diff --git a/src/pirats/main.py b/src/pirats/main.py
index f08cb89..3eefc4e 100644
--- a/src/pirats/main.py
+++ b/src/pirats/main.py
@@ -541,17 +541,17 @@ def play_card_route(
     if not ok:
         return HTMLResponse(f"<p class='alert alert-danger'>{msg}</p>", status_code=400)
         
-    # Return a success notification box that HTMX will show, or just return 204 to let polling pick it up.
-    # Returning a message is nice! But returning 204 is clean. Let's return a brief HTML snippet.
+    # Return a success notification and HX-Trigger header to refresh the hand.
     color_prefix = "🟩" if res["success"] else "🟥"
     drew_text = f" (Drew card: {res['drew_card']})" if res["drew_card"] else ""
-    return HTMLResponse(
-        f"<div class='play-notification' style='position:fixed;bottom:20px;right:20px;background:#152238;border:1px solid #d4af37;padding:15px;border-radius:8px;z-index:1000;' onclick='this.remove()'>"
+    drew_attr = "true" if res["drew_card"] else "false"
+    html = (
+        f"<div class='play-notification' data-drew='{drew_attr}' style='position:fixed;bottom:20px;right:20px;background:#152238;border:1px solid #d4af37;padding:15px;border-radius:8px;z-index:1000;' onclick='this.remove()'>"
         f"<p>{color_prefix} {res['details']}{drew_text}</p>"
         f"<span style='font-size:0.8em;color:#aaa;'>Click to dismiss</span>"
-        f"</div>",
-        headers={"HX-Trigger": "hand-updated"}
+        f"</div>"
     )
+    return HTMLResponse(html, headers={"HX-Trigger": "hand-changed"})
 
 # 12. Pi-Rat plays a Joker to replace an obstacle
 @app.post("/game/{game_id}/player/{player_id}/play-joker")
@@ -566,13 +566,13 @@ def play_joker_route(
     if not ok:
         return HTMLResponse(f"<p class='alert alert-danger'>{msg}</p>", status_code=400)
         
-    return HTMLResponse(
-        f"<div class='play-notification' style='position:fixed;bottom:20px;right:20px;background:#152238;border:1px solid #d4af37;padding:15px;border-radius:8px;z-index:1000;' onclick='this.remove()'>"
+    html = (
+        f"<div class='play-notification' data-drew='false' style='position:fixed;bottom:20px;right:20px;background:#152238;border:1px solid #d4af37;padding:15px;border-radius:8px;z-index:1000;' onclick='this.remove()'>"
         f"<p>🃏 Play Joker: Discarded obstacle and drew a new replacement!</p>"
         f"<span style='font-size:0.8em;color:#aaa;'>Click to dismiss</span>"
-        f"</div>",
-        headers={"HX-Trigger": "hand-updated"}
+        f"</div>"
     )
+    return HTMLResponse(html, headers={"HX-Trigger": "hand-changed"})
 
 # 13. Toggle Objective Completion Checklist
 @app.post("/game/{game_id}/player/{player_id}/objective/toggle")
diff --git a/src/pirats/templates/scene_partial.html b/src/pirats/templates/scene_partial.html
index 46ecbfe..6fe7854 100644
--- a/src/pirats/templates/scene_partial.html
+++ b/src/pirats/templates/scene_partial.html
@@ -341,9 +341,34 @@
                         ? `/game/${gameId}/player/${playerId}/play-joker` 
                         : `/game/${gameId}/player/${playerId}/play-card`;
                     
+                    // Find the dragged card element before the request
+                    const draggedCard = document.querySelector(
+                        `.card-large[data-card-code="${cardCode}"]`
+                    );
+
                     htmx.ajax('POST', url, {
                         values: { obstacle_id: obstacleId, card_code: cardCode },
-                        swap: 'none'
+                        target: 'body',
+                        swap: 'beforeend'
+                    }).then(function() {
+                        // Remove the card from the hand on success
+                        if (draggedCard && draggedCard.parentNode) {
+                            draggedCard.remove();
+                        }
+                        // Check if hand is now empty (and no card was drawn)
+                        const handFlex = document.querySelector('.hand-flex');
+                        if (handFlex && handFlex.children.length === 0) {
+                            handFlex.innerHTML = '<p class="empty-text text-center">Your hand is empty! (You draw cards when playing cards that match the suit color of the obstacle.)</p>';
+                        }
+                        // Auto-dismiss the notification after 3 seconds
+                        const notif = document.querySelector('.play-notification:last-of-type');
+                        if (notif) {
+                            setTimeout(function() { notif.remove(); }, 3000);
+                            // If a card was drawn, refresh the full view to show it
+                            if (notif.getAttribute('data-drew') === 'true') {
+                                htmx.trigger(document.body, 'phase-changed');
+                            }
+                        }
                     });
                 }
             }