => a.card.rank);
+        }
+
+        return pass(view);
+    }
+
+    private _defend(view: PlayerView): Action {
+        const defences = view.legalActions.filter(isDefend);
+        if (defences.length === 0) {
+            return take(view);
+        }
+        const firstSlot = Math.min(...defences.map((d) => d.slot));
+        const forSlot = defences.filter((d) => d.slot === firstSlot);
+        return bestBy(forSlot, (d) => cost(view, d.card));
+    }
+}
+
+/** Ranks a card for disposal: non-trumps first, then by value. */
+function cost(view: PlayerView, card: Card): number {
+    return (isTrump(view, card) ? 100 : 0) + card.rank;
+}
+
+function isAttack(action: Action): action is AttackAction {
+    return action.type === ActionType.Attack;
+}
+
+function isDefend(action: Action): action is DefendAction {
+    return action.type === ActionType.Defend;
+}
+
+function pass(view: PlayerView): Action {
+    const action = view.legalActions.find((a) => a.type === ActionType.Pass);
+    if (!action) throw new Error('Expected passing to be legal');
+    return action;
+}
+
+function take(view: PlayerView): Action {
+    const action = view.legalActions.find((a) => a.type === ActionType.Take);
+    if (!action) throw new Error('Expected taking to be legal');
+    return action;
+}
+
+/** Lowest score wins; ties break on card id so the choice is reproducible. */
+function bestBy<T extends AttackAction | DefendAction>(items: readonly T[], score: (item: T) => number): T {
+    let best = items[0];
+    let bestScore = score(best);
+    for (const item of items.slice(1)) {
+        const s = score(item);
+        if (s < bestScore || (s === bestScore && item.card.id < best.card.id)) {
+            best = item;
+            bestScore = s;
+        }
+    }
+    return best;
+}
diff --git a/assets/scripts/core/bot/BasicBot.ts.meta b/assets/scripts/core/bot/BasicBot.ts.meta
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..86718ee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/scripts/core/bot/BasicBot.ts.meta
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{
+  "ver": "4.0.24",
+  "importer": "typescript",
+  "imported": true,
+  "uuid": "f5c8ab8d-419e-4ea8-a96a-64a2cdb24da0",
+  "files": [],
+  "subMetas": {},
+  "userData": {}
+}
diff --git a/assets/scripts/core/bot/Bot.ts b/assets/scripts/core/bot/Bot.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..05268c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/scripts/core/bot/Bot.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+import { Action } from '../rules/Action';
+import { PlayerView } from './PlayerView';
+
+/**
+ * A decision maker for one seat.
+ *
+ * Synchronous and pure: given the same view, a bot returns the same action.
+ * Any pacing — the pause that makes a bot feel like it is thinking — belongs to
+ * the presentation layer, not here.
+ */
+export interface Bot {
+    readonly name: string;
+    /** Must return one of `view.legalActions`. */
+    decide(view: PlayerView): Action;
+}
diff --git a/assets/scripts/core/bot/Bot.ts.meta b/assets/scripts/core/bot/Bot.ts.meta
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7c5547c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/scripts/core/bot/Bot.ts.meta
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{
+  "ver": "4.0.24",
+  "importer": "typescript",
+  "imported": true,
+  "uuid": "516a24e0-b9d2-4c08-9940-7c2d27db8cd2",
+  "files": [],
+  "subMetas": {},
+  "userData": {}
+}
diff --git a/assets/scripts/core/bot/PlayerView.ts b/assets/scripts/core/bot/PlayerView.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..066d7c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/scripts/core/bot/PlayerView.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+import { Card } from '../cards/Card';
+import { Suit } from '../cards/Suit';
+import { Action } from '../rules/Action';
+import { GameState, Phase, PlayerId, TableSlot } from '../rules/GameState';
+import { currentActor, legalActions, seatOf } from '../rules/DurakRules';
+
+/** What one player can see about another. */
+export interface OpponentView {
+    readonly id: PlayerId;
+    readonly handSize: number;
+    readonly out: boolean;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Everything a participant may legitimately know, and nothing else.
+ *
+ * Bots are handed one of these rather than the `GameState`, which makes
+ * cheating structurally impossible instead of a matter of discipline. It is
+ * also, not coincidentally, the shape a network protocol would send to a client.
+ */
+export interface PlayerView {
+    readonly me: PlayerId;
+    readonly hand: readonly Card[];
+    /** Opponents in clockwise order, starting with the seat after `me`. */
+    readonly opponents: readonly OpponentView[];
+    readonly table: readonly TableSlot[];
+    readonly trumpSuit: Suit;
+    /** The face-up card that set the trump. Visible all game, even once drawn. */
+    readonly trumpCard: Card;
+    readonly deckRemaining: number;
+    /** True while the trump card is still the bottom card of the draw pile. */
+    readonly trumpCardStillInDeck: boolean;
+    readonly discardCount: number;
+    readonly phase: Phase;
+    readonly turnNumber: number;
+    readonly attacker: PlayerId;
+    readonly defender: PlayerId;
+    readonly defenderTook: boolean;
+    /** True when the game is waiting on this player. */
+    readonly onMove: boolean;
+    /** Everything this player may do right now. Empty unless `onMove`. */
+    readonly legalActions: readonly Action[];
+}
+
+export function projectView(state: GameState, player: PlayerId): PlayerView {
+    const seat = seatOf(state, player);
+    const count = state.players.length;
+
+    const opponents: OpponentView[] = [];
+    for (let i = 1; i < count; i++) {
+        const other = state.players[(seat + i) % count];
+        opponents.push({ id: other.id, handSize: other.hand.length, out: other.out });
+    }
+
+    return {
+        me: player,
+        hand: state.players[seat].hand.slice(),
+        opponents,
+        table: state.table.map((s) => ({ attack: s.attack, defence: s.defence })),
+        trumpSuit: state.trumpSuit,
+        trumpCard: state.trumpCard,
+        deckRemaining: state.deck.length,
+        trumpCardStillInDeck: state.deck.length > 0,
+        discardCount: state.discard.length,
+        phase: state.phase,
+        turnNumber: state.turnNumber,
+        attacker: state.players[state.attacker].id,
+        defender: state.players[state.defender].id,
+        defenderTook: state.defenderTook,
+        onMove: currentActor(state) === player,
+        legalActions: legalActions(state, player),
+    };
+}
+
+/** Convenience: is this card a trump, from a view's point of view. */
+export function isTrump(view: PlayerView, card: Card): boolean {
+    return card.suit === view.trumpSuit;
+}
diff --git a/assets/scripts/core/bot/PlayerView.ts.meta b/assets/scripts/core/bot/PlayerView.ts.meta
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9989b0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/scripts/core/bot/PlayerView.ts.meta
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{
+  "ver": "4.0.24",
+  "importer": "typescript",
+  "imported": true,
+  "uuid": "cc518671-becb-4644-96da-2a26cee93102",
+  "files": [],
+  "subMetas": {},
+  "userData": {}
+}
diff --git a/assets/scripts/core/match.meta b/assets/scripts/core/match.meta
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1179338
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/scripts/core/match.meta
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{
+  "ver": "1.2.0",
+  "importer": "directory",
+  "imported": true,
+  "uuid": "23c6c112-6468-4a31-acb9-ed860cafb8f8",
+  "files": [],
+  "subMetas": {},
+  "userData": {}
+}
diff --git a/assets/scripts/core/match/Match.ts b/assets/scripts/core/match/Match.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8362b11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/scripts/core/match/Match.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+import { Action } from '../rules/Action';
+import { GameEvent } from '../rules/GameEvent';
+import { GameState, Phase, PlayerId } from '../rules/GameState';
+import { apply, createGame, currentActor, GameOptions } from '../rules/DurakRules';
+import { PlayerView, projectView } from '../bot/PlayerView';
+
+export type MatchListener = (event: GameEvent) => void;
+
+/**
+ * One match in progress.
+ *
+ * A thin stateful shell over the pure reducer: it remembers the current state,
+ * hands out player views, and broadcasts events. Still free of any engine
+ * dependency — the game screen holds one of these, and so does the headless
+ * soak test.
+ */
+export class Match {
+    private _state: GameState;
+    private _listeners: MatchListener[] = [];
+    private readonly _history: GameEvent[] = [];
+
+    constructor(options: GameOptions) {
+        const { state, events } = createGame(options);
+        this._state = state;
+        this._history.push(...events);
+    }
+
+    /** The full state. The UI must not show a player anything they cannot see — use `viewFor`. */
+    get state(): GameState {
+        return this._state;
+    }
+
+    /** Every event since the deal, oldest first. */
+    get history(): readonly GameEvent[] {
+        return this._history;
+    }
+
+    get finished(): boolean {
+        return this._state.phase === Phase.Finished;
+    }
+
+    /** The fool, or null while the game runs and on the rare mutual finish. */
+    get loser(): PlayerId | null {
+        return this._state.loser;
+    }
+
+    get currentActor(): PlayerId | null {
+        return currentActor(this._state);
+    }
+
+    viewFor(player: PlayerId): PlayerView {
+        return projectView(this._state, player);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Applies an action and broadcasts what happened. Throws `IllegalActionError`
+     * if the action is not permitted, leaving the match untouched.
+     */
+    perform(action: Action): GameEvent[] {
+        const result = apply(this._state, action);
+        this._state = result.state;
+        this._history.push(...result.events);
+        for (const event of result.events) {
+            for (const listener of this._listeners) {
+                listener(event);
+            }
+        }
+        return result.events;
+    }
+
+    /** Subscribes to the event stream. Returns a function that unsubscribes. */
+    subscribe(listener: MatchListener): () => void {
+        this._listeners.push(listener);
+        return () => {
+            const i = this._listeners.indexOf(listener);
+            if (i >= 0) this._listeners.splice(i, 1);
+        };
+    }
+
+    /** Drops every listener. Call when tearing a match screen down. */
+    clearListeners(): void {
+        this._listeners.length = 0;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/assets/scripts/core/match/Match.ts.meta b/assets/scripts/core/match/Match.ts.meta
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..38afe21
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/scripts/core/match/Match.ts.meta
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{
+  "ver": "4.0.24",
+  "importer": "typescript",
+  "imported": true,
+  "uuid": "f362f5f4-1067-40b0-95e1-2793381e372a",
+  "files": [],
+  "subMetas": {},
+  "userData": {}
+}
diff --git a/assets/scripts/core/match/runMatch.ts b/assets/scripts/core/match/runMatch.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..06b956e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/scripts/core/match/runMatch.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+import { Bot } from '../bot/Bot';
+import { describeAction } from '../rules/Action';
+import { describeEvent } from '../rules/GameEvent';
+import { PlayerId } from '../rules/GameState';
+import { Match } from './Match';
+
+export interface RunOptions {
+    /** Safety net: a match this long means the rules have a cycle in them. */
+    maxActions?: number;
+    /** Collects a human-readable trace, for debugging a bad seed. */
+    trace?: string[];
+}
+
+export interface RunResult {
+    loser: PlayerId | null;
+    actions: number;
+    turns: number;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Plays a match out between bots, with no engine and no clock. The soak test
+ * leans on this; so does anyone reproducing a bug from a seed.
+ *
+ * Stops early and returns if it reaches a seat with no bot — that is how the
+ * same driver can fast-forward a match that a human is also playing.
+ */
+export function runMatch(match: Match, bots: Record<PlayerId, Bot>, options: RunOptions = {}): RunResult {
+    const maxActions = options.maxActions ?? 2000;
+    let actions = 0;
+
+    while (!match.finished) {
+        const actor = match.currentActor;
+        if (actor === null) break;
+
+        const bot = bots[actor];
+        if (!bot) break;
+
+        const action = bot.decide(match.viewFor(actor));
+        if (options.trace) {
+            options.trace.push(describeAction(action));
+        }
+        const events = match.perform(action);
+        if (options.trace) {
+            for (const event of events) {
+                options.trace.push(`  ${describeEvent(event)}`);
+            }
+        }
+
+        actions += 1;
+        if (actions > maxActions) {
+            throw new Error(`Match did not finish within ${maxActions} actions`);
+        }
+    }
+
+    return { loser: match.loser, actions, turns: match.state.turnNumber };
+}
diff --git a/assets/scripts/core/match/runMatch.ts.meta b/assets/scripts/core/match/runMatch.ts.meta
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c72c3b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/scripts/core/match/runMatch.ts.meta
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{
+  "ver": "4.0.24",
+  "importer": "typescript",
+  "imported": true,
+  "uuid": "43fb0ffe-2e16-4efb-9542-6d3dccf0ae10",
+  "files": [],
+  "subMetas": {},
+  "userData": {}
+}
diff --git a/docs/PLAN.md b/docs/PLAN.md
index 53ebca9..da102cf 100644
--- a/docs/PLAN.md
+++ b/docs/PLAN.md
@@ -44,11 +44,11 @@ progress. The Cocos layer only renders state and turns taps into actions.
 - [x] End conditions and loser ("fool") determination
 - [x] Unit tests covering every rule clause, including the add-card limits
 
-### M2 — Bot and headless match runner `[ ]`
-- [ ] `PlayerView` projection — a bot sees only what a player legitimately sees
-- [ ] `BasicBot` exactly per GAMEPLAY.md "Basic bot"
-- [ ] `MatchRunner` driving a full headless match
-- [ ] Soak test: thousands of seeded self-play matches finish with no illegal state
+### M2 — Bot and headless match runner `[x]`
+- [x] `PlayerView` projection — a bot sees only what a player legitimately sees
+- [x] `BasicBot` exactly per GAMEPLAY.md "Basic bot"
+- [x] `MatchRunner` driving a full headless match
+- [x] Soak test: thousands of seeded self-play matches finish with no illegal state
 
 ### M3 — Savegame module `[ ]`
 - [ ] `ISaveSection` contract, `SaveManager` registry, JSON keyed by section name
diff --git a/docs/TECHNICAL.md b/docs/TECHNICAL.md
index 5a10199..080bd81 100644
--- a/docs/TECHNICAL.md
+++ b/docs/TECHNICAL.md
@@ -45,8 +45,9 @@ assets/
     core/                     PURE TS — no engine imports
       cards/                  Suit, Rank, Card, Deck
       rules/                  GameState, actions, events, the reducer
-      bot/                    PlayerView projection, BasicBot
-      util/                   seeded RNG, shuffle, assertions
+      bot/                    PlayerView projection, Bot contract, BasicBot
+      match/                  Match (stateful shell), runMatch (headless driver)
+      util/                   seeded RNG, shuffle
     modules/
       save/                   SaveManager, ISaveSection, StatsSection, storage
     app/                      Bootstrap, ServiceLocator, SceneRouter
@@ -54,7 +55,10 @@ assets/
       lobby/                  lobby screen controller
       game/                   match screen: hand, table, deck, animations
       common/                 reusable widgets, safe-area root
-tests/                        vitest specs against assets/scripts/core
+tests/
+  core/                       vitest specs against assets/scripts/core
+  support/                    position fixtures and the state invariant checker
+  tools/                      measuring tools, not part of the suite
 docs/                         specs, this file, plan, decisions
 local/                        scratch art storage; contents get consumed
 extensions/cocos-code-mode/   editor tool server
@@ -83,9 +87,16 @@ apply(state: GameState, action: Action): { state: GameState; events: GameEvent[]
 
 ## Bots
 
-A bot is a function `(view: PlayerView) => Action`. `PlayerView` is a projection
-of `GameState` containing only legitimately visible information. `BasicBot`
-implements the policy in [GAMEPLAY.md](GAMEPLAY.md) verbatim.
+A bot is `decide(view: PlayerView) => Action`. `PlayerView` is a projection of
+`GameState` containing only legitimately visible information — own hand, table,
+trump, opponents' hand *sizes*, deck and discard counts — plus the list of legal
+actions. `BasicBot` implements the policy in [GAMEPLAY.md](GAMEPLAY.md).
+
+`Match` wraps the reducer with the current state and an event subscription; the
+game screen and the headless `runMatch` driver both hold one. As a reference
+point, 5000 `BasicBot` self-play matches split roughly 43/43/14 between the two
+seats and draws, with the opening attacker losing about 37% of the time —
+`npm run stats:bot` reprints these.
 
 ## Savegame
 
@@ -114,7 +125,16 @@ Keys are explicit string constants, not class names — release builds minify.
 npm test
 ```
 
-Runs vitest over `tests/` against `assets/scripts/core`. No editor required.
+Runs vitest over `tests/core` against `assets/scripts/core`. No editor required.
+The soak specs play several thousand complete matches and re-check every state
+invariant after every single action, so a rule regression surfaces at the move
+that caused it.
+
+```bash
+npm run typecheck         # strict tsc over core/ and the tests
+npm run check:core-purity # fails if core/ ever imports the engine
+npm run stats:bot         # BasicBot self-play distribution, not a test
+```
 
 ### Driving the editor
 
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 61fd42a..f8228cc 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
     "test": "vitest run",
     "test:watch": "vitest",
     "typecheck": "tsc -p tsconfig.test.json",
-    "check:core-purity": "node scripts/check-core-purity.mjs"
+    "check:core-purity": "node scripts/check-core-purity.mjs",
+    "stats:bot": "vitest run --config vitest.stats.mts"
   }
 }
diff --git a/tests/core/bot/BasicBot.spec.ts b/tests/core/bot/BasicBot.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6eba8da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/core/bot/BasicBot.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,188 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+import { ActionType } from '@core/rules/Action';
+import { Phase } from '@core/rules/GameState';
+import { projectView } from '@core/bot/PlayerView';
+import { BasicBot } from '@core/bot/BasicBot';
+import { makeState } from '../../support/fixtures';
+
+const YOU = 'you';
+const BOT = 'bot';
+
+const bot = new BasicBot();
+
+function decideFor(state: Parameters<typeof projectView>[0], player: string) {
+    return bot.decide(projectView(state, player));
+}
+
+describe('BasicBot opening a turn', () => {
+    it('leads with its cheapest non-trump', () => {
+        const state = makeState({
+            hands: { [BOT]: '9C 6D KH 7S', [YOU]: 'AH AD' },
+            trump: 'S',
+            deck: '10C 10D',
+            attacker: BOT,
+        });
+
+        const action = decideFor(state, BOT);
+        expect(action.type).toBe(ActionType.Attack);
+        expect(action).toMatchObject({ card: expect.objectContaining({ code: '6♦' }) });
+    });
+
+    it('keeps its trumps back even when they are cheaper', () => {
+        const state = makeState({
+            hands: { [BOT]: '6S 9C', [YOU]: 'AH AD' },
+            trump: 'S',
+            deck: '10C 10D',
+            attacker: BOT,
+        });
+
+        expect(decideFor(state, BOT)).toMatchObject({
+            card: expect.objectContaining({ code: '9♣' }),
+        });
+    });
+
+    it('leads with its cheapest trump when that is all it holds', () => {
+        const state = makeState({
+            hands: { [BOT]: 'KS 7S', [YOU]: 'AH AD' },
+            trump: 'S',
+            deck: '10C 10D',
+            attacker: BOT,
+        });
+
+        expect(decideFor(state, BOT)).toMatchObject({
+            card: expect.objectContaining({ code: '7♠' }),
+        });
+    });
+});
+
+describe('BasicBot defending', () => {
+    it('beats with the cheapest card that works', () => {
+        const state = makeState({
+            hands: { [YOU]: 'AC', [BOT]: '10D 8D QD 6S' },
+            trump: 'S',
+            deck: '10C 10H',
+            attacker: YOU,
+            table: [{ attack: '7D' }],
+            phase: Phase.Defence,
+        });
+
+        expect(decideFor(state, BOT)).toMatchObject({
+            type: ActionType.Defend,
+            card: expect.objectContaining({ code: '8♦' }),
+        });
+    });
+
+    it('prefers any non-trump over a cheap trump', () => {
+        const state = makeState({
+            hands: { [YOU]: 'AC', [BOT]: 'AD 6S' },
+            trump: 'S',
+            deck: '10C 10H',
+            attacker: YOU,
+            table: [{ attack: '7D' }],
+            phase: Phase.Defence,
+        });
+
+        expect(decideFor(state, BOT)).toMatchObject({
+            card: expect.objectContaining({ code: 'A♦' }),
+        });
+    });
+
+    it('spends a trump when nothing else beats the attack', () => {
+        const state = makeState({
+            hands: { [YOU]: 'AC', [BOT]: '6D KS 7S' },
+            trump: 'S',
+            deck: '10C 10H',
+            attacker: YOU,
+            table: [{ attack: '7D' }],
+            phase: Phase.Defence,
+        });
+
+        expect(decideFor(state, BOT)).toMatchObject({
+            card: expect.objectContaining({ code: '7♠' }),
+        });
+    });
+
+    it('takes when it cannot beat the attack', () => {
+        const state = makeState({
+            hands: { [YOU]: 'AC', [BOT]: '6D 6H' },
+            trump: 'S',
+            deck: '10C 10H',
+            attacker: YOU,
+            table: [{ attack: '7D' }],
+            phase: Phase.Defence,
+        });
+
+        expect(decideFor(state, BOT).type).toBe(ActionType.Take);
+    });
+});
+
+describe('BasicBot adding to an attack', () => {
+    it('throws in every eligible non-trump, cheapest first', () => {
+        const state = makeState({
+            hands: { [BOT]: '7H 7C KD', [YOU]: 'AH AD AC' },
+            trump: 'S',
+            deck: '10C 10D',
+            attacker: BOT,
+            table: [{ attack: '7D', defence: '9D' }],
+            phase: Phase.Reinforce,
+        });
+
+        expect(decideFor(state, BOT)).toMatchObject({
+            type: ActionType.Attack,
+            card: expect.objectContaining({ code: '7♣' }),
+        });
+    });
+
+    it('holds its trumps back while the deck still has cards', () => {
+        const state = makeState({
+            hands: { [BOT]: '7S KD', [YOU]: 'AH AD AC' },
+            trump: 'S',
+            deck: '10C 10D',
+            attacker: BOT,
+            table: [{ attack: '7D', defence: '9D' }],
+            phase: Phase.Reinforce,
+        });
+
+        expect(decideFor(state, BOT).type).toBe(ActionType.Pass);
+    });
+
+    it('holds its trumps back at the end if it still has other cards', () => {
+        const state = makeState({
+            hands: { [BOT]: '7S KD', [YOU]: 'AH AD AC' },
+            trump: 'S',
+            attacker: BOT,
+            table: [{ attack: '7D', defence: '9D' }],
+            phase: Phase.Reinforce,
+        });
+
+        expect(state.deck).toHaveLength(0);
+        expect(decideFor(state, BOT).type).toBe(ActionType.Pass);
+    });
+
+    it('throws in a trump once the deck is empty and trumps are all it has', () => {
+        const state = makeState({
+            hands: { [BOT]: '7S KS', [YOU]: 'AH AD AC' },
+            trump: 'S',
+            attacker: BOT,
+            table: [{ attack: '7D', defence: '9D' }],
+            phase: Phase.Reinforce,
+        });
+
+        expect(decideFor(state, BOT)).toMatchObject({
+            type: ActionType.Attack,
+            card: expect.objectContaining({ code: '7♠' }),
+        });
+    });
+});
+
+describe('BasicBot contract', () => {
+    it('refuses to move out of turn', () => {
+        const state = makeState({
+            hands: { [YOU]: '6C', [BOT]: '8C' },
+            trump: 'S',
+            deck: '10C',
+            attacker: YOU,
+        });
+        expect(() => decideFor(state, BOT)).toThrow(/out of turn/);
+    });
+});
diff --git a/tests/core/match/soak.spec.ts b/tests/core/match/soak.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0e9834d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/core/match/soak.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+import { BasicBot } from '@core/bot/BasicBot';
+import { Match } from '@core/match/Match';
+import { runMatch } from '@core/match/runMatch';
+import { legalActions } from '@core/rules/DurakRules';
+import { PlayerId } from '@core/rules/GameState';
+import { Rng } from '@core/util/Rng';
+import { assertInvariants } from '../../support/invariants';
+
+/** Plays one seeded match, checking every reachable state along the way. */
+function playChecked(players: PlayerId[], seed: number, pick?: (n: number, rng: Rng) => number) {
+    const match = new Match({ players, seed });
+    const bots = Object.fromEntries(players.map((p) => [p, new BasicBot(p)]));
+    const rng = new Rng(seed ^ 0x5f3759df);
+
+    assertInvariants(match.state);
+
+    let actions = 0;
+    while (!match.finished) {
+        const actor = match.currentActor;
+        expect(actor).not.toBeNull();
+
+        const options = legalActions(match.state, actor as PlayerId);
+        expect(options.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+
+        const action = pick
+            ? options[pick(options.length, rng)]
+            : bots[actor as PlayerId].decide(match.viewFor(actor as PlayerId));
+
+        match.perform(action);
+        assertInvariants(match.state);
+
+        if (++actions > 4000) {
+            throw new Error(`Match ${seed} will not end`);
+        }
+    }
+
+    return { match, actions };
+}
+
+describe('soak: two basic bots', () => {
+    it('finishes 2000 seeded matches with every invariant intact', () => {
+        const outcomes = new Map<string, number>();
+
+        for (let seed = 0; seed < 2000; seed++) {
+            const { match } = playChecked(['you', 'bot'], seed);
+            const key = match.loser ?? 'draw';
+            outcomes.set(key, (outcomes.get(key) ?? 0) + 1);
+        }
+
+        // Every match must have produced a verdict.
+        const total = [...outcomes.values()].reduce((a, b) => a + b, 0);
+        expect(total).toBe(2000);
+
+        // Two identical bots: neither seat should be losing almost every game.
+        // A wide band — this is a smoke check on the rules, not a balance claim.
+        for (const seat of ['you', 'bot']) {
+            expect(outcomes.get(seat) ?? 0).toBeGreaterThan(2000 * 0.2);
+        }
+    });
+
+    it('finishes three-player matches too', () => {
+        for (let seed = 0; seed < 300; seed++) {
+            const { match } = playChecked(['a', 'b', 'c'], seed);
+            expect(match.finished).toBe(true);
+            if (match.loser !== null) {
+                expect(['a', 'b', 'c']).toContain(match.loser);
+            }
+        }
+    });
+});
+
+describe('soak: random legal play', () => {
+    it('survives 1000 matches of arbitrary legal moves', () => {
+        for (let seed = 0; seed < 1000; seed++) {
+            const { match } = playChecked(['you', 'bot'], seed, (n, rng) => rng.nextInt(n));
+            expect(match.finished).toBe(true);
+        }
+    });
+
+    it('survives random play at a crowded table', () => {
+        for (let seed = 0; seed < 200; seed++) {
+            const { match } = playChecked(['a', 'b', 'c', 'd'], seed, (n, rng) => rng.nextInt(n));
+            expect(match.finished).toBe(true);
+        }
+    });
+});
+
+describe('match determinism', () => {
+    it('replays a seed move for move', () => {
+        const first: string[] = [];
+        const second: string[] = [];
+
+        for (const trace of [first, second]) {
+            const match = new Match({ players: ['you', 'bot'], seed: 31337 });
+            runMatch(match, { you: new BasicBot('you'), bot: new BasicBot('bot') }, { trace });
+        }
+
+        expect(first).toEqual(second);
+        expect(first.length).toBeGreaterThan(10);
+    });
+
+    it('reports the same loser for the same seed', () => {
+        const play = () => {
+            const match = new Match({ players: ['you', 'bot'], seed: 555 });
+            return runMatch(match, { you: new BasicBot('you'), bot: new BasicBot('bot') });
+        };
+        expect(play()).toEqual(play());
+    });
+});
+
+describe('runMatch', () => {
+    it('stops at a seat it has no bot for', () => {
+        const match = new Match({ players: ['you', 'bot'], seed: 8 });
+        const result = runMatch(match, { bot: new BasicBot('bot') });
+
+        expect(match.finished).toBe(false);
+        expect(match.currentActor).toBe('you');
+        expect(result.loser).toBeNull();
+    });
+
+    it('refuses to loop forever', () => {
+        const match = new Match({ players: ['you', 'bot'], seed: 8 });
+        expect(() => runMatch(
+            match,
+            { you: new BasicBot('you'), bot: new BasicBot('bot') },
+            { maxActions: 3 },
+        )).toThrow(/did not finish/);
+    });
+});
diff --git a/tests/support/invariants.ts b/tests/support/invariants.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..977c779
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/support/invariants.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+import { Card } from '@core/cards/Card';
+import { GameState, Phase } from '@core/rules/GameState';
+import { attackSeats, currentActor, legalActions, maxTableSlots, unbeatenSlots } from '@core/rules/DurakRules';
+
+/**
+ * Everything that must be true of any reachable state. Called after every single
+ * action in the soak test, so a rule bug is caught at the move that caused it
+ * rather than a hundred moves later.
+ *
+ * Throws with a description of the first violation.
+ */
+export function assertInvariants(state: GameState): void {
+    const problems: string[] = [];
+
+    // Cards are conserved: all 36, each exactly once, somewhere.
+    const seen: Card[] = [
+        ...state.deck,
+        ...state.discard,
+        ...state.players.flatMap((p) => p.hand),
+    ];
+    for (const slot of state.table) {
+        seen.push(slot.attack);
+        if (slot.defence) seen.push(slot.defence);
+    }
+    if (seen.length !== 36) {
+        problems.push(`${seen.length} cards in play, expected 36`);
+    }
+    if (new Set(seen).size !== seen.length) {
+        problems.push('the same card exists in two places');
+    }
+
+    // The trump card is the bottom of the deck until it is drawn.
+    if (state.deck.length > 0 && state.deck[state.deck.length - 1] !== state.trumpCard) {
+        problems.push('the trump card is not at the bottom of the deck');
+    }
+    if (state.trumpSuit !== state.trumpCard.suit) {
+        problems.push('the trump suit does not match the trump card');
+    }
+
+    // Table shape.
+    if (state.table.length > maxTableSlots(state)) {
+        problems.push(`${state.table.length} attacking cards exceeds the limit`);
+    }
+    for (const slot of state.table) {
+        if (slot.defence && slot.defence === slot.attack) {
+            problems.push('a card beat itself');
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Seats.
+    if (state.attacker === state.defender) {
+        problems.push('the attacker is also the defender');
+    }
+    if (state.phase !== Phase.Finished) {
+        if (state.players[state.attacker].out) problems.push('the attacker has left the game');
+        if (state.players[state.defender].out) problems.push('the defender has left the game');
+    }
+
+    // A player who is out holds nothing; a player who holds nothing while the
+    // deck still has cards should have refilled.
+    for (const player of state.players) {
+        if (player.out && player.hand.length > 0) {
+            problems.push(`${player.id} is out but still holds cards`);
+        }
+        if (!player.out && player.hand.length === 0 && state.phase === Phase.Attack) {
+            problems.push(`${player.id} is at the table with an empty hand`);
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Phase consistency.
+    switch (state.phase) {
+        case Phase.Attack:
+            if (state.table.length !== 0) problems.push('a turn opened with cards already down');
+            if (state.defenderTook) problems.push('a turn opened mid-take');
+            break;
+        case Phase.Defence:
+            if (unbeatenSlots(state).length === 0) problems.push('defending with nothing to beat');
+            if (state.defenderTook) problems.push('defending after declaring a take');
+            break;
+        case Phase.Reinforce:
+            if (!state.defenderTook && unbeatenSlots(state).length > 0) {
+                problems.push('adding cards while an attack is unanswered');
+            }
+            if (attackSeats(state).every((s) => state.passed[s])) {
+                problems.push('every attacker has passed but the turn is still open');
+            }
+            break;
+        case Phase.Finished:
+            if (state.players.filter((p) => !p.out).length > 1) {
+                problems.push('the game ended with more than one player left');
+            }
+            break;
+    }
+
+    // Whoever is on move must have something to do.
+    const actor = currentActor(state);
+    if (state.phase !== Phase.Finished) {
+        if (actor === null) {
+            problems.push('nobody is on move in an unfinished game');
+        } else if (legalActions(state, actor).length === 0) {
+            problems.push(`${actor} is on move with no legal action`);
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (problems.length > 0) {
+        throw new Error(`Broken state: ${problems.join('; ')}`);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tests/tools/botStats.stats.ts b/tests/tools/botStats.stats.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9a67ed5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/tools/botStats.stats.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+/**
+ * Not part of the suite — a measuring tool. Run with `npm run stats:bot`.
+ *
+ * Plays a large number of seeded matches between two BasicBots and prints how
+ * they came out. Useful for sanity-checking a rules change (a sudden jump in
+ * draws or in the first-attacker advantage means something moved) and as the
+ * baseline any smarter bot has to beat.
+ */
+import { describe, it } from 'vitest';
+import { BasicBot } from '@core/bot/BasicBot';
+import { Match } from '@core/match/Match';
+import { runMatch } from '@core/match/runMatch';
+
+const MATCHES = 5000;
+
+describe('BasicBot vs BasicBot', () => {
+    it(`plays ${MATCHES} matches`, () => {
+        const tally: Record<string, number> = { you: 0, bot: 0, draw: 0 };
+        let firstAttackerLost = 0;
+        let actions = 0;
+        let turns = 0;
+
+        for (let seed = 0; seed < MATCHES; seed++) {
+            const match = new Match({ players: ['you', 'bot'], seed });
+            const firstAttacker = match.state.players[match.state.attacker].id;
+            const result = runMatch(match, { you: new BasicBot('you'), bot: new BasicBot('bot') });
+
+            tally[result.loser ?? 'draw'] += 1;
+            if (result.loser === firstAttacker) firstAttackerLost += 1;
+            actions += result.actions;
+            turns += result.turns;
+        }
+
+        const pct = (n: number) => `${((100 * n) / MATCHES).toFixed(1)}%`;
+        console.log([
+            `matches            ${MATCHES}`,
+            `seat 'you' lost    ${tally.you} (${pct(tally.you)})`,
+            `seat 'bot' lost    ${tally.bot} (${pct(tally.bot)})`,
+            `draws              ${tally.draw} (${pct(tally.draw)})`,
+            `first attacker lost ${pct(firstAttackerLost)}`,
+            `average actions    ${(actions / MATCHES).toFixed(1)}`,
+            `average turns      ${(turns / MATCHES).toFixed(1)}`,
+        ].join('\n'));
+    });
+});
diff --git a/vitest.stats.mts b/vitest.stats.mts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9951334
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vitest.stats.mts
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+// Config for the measuring tools under tests/tools, which are deliberately not
+// part of the suite: `npm run stats:bot`.
+import { defineConfig } from 'vitest/config';
+import { resolve } from 'node:path';
+
+export default defineConfig({
+    resolve: {
+        alias: {
+            '@core': resolve(__dirname, 'assets/scripts/core'),
+        },
+    },
+    test: {
+        include: ['tests/tools/**/*.stats.ts'],
+        environment: 'node',
+    },
+});