diff --git a/src/lib/components/Hall.svelte b/src/lib/components/Hall.svelte
index 7a6e7eb..3d46b6f 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/Hall.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/Hall.svelte
@@ -16,13 +16,10 @@
 	let name = $state(playerName());
 	let code = $state('');
 	/** The host's choices for the next table, from the game's declared options. */
-	// The host's last choices come back as the defaults; a regular does not re-pick them each visit.
-	let options = $state<Record<string, string>>(
+	// A new table starts from the preferences' table defaults; the hall's selectors set the same keys.
+	const options = $derived<Record<string, string>>(
 		Object.fromEntries((game.options ?? []).map((o) => [o.key, o.choices.some((c) => c.value === prefs[`table.${o.key}`]) ? String(prefs[`table.${o.key}`]) : o.default]))
 	);
-	$effect(() => {
-		for (const o of game.options ?? []) if (prefs[`table.${o.key}`] !== options[o.key]) setPref(`table.${o.key}`, options[o.key]);
-	});
 	let prefsOpen = $state(false);
 
 	/** The hall's still of the opening position, on whichever board the selector names. */
@@ -192,7 +189,7 @@
 					<div class="option-block">
 						<label class="option">
 							<span>{o.label}</span>
-							<select bind:value={options[o.key]}>
+							<select value={options[o.key]} onchange={(e) => setPref(`table.${o.key}`, e.currentTarget.value)}>
 								{#each o.choices as c (c.value)}<option value={c.value}>{c.label}</option>{/each}
 							</select>
 						</label>
diff --git a/src/lib/prefs.svelte.ts b/src/lib/prefs.svelte.ts
index 6c126cf..6d2ba50 100644
--- a/src/lib/prefs.svelte.ts
+++ b/src/lib/prefs.svelte.ts
@@ -21,7 +21,16 @@ export const KIT_PREFERENCES: Preference[] = [
 	{ key: 'confirmMoves', label: 'Confirm a move before it is sent', kind: 'toggle', default: false }
 ];
 
-export const PREFERENCES: Preference[] = [...KIT_PREFERENCES, ...(game.preferences ?? [])];
+/** Every table option is also a preference: the choice a new table starts with. The hall reads and writes the same keys. */
+const TABLE_DEFAULTS: Preference[] = (game.options ?? []).map((o) => ({
+	key: `table.${o.key}`,
+	label: `${o.label}, for a new table`,
+	kind: 'choice',
+	choices: o.choices.map((c) => ({ value: c.value, label: c.label })),
+	default: o.default
+}));
+
+export const PREFERENCES: Preference[] = [...KIT_PREFERENCES, ...TABLE_DEFAULTS, ...(game.preferences ?? [])];
 
 const KEY = 'hnefatafl:prefs';
 
@@ -38,8 +47,6 @@ function load(): Record<string, boolean | string> {
 			if (p.kind === 'toggle' && typeof v === 'boolean') base[p.key] = v;
 			if (p.kind === 'choice' && typeof v === 'string' && p.choices?.some((c) => c.value === v)) base[p.key] = v;
 		}
-		// The hall's last table options ride along under table.<key>, undeclared.
-		for (const [k, v] of Object.entries(saved)) if (k.startsWith('table.') && typeof v === 'string') base[k] = v;
 	} catch {
 		// Without storage the defaults apply for this visit.
 	}