diff --git a/CONVENTIONS.md b/CONVENTIONS.md
index 6118e2a..23b9588 100644
--- a/CONVENTIONS.md
+++ b/CONVENTIONS.md
@@ -140,6 +140,11 @@ if it were never there.
   own input in waiting (`yourInput`), so a page reopened shows the draft,
   and its input in the last round it played (`yourLastInput`), so the page
   can tell it what became of its own choice.
+- `rankable(options)`: the choices a table asks each seat to rank before
+  the deal (sides, roles, colours). The lobby shows a seat its own ranking
+  and how many have ranked, nothing more; the start line records every
+  ranking and `create` receives them. A solo table asking for one waits in
+  the lobby for the player's.
 - `tally(state)`: the game's own lines for the tally, from a finished game.
 - `preferences`, `options`: the preferences panel's settings and the
   host's table choices (above).
diff --git a/template/deploy/replay-ledgers.ts b/template/deploy/replay-ledgers.ts
index 9a54795..96d0742 100644
--- a/template/deploy/replay-ledgers.ts
+++ b/template/deploy/replay-ledgers.ts
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ async function main(): Promise<void> {
 					const i = seats.findIndex((s) => s.id === line.id);
 					if (i >= 0) seats.splice(i, 1);
 				}
-				else if (line.t === 'start') state = game.create(Object.fromEntries(seats.map((s) => [s.id, s.name])), line.seed, line.rules, options);
+				else if (line.t === 'start') state = game.create(Object.fromEntries(seats.map((s) => [s.id, s.name])), line.seed, line.rules, options, line.rankings);
 				else if (line.t === 'turn' && state) {
 					state = game.resolve(state, line.inputs);
 					turns += 1;
diff --git a/template/server/src/index.ts b/template/server/src/index.ts
index e334bfa..7c21143 100644
--- a/template/server/src/index.ts
+++ b/template/server/src/index.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 //   POST /api/rooms/:id/bot         {token}            the host seats a bot, before the game begins
 //   POST /api/rooms/:id/unseat      {token, seat}      the host sends a bot away before the game begins
 //   POST /api/rooms/:id/begin       {token}            the host begins with the players seated so far
+//   POST /api/rooms/:id/rank        {token, ranking}   a seat ranks the table's choices, best first, where the table asks for it
 //   POST /api/rooms/:id/turn        {token, input}     this seat's move
 //   POST /api/rooms/:id/say         {token, text, to?} table talk, from a seat to the whole room, or privately to the seats in `to`;
 //                                   {name, text}       or from the gallery, signed, when the host allows it
@@ -230,6 +231,10 @@ async function handle(req: IncomingMessage, res: ServerResponse): Promise<void>
 		rooms.begin(room, token);
 		return send(res, 200, rooms.view(room, rooms.seatOf(room, token).id));
 	}
+	if (action === 'rank') {
+		rooms.rank(room, token, body.ranking);
+		return send(res, 200, rooms.view(room, rooms.seatOf(room, token).id));
+	}
 	if (action === 'turn') {
 		rooms.submit(room, token, body.input, body.resolved);
 		return send(res, 200, rooms.view(room, rooms.seatOf(room, token).id));
diff --git a/template/server/src/rooms.test.ts b/template/server/src/rooms.test.ts
index fdd3322..6d7afbe 100644
--- a/template/server/src/rooms.test.ts
+++ b/template/server/src/rooms.test.ts
@@ -90,4 +90,38 @@ describe('rooms', () => {
 		expect(rooms.view(room, 'B').chat[1]).toMatchObject({ id: 'A', to: ['B'], turn: 1 });
 		expect(() => rooms.say(room, bo, 'Anyone?', ['Q'])).toThrow(/Nobody at this table/);
 	});
+
+	it('keeps each ranking secret until the deal, which reads them all from the start line', () => {
+		const dealt: Record<string, string[]>[] = [];
+		const ranked: GameSpec<State, Input> = {
+			...game,
+			rankable: () => [
+				{ value: 'red', label: 'Red' },
+				{ value: 'blue', label: 'Blue' }
+			],
+			create: (names, seed, rules, options, rankings) => {
+				dealt.push(rankings ?? {});
+				return game.create(names, seed, rules, options);
+			}
+		};
+		const rooms = new Rooms(ranked, new Store(dir));
+		const host = rooms.create('Ann', 2);
+		const guest = rooms.join(host.room, 'Bo');
+		const room = host.room;
+		expect(() => rooms.rank(room, host.token, ['red'])).toThrow(/every choice once/);
+		rooms.rank(room, host.token, ['blue', 'red']);
+		expect(rooms.view(room, 'A').yourRanking).toEqual(['blue', 'red']);
+		expect(rooms.view(room, 'B')).toMatchObject({ yourRanking: null, ranked: 1 });
+		rooms.begin(room, host.token);
+		expect(dealt).toEqual([{ A: ['blue', 'red'] }]);
+		expect(() => rooms.rank(room, guest.token, ['red', 'blue'])).toThrow(/ranking is closed/);
+		new Rooms(ranked, new Store(dir));
+		expect(dealt[1]).toEqual({ A: ['blue', 'red'] });
+	});
+
+	it('refuses a ranking at a table that asks for none', () => {
+		const rooms = new Rooms(game, new Store(dir));
+		const host = rooms.create('Ann', 2);
+		expect(() => rooms.rank(host.room, host.token, ['A'])).toThrow(/asks for no ranking/);
+	});
 });
diff --git a/template/server/src/rooms.ts b/template/server/src/rooms.ts
index bb5fe5e..6ae2a16 100644
--- a/template/server/src/rooms.ts
+++ b/template/server/src/rooms.ts
@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@ export interface Room<State> {
 	state: State | null;
 	/** Inputs received for the round in progress, by seat. */
 	pending: Record<SeatId, unknown>;
+	/** Each seat's ranking of the table's choices, where the table asks for one; secret before the deal and after. */
+	rankings: Record<SeatId, string[]>;
 	/** Each seat's input in the last round it played, kept through rounds it had no part in; each seat is shown only its own. */
 	played: Record<SeatId, unknown>;
 	chat: ChatLine[];
@@ -195,7 +197,7 @@ export class Rooms<State, Input> {
 
 	/** A table with nobody seated yet. */
 	private blank(id: string, size: number, createdAt: number, rematchOf: string | null, expected: string[], options: TableOptions, seq = 0): Room<State> {
-		return { id, size, createdAt, seats: [], galleryTalk: false, challenge: null, expected, rematch: null, rematchOf, options, over: false, state: null, pending: {}, played: {}, chat: [], resolved: 0, seq, updatedAt: createdAt };
+		return { id, size, createdAt, seats: [], galleryTalk: false, challenge: null, expected, rematch: null, rematchOf, options, over: false, state: null, pending: {}, played: {}, rankings: {}, chat: [], resolved: 0, seq, updatedAt: createdAt };
 	}
 
 	/** Open a table with its first seat taken; a rematch names the table it follows and holds seats for its players. */
@@ -307,7 +309,7 @@ export class Rooms<State, Input> {
 		if (seat.id !== room.seats[0]?.id) throw new RoomError('Only the player who opened the table may begin.', 403);
 		if (room.state) throw new RoomError('The game has already begun.', 409);
 		if (room.seats.length < this.game.minSeats) throw new RoomError(`The game needs at least ${this.game.minSeats} players.`, 409);
-		this.commit(room, { t: 'start', seed: newSeed(), rules: this.game.currentRules });
+		this.commit(room, { t: 'start', seed: newSeed(), rules: this.game.currentRules, ...(Object.keys(room.rankings).length ? { rankings: { ...room.rankings } } : {}) });
 		// A game whose first move belongs to a bot must not wait for a human who is not owed a move.
 		this.driveBots(room);
 	}
@@ -361,6 +363,18 @@ export class Rooms<State, Input> {
 		this.commit(room, { t: 'unseat', id: seat.id });
 	}
 
+	/** A seat's ranking of the choices the table asks for, best first, before the game begins. */
+	rank(room: Room<State>, token: string | undefined, raw: unknown): void {
+		const seat = this.seatOf(room, token);
+		if (room.state) throw new RoomError('The game has begun; the ranking is closed.', 409);
+		const choices = this.game.rankable?.(room.options);
+		if (!choices) throw new RoomError('This table asks for no ranking.', 409);
+		const ranking = Array.isArray(raw) ? raw.map(String) : [];
+		const values = choices.map((c) => c.value);
+		if (ranking.length !== values.length || new Set(ranking).size !== values.length || !ranking.every((r) => values.includes(r))) throw new RoomError('Rank every choice once.');
+		this.commit(room, { t: 'rank', id: seat.id, ranking });
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Record a seat's move on the ledger, so a restart keeps it; resolve the round once nobody else is awaited.
 	 * A draft (an input the game does not call settled) may be replaced until it is settled.
@@ -442,6 +456,8 @@ export class Rooms<State, Input> {
 			resolved: room.resolved,
 			over: room.state ? this.game.over(room.state) : null,
 			state: room.state ? this.game.view(room.state, seatId) : null,
+			yourRanking: seated ? (room.rankings[seatId] ?? null) : null,
+			ranked: Object.keys(room.rankings).length,
 			yourInput: seated && seatId in room.pending ? room.pending[seatId] : null,
 			yourLastInput: seated && seatId in room.played ? room.played[seatId] : null,
 			// Private lines only to their sender and the seats they name; a note is the sender's own memory, never sent.
@@ -518,11 +534,15 @@ export class Rooms<State, Input> {
 			case 'input':
 				room.pending[line.id] = this.game.cleanInput(line.input);
 				break;
+			case 'rank':
+				room.rankings[line.id] = line.ranking;
+				break;
 			case 'unseat':
 				room.seats = room.seats.filter((s) => s.id !== line.id);
+				delete room.rankings[line.id];
 				break;
 			case 'start':
-				room.state = this.game.create(Object.fromEntries(room.seats.map((s) => [s.id, s.name])), line.seed, line.rules, room.options);
+				room.state = this.game.create(Object.fromEntries(room.seats.map((s) => [s.id, s.name])), line.seed, line.rules, room.options, line.rankings);
 				break;
 			case 'turn':
 				if (!room.state) return;
diff --git a/template/server/src/store.ts b/template/server/src/store.ts
index 16e1b4b..ea1ab88 100644
--- a/template/server/src/store.ts
+++ b/template/server/src/store.ts
@@ -15,8 +15,14 @@ export type LedgerLine =
 	| { t: 'input'; at: number; id: SeatId; input: unknown }
 	/** A bot sent away by the host before the game began; its seat id is free again. */
 	| { t: 'unseat'; id: SeatId }
-	/** The seed and the rules revision the game began under; a later fix keeps this revision's path for it. */
-	| { t: 'start'; seed: number; rules: number }
+	/** A seat's ranking of the table's choices, best first, before the game begins; the latest for a seat stands. */
+	| { t: 'rank'; id: SeatId; ranking: string[] }
+	/**
+	 * The seed and the rules revision the game began under (a later fix keeps
+	 * this revision's path for it), and at a table that asks for rankings,
+	 * the seats' rankings as the deal read them.
+	 */
+	| { t: 'start'; seed: number; rules: number; rankings?: Record<SeatId, string[]> }
 	| { t: 'turn'; at: number; inputs: Record<SeatId, unknown> }
 	/** Written after the turn that ends the game, for anything that reads ledgers without the engine. */
 	| { t: 'over'; at: number; winner: SeatId | null; reason: string }
diff --git a/template/server/src/tally.ts b/template/server/src/tally.ts
index c8a23d4..b7217d3 100644
--- a/template/server/src/tally.ts
+++ b/template/server/src/tally.ts
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ export class Tallies<State, Input> {
 					if (hasBot) t.gamesWithBot += 1;
 					if (lines[0].createdAt < firstStart) firstStart = lines[0].createdAt;
 					try {
-						state = this.game.create(Object.fromEntries(seats.map((s) => [s.id, s.name])), line.seed, line.rules, cleanOptions(this.game, lines[0].options));
+						state = this.game.create(Object.fromEntries(seats.map((s) => [s.id, s.name])), line.seed, line.rules, cleanOptions(this.game, lines[0].options), line.rankings);
 					} catch {
 						state = null;
 					}
diff --git a/template/src/lib/components/Lobby.svelte b/template/src/lib/components/Lobby.svelte
index 301a482..2be0f26 100644
--- a/template/src/lib/components/Lobby.svelte
+++ b/template/src/lib/components/Lobby.svelte
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 <script lang="ts">
+	import { untrack } from 'svelte';
 	import TableTalk from './TableTalk.svelte';
+	import { game } from '$lib/game';
 	import type { Room } from '$lib/net/room.svelte';
 
 	let { room, link, copied, copyLink }: { room: Room; link: string; copied: boolean; copyLink: () => void } = $props();
@@ -8,6 +10,28 @@
 	const hostName = $derived(v.seats.find((s) => s.id === v.host)?.name ?? 'the host');
 	const keeperSeated = $derived(v.seats.some((s) => s.name.toLowerCase() === v.keeper.toLowerCase()));
 
+	// A table that asks for rankings: this seat's, best first, kept on the server as it changes.
+	const choices = $derived(game.rankable?.(v.options) ?? null);
+	const people = $derived(v.seats.filter((s) => !s.bot).length);
+	const labelOf = (value: string) => choices?.find((c) => c.value === value)?.label ?? value;
+	let order = $state<string[]>([]);
+	// Follows the server's copy; the local order is read untracked, so a click is not undone before its reply.
+	$effect(() => {
+		if (!choices) return;
+		const values = choices.map((c) => c.value);
+		const mine = v.yourRanking;
+		if (mine && mine.length === values.length) order = [...mine];
+		else if (untrack(() => order.length) !== values.length) order = values;
+	});
+	/** Move the choice at `i` to place `j`, the others closing up behind it. */
+	async function move(i: number, j: number) {
+		if (j < 0 || j >= order.length || j === i) return;
+		const next = [...order];
+		next.splice(j, 0, ...next.splice(i, 1));
+		order = next;
+		await room.rank(next);
+	}
+
 	/** The hour where the keeper lives, in words, so a caller knows whether to wait. */
 	let minute = $state(0);
 	$effect(() => {
@@ -62,6 +86,28 @@
 	{#if v.rematchOf}
 		<p class="muted">A rematch of table {v.rematchOf}: the same company, seats held for those not yet back.</p>
 	{/if}
+	{#if choices && !room.spectating}
+		<section class="ranking" aria-label="Your ranking">
+			<h3>Your ranking</h3>
+			<p class="muted small">
+				Best first. When the game begins, the deal reads everyone's ranking; nobody sees another player's.
+				{#if !v.yourRanking}Until you move one, you have no preference and take what is left.{:else}Your ranking is kept.{/if}
+			</p>
+			<ol>
+				{#each order as value, i (value)}
+					<li>
+						<span class="place">{i + 1}.</span>
+						<span class="choice">{labelOf(value)}</span>
+						<button type="button" class="quiet" aria-label="Move {labelOf(value)} to the top" title="To the top" disabled={i === 0} onclick={() => move(i, 0)}>⤒</button>
+						<button type="button" class="quiet" aria-label="Move {labelOf(value)} up" disabled={i === 0} onclick={() => move(i, i - 1)}>↑</button>
+						<button type="button" class="quiet" aria-label="Move {labelOf(value)} down" disabled={i === order.length - 1} onclick={() => move(i, i + 1)}>↓</button>
+					</li>
+				{/each}
+			</ol>
+			{#if !v.yourRanking}<button type="button" class="quiet" onclick={() => room.rank(order)}>Keep this order</button>{/if}
+			{#if people > 1}<p class="muted small">{v.ranked} of the {people} players {v.ranked === 1 ? 'has' : 'have'} ranked.</p>{/if}
+		</section>
+	{/if}
 	{#if !room.spectating}
 		<div class="ways">
 			{#if room.seatEmpty && room.isHost}
@@ -170,6 +216,45 @@
 		font-size: 0.9rem;
 	}
 
+	.ranking {
+		max-width: 26rem;
+		margin: 1rem 0;
+	}
+
+	.ranking h3 {
+		margin: 0 0 0.2rem;
+		font-size: 1.05rem;
+	}
+
+	.ranking ol {
+		list-style: none;
+		margin: 0.4rem 0;
+		padding: 0;
+	}
+
+	.ranking li {
+		display: flex;
+		align-items: center;
+		gap: 0.4rem;
+		padding: 0.15rem 0;
+	}
+
+	.ranking .place {
+		width: 1.6rem;
+		color: var(--bone-dim);
+		font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums;
+	}
+
+	.ranking .choice {
+		flex: 1;
+	}
+
+	.ranking .quiet {
+		min-width: 2.6rem;
+		min-height: 2.4rem;
+		padding: 0.2rem 0.5rem;
+	}
+
 	.keeper {
 		margin-top: 0.8rem;
 		max-width: 38em;
diff --git a/template/src/lib/game/spec.ts b/template/src/lib/game/spec.ts
index 7da0acb..a6f64b1 100644
--- a/template/src/lib/game/spec.ts
+++ b/template/src/lib/game/spec.ts
@@ -65,7 +65,17 @@ export interface GameSpec<State, Input> {
 	 */
 	currentRules: number;
 
-	create(names: Record<SeatId, string>, seed: number, rules: number, options?: TableOptions): State;
+	/**
+	 * Begin the game. `rankings` are the seats' preferences, best first, at a
+	 * table that asks for them (`rankable`); the ledger's start line keeps them.
+	 */
+	create(names: Record<SeatId, string>, seed: number, rules: number, options?: TableOptions, rankings?: Record<SeatId, string[]>): State;
+	/**
+	 * Whether a table with these options asks each seat to rank something
+	 * before the deal (sides, roles, colours): the choices to rank, or null.
+	 * Each seat ranks in secret; `create` reads every ranking at once.
+	 */
+	rankable?(options: TableOptions): { value: string; label: string }[] | null;
 	/** Resolve one round. Must be a pure function of its arguments: the ledger is replayed through it. */
 	resolve(state: State, inputs: Record<SeatId, Input>): State;
 	/** Whether this seat's input is needed before the next resolution. */
diff --git a/template/src/lib/net/client.ts b/template/src/lib/net/client.ts
index c85cbcf..7354692 100644
--- a/template/src/lib/net/client.ts
+++ b/template/src/lib/net/client.ts
@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@ export function makeApi<State, Input>() {
 		/** The gallery's view: no token, no seat, nothing any player could not see. */
 		watch: (roomId: string) => call<View>('GET', `/api/rooms/${roomId}`),
 		turn: (roomId: string, token: string, input: Input, resolved: number) => call<View>('POST', `/api/rooms/${roomId}/turn`, { token, input, resolved }),
+		rank: (roomId: string, token: string, ranking: string[]) => call<View>('POST', `/api/rooms/${roomId}/rank`, { token, ranking }),
 		say: (roomId: string, token: string, text: string, to?: SeatId[]) => call<View>('POST', `/api/rooms/${roomId}/say`, { token, text, ...(to?.length ? { to } : {}) }),
 		/** A word from the gallery, signed with a name, when the host allows it. */
 		sayFromGallery: (roomId: string, name: string, text: string) => call<View>('POST', `/api/rooms/${roomId}/say`, { name, text }),
diff --git a/template/src/lib/net/room.svelte.ts b/template/src/lib/net/room.svelte.ts
index e696cbd..f1dc7a4 100644
--- a/template/src/lib/net/room.svelte.ts
+++ b/template/src/lib/net/room.svelte.ts
@@ -112,6 +112,11 @@ export class Room {
 		return this.act(() => api.unseat(this.roomId, this.token, seat), 'The bot could not be sent away.');
 	}
 
+	/** This seat's ranking of the table's choices, best first, before the game begins. */
+	rank(ranking: string[]): Promise<boolean> {
+		return this.act(() => api.rank(this.roomId, this.token, ranking), 'Your ranking was not kept.');
+	}
+
 	/** Talk to the whole table, or, naming seats, to them alone. */
 	say(text: string, to?: SeatId[]): Promise<boolean> {
 		if (this.spectating) return Promise.resolve(false);
@@ -166,7 +171,9 @@ export class Room {
 	static async createWithBot(name: string, options?: TableOptions): Promise<Room> {
 		const seated = await api.create(name, 2, options);
 		rememberSeat(seated.view.roomId, { seat: seated.seat, token: seated.token });
-		await api.addBot(seated.view.roomId, seated.token);
+		const view = await api.addBot(seated.view.roomId, seated.token);
+		// A table that asks for rankings waits in the lobby for the player's; the rest begin at once.
+		if (game.rankable?.(view.options)) return new Room(view, seated.token);
 		return new Room(await api.begin(seated.view.roomId, seated.token), seated.token);
 	}
 
diff --git a/template/src/lib/net/view.ts b/template/src/lib/net/view.ts
index bb23689..6ca0290 100644
--- a/template/src/lib/net/view.ts
+++ b/template/src/lib/net/view.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,10 @@ export interface RoomView<State> {
 	turn: number | null;
 	over: Outcome | null;
 	state: State | null;
+	/** This seat's ranking of the table's choices, at a table that asks for one; nobody sees another's. */
+	yourRanking: string[] | null;
+	/** How many seats have ranked, and nothing more about them. */
+	ranked: number;
 	/** This seat's input for the round in progress, as the server holds it (a draft, or a settled move); null for none, and for the gallery. */
 	yourInput: unknown;
 	/** This seat's input in the last round it played, for telling it what became of its own choice; null for none, and for the gallery. */