diff --git a/frontend/src/assets/css/scene-play.css b/frontend/src/assets/css/scene-play.css
index 12d3c6b..4a8d43c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/assets/css/scene-play.css
+++ b/frontend/src/assets/css/scene-play.css
@@ -241,43 +241,6 @@
     box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px var(--danger);
 }
 
-/* Obstacle color (red/black) — fixed by the original card; matching it draws back */
-.obstacle-color-tag {
-    display: inline-flex;
-    align-items: center;
-    gap: 0.35rem;
-    margin-bottom: 0.4rem;
-    font-size: 0.7rem;
-    font-weight: 700;
-    text-transform: uppercase;
-    letter-spacing: 0.03em;
-    padding: 0.12rem 0.5rem;
-    border-radius: 999px;
-    cursor: help;
-}
-
-.obstacle-color-tag::before {
-    content: '';
-    width: 0.6rem;
-    height: 0.6rem;
-    border-radius: 50%;
-    display: inline-block;
-}
-
-.obstacle-color-tag.red {
-    color: var(--suit-red);
-    background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--suit-red) 14%, transparent);
-}
-
-.obstacle-color-tag.red::before { background: var(--suit-red); }
-
-.obstacle-color-tag.black {
-    color: var(--suit-black);
-    background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--suit-black) 14%, transparent);
-}
-
-.obstacle-color-tag.black::before { background: var(--suit-black); }
-
 .suit-badge {
     font-weight: 900;
     font-size: 1.1rem;
@@ -298,6 +261,13 @@
     font-size: 1.15rem;
 }
 
+/* The title and its "K♦" card-code prefix take the Obstacle's fixed suit color
+   (red border on the left already marks color, so the old tag is gone). */
+.suit-h .obstacle-details h4, .suit-d .obstacle-details h4 { color: var(--suit-red); }
+.suit-c .obstacle-details h4, .suit-s .obstacle-details h4 { color: var(--suit-black); }
+
+.obs-card-code { opacity: 0.8; }
+
 .obstacle-details .in-challenge-tag {
     color: var(--deep);
     font-size: 0.8rem;
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/scene/ChallengePanel.svelte b/frontend/src/components/scene/ChallengePanel.svelte
index fb4e2fa..fedaadb 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/scene/ChallengePanel.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/components/scene/ChallengePanel.svelte
@@ -95,7 +95,6 @@
 {/if}
 
 {#each openChallenges as ch}
-    {@const chPlays = JSON.parse(ch.plays || '[]')}
     {@const chObstacleIds = JSON.parse(ch.obstacle_ids || '[]')}
     <div class="challenge-item">
         <div class="challenge-head">
@@ -127,10 +126,6 @@
                 Temporary Obstacle: <strong use:tooltip={{ html: cardTooltipHtml(ch.temp_card, $obstacleTable) }}>{getCardDisplay(ch.temp_card)}</strong> — {playerName(ch.acting_player_id)} must answer it!
             </p>
         {:else}
-            <p class="info-text" style="margin: 0.5rem 0 0 0;">
-                Attempted by <strong>{playerName(ch.acting_player_id)}</strong>{ch.acting_player_id !== ch.target_player_id ? ` (took it over via ${ch.tax_type === 'gat' ? 'Gat' : 'Name'} Tax)` : ''}.
-                Drag a card onto an Obstacle below to play it. Other Pi-Rats may assist (assistants don't draw back).
-            </p>
             <div class="challenge-obstacles">
                 {#each chObstacleIds as oid}
                     {@const obs = state.obstacles.find(o => o.id === oid)}
@@ -142,12 +137,6 @@
                 {/each}
             </div>
         {/if}
-        {#if chPlays.length > 0}
-            <p class="info-text" style="margin: 0.5rem 0 0 0; font-size: 0.85rem;">
-                Plays: {chPlays.map(p => `${p.player_name}: ${getCardDisplay(p.card)} ${p.success ? '✔' : '✘'}`).join(' · ')}
-            </p>
-        {/if}
-
         <!-- Tax: pending request aimed at me -->
         {#if ch.tax_state === 'requested'}
             {#if myTaxRequest && myTaxRequest.id === ch.id}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/scene/ObstacleItem.svelte b/frontend/src/components/scene/ObstacleItem.svelte
index b488598..45d881d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/scene/ObstacleItem.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/components/scene/ObstacleItem.svelte
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <script>
     import { apiRequest } from '../../lib/api';
-    import { isJoker } from '../../lib/cards';
+    import { isJoker, cardValue } from '../../lib/cards';
     import { tooltip } from '../../lib/tooltip';
     import Card from '../Card.svelte';
 
@@ -8,9 +8,9 @@
     export let obs;
     export let embedded = false;  // rendered inside the Challenge panel — skip the "in challenge" flag
 
-    const COLOR_HINT = "An Obstacle's color is fixed by its original card and never changes, no matter what's played on it. "
-        + 'Beat the difficulty with a card of any suit to pass — but play a card of the matching color (red/black) '
-        + 'to also draw one back into your hand.';
+    // Plain (text-presentation) suit glyphs so they inherit the title's suit color,
+    // unlike SUIT_EMOJI which renders as fixed-color emoji.
+    const SUIT_CHAR = { C: '♣', S: '♠', H: '♥', D: '♦' };
     const VALUE_HINT = 'The number to beat. Set by the most recent card played on the column — or the original card '
         + 'until one is played. (Color stays fixed to the original.)';
 
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
     $: success_count = column_cards.filter(c => c.success).length;
     $: is_completed = success_count >= state.players.length;
     $: in_challenge = openChallenges.some(c => JSON.parse(c.obstacle_ids || '[]').includes(obs.id));
-    $: is_red = ['H', 'D'].includes(obs.suit);
+    $: cardCodeLabel = `${cardValue(obs.original_card)}${SUIT_CHAR[obs.suit] || ''}`;
     $: is_face_active = ['J', 'Q', 'K'].includes(active_card_code.slice(0, -1));
 
     // A face-card Obstacle is worth the challenged Rat's Rank. When this Obstacle is
@@ -82,10 +82,7 @@
         {/each}
     </div>
     <div class="obstacle-details">
-        <h4>{obs.title} {#if in_challenge && !embedded}<span class="in-challenge-tag">⚔️ In Challenge</span>{/if}</h4>
-        <span class="obstacle-color-tag {is_red ? 'red' : 'black'}" use:tooltip={COLOR_HINT}>
-            {is_red ? 'Red' : 'Black'} obstacle · match to draw
-        </span>
+        <h4><span class="obs-card-code">{cardCodeLabel}</span> — {obs.title} {#if in_challenge && !embedded}<span class="in-challenge-tag">⚔️ In Challenge</span>{/if}</h4>
         <p class="desc">{obs.description}</p>
     </div>
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/changelog.js b/frontend/src/lib/changelog.js
index 889df7c..9fe3c39 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/changelog.js
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/changelog.js
@@ -6,10 +6,17 @@
 //   - Add a CHANGELOG entry only when a commit changes something players can
 //     see. Skip refactors, tests, and tooling. Keep wording player-facing.
 
-export const VERSION = 3;
+export const VERSION = 4;
 
 // Newest first. Each entry: { version, date: 'YYYY-MM-DD', changes: [string, ...] }.
 export const CHANGELOG = [
+    {
+        version: 4,
+        date: '2026-06-15',
+        changes: [
+            'Tidied the Challenge panel: dropped the redundant “Plays” list and the how-to-play blurb. Each Obstacle now leads with its card (e.g. “K♦”) in the title, colored by suit.',
+        ],
+    },
     {
         version: 3,
         date: '2026-06-15',