diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/jsjdesigns/poker/TableScreen.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/jsjdesigns/poker/TableScreen.kt
index 0880765..05601f3 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/jsjdesigns/poker/TableScreen.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/jsjdesigns/poker/TableScreen.kt
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ import androidx.compose.ui.Alignment
 import androidx.compose.ui.Modifier
 import androidx.compose.ui.draw.alpha
 import androidx.compose.ui.draw.clip
+import androidx.compose.ui.draw.rotate
 import androidx.compose.ui.geometry.Offset
 import androidx.compose.ui.graphics.Brush
 import androidx.compose.ui.graphics.Color
@@ -142,7 +143,7 @@ internal fun opponentSeatPlacements(
     availableWidthDp: Float,
     seatWidthDp: Float = opponentSeatWidthDp(availableWidthDp),
 ): List<SeatPlacement> {
-    val lanes = listOf(0.30f, 0.06f, 0f, 0.06f, 0.30f)
+    val lanes = listOf(0.30f, 0.15f, 0f, 0.15f, 0.30f)
     val span = availableWidthDp - 2f * SEAT_EDGE_MARGIN_DP - seatWidthDp
     val step = span / 4f
     return List(5) { index ->
@@ -419,18 +420,19 @@ private fun OpponentSeat(
                         }
                     }
                 } else {
-                    Row(
-                        verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically,
-                        horizontalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(0.dp),
+                    // One slot-width box: the fan is drawn first so the avatar
+                    // sits on top of it, and neither can push past the seat.
+                    Box(
+                        modifier = Modifier.width(width - 6.dp),
+                        contentAlignment = Alignment.CenterStart,
                     ) {
-                        OpponentAvatar(seat)
                         if (!seat.folded) {
-                            Row(horizontalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy((-5).dp)) {
-                                repeat(2) {
-                                    CardImage(null, Modifier.size(18.dp, 27.dp))
-                                }
-                            }
+                            HoleCardFan(
+                                cardWidth = (width * 0.27f).coerceIn(18.dp, 27.dp),
+                                modifier = Modifier.align(Alignment.CenterEnd),
+                            )
                         }
+                        OpponentAvatar(seat, size = (width * 0.58f).coerceIn(34.dp, 48.dp))
                     }
                 }
             }
@@ -486,11 +488,44 @@ private fun OpponentSeat(
     }
 }
 
+/**
+ * Two face-down cards fanned like a real hand.
+ *
+ * Drawn flat and barely overlapped they merged into one red slab; opposing
+ * rotation and a real offset make the pair legible at seat scale. The left card
+ * tucks behind the avatar, which is why this is drawn after it in the row.
+ */
 @Composable
-private fun OpponentAvatar(seat: SeatSnapshot) {
+private fun HoleCardFan(cardWidth: Dp, modifier: Modifier = Modifier) {
+    val cardHeight = cardWidth * 1.5f
+    Box(
+        modifier = modifier
+            .width(cardWidth * 1.40f)
+            .height(cardHeight * 1.16f),
+        contentAlignment = Alignment.Center,
+    ) {
+        CardImage(
+            null,
+            Modifier
+                .size(cardWidth, cardHeight)
+                .offset(x = (-4).dp)
+                .rotate(-11f),
+        )
+        CardImage(
+            null,
+            Modifier
+                .size(cardWidth, cardHeight)
+                .offset(x = 5.dp)
+                .rotate(10f),
+        )
+    }
+}
+
+@Composable
+private fun OpponentAvatar(seat: SeatSnapshot, size: Dp = 48.dp) {
     Box(
         modifier = Modifier
-            .size(48.dp)
+            .size(size)
             .clip(CircleShape)
             .background(
                 Brush.linearGradient(
diff --git a/app/src/test/java/com/jsjdesigns/poker/TableOrbitTest.kt b/app/src/test/java/com/jsjdesigns/poker/TableOrbitTest.kt
index 1f19092..ac0aca5 100644
--- a/app/src/test/java/com/jsjdesigns/poker/TableOrbitTest.kt
+++ b/app/src/test/java/com/jsjdesigns/poker/TableOrbitTest.kt
@@ -66,6 +66,26 @@ class TableOrbitTest {
         assertEquals("the middle seat crowns the arc", 0f, lanes[2], 0.001f)
     }
 
+    /**
+     * The shoulder seats sat at 0.06 against a crown of 0.0, so three seats read
+     * as one crowded row instead of a curve. They belong between the crown and
+     * the side seats.
+     */
+    @Test
+    fun `shoulder seats sit between the crown and the side seats`() {
+        val lanes = opponentSeatPlacements(384f).map { it.topFraction }
+        val crown = lanes[2]
+        val side = lanes[0]
+        val shoulder = lanes[1]
+        assertTrue("shoulder must be below the crown", shoulder > crown)
+        assertTrue("shoulder must be above the side seats", shoulder < side)
+        val midpoint = (crown + side) / 2f
+        assertTrue(
+            "shoulder $shoulder should be near the midpoint $midpoint, not hugging the crown",
+            kotlin.math.abs(shoulder - midpoint) <= 0.05f,
+        )
+    }
+
     @Test
     fun `spacing is even so the row reads as a deliberate arrangement`() {
         val width = 384f