diff --git a/.claude/handoffs/2026-04-28-191500-ai-phase-1-shipped.md b/.claude/handoffs/2026-04-28-191500-ai-phase-1-shipped.md
index b50f38d..9086e19 100644
--- a/.claude/handoffs/2026-04-28-191500-ai-phase-1-shipped.md
+++ b/.claude/handoffs/2026-04-28-191500-ai-phase-1-shipped.md
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 - Created: 2026-04-28 ~19:15 UTC
 - Project: /home/claude/bin/blind_chess
-- Branch: `feat/ai-player-phase-1-casual` (16 commits ahead of main; pending merge as final step of this handoff)
+- Branch: `feat/ai-player-phase-1-casual` merged to `main` via fast-forward at commit `1674695` and pushed.
 - Repo: `git.sethpc.xyz/Seth/blind_chess`
 - Live URL: **https://chess.sethpc.xyz** (Phase 1 deployed and verified)
 
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ This session executed `docs/superpowers/plans/2026-04-28-ai-player-phase-1-casua
 | Casual ≥80% vs Random, both colors | ✅ 97% as W, 96% as B |
 | All unit + integration tests pass | ✅ 75/75 (21 shared + 54 server) |
 | Live smoke checklist | ✅ /api/health, AI game creation, recon→503, no journald errors |
-| Branch merged + deployed | ⏳ Pending merge (final step of this session) |
+| Branch merged + deployed | ✅ Merged to main (`1674695`); deployed to CT 690 |
 
 ## Critical Files
 
@@ -72,20 +72,14 @@ This session executed `docs/superpowers/plans/2026-04-28-ai-player-phase-1-casua
 
 ## Immediate Next Steps
 
-1. **Merge `feat/ai-player-phase-1-casual` to `main`** (final step of this handoff).
-
-   ```bash
-   git checkout main
-   git merge --ff-only feat/ai-player-phase-1-casual || git merge --no-ff feat/ai-player-phase-1-casual
-   git push origin main
-   ```
-
-2. **Soak Phase 1 for a few days of real play** before starting Phase 2. Watch for:
-   - Bot-driver errors in journald (`journalctl -u blind-chess | grep "bot driver error"`).
+1. **Soak Phase 1 for a few days of real play** before starting Phase 2. Watch for:
+   - Bot-driver errors in journald (`ssh root@192.168.0.245 'journalctl -u blind-chess | grep "bot driver error"'`).
    - Mid-game crashes or stuck games.
-   - User feedback on Casual's strength (too weak / too strong / fine).
+   - User feedback on Casual's strength (too weak / too strong / fine — defaults to `js-chess-engine` level 2).
 
-3. **When ready, write Phase 2 plan** — `docs/superpowers/plans/2026-04-28-ai-player-phase-2-recon.md` against the existing spec. Phase 2 reuses the `Brain` and `BotDriver` infrastructure unchanged; new pieces are `OllamaClient`, `ollama-endpoints` (preflight + failover), `prompt`, `parse`, `ReconBrain`, plus `aiInfo` protocol field, `'ai_unavailable'` end reason, post-game reasoning reveal UI.
+2. **When ready, write Phase 2 plan** — `docs/superpowers/plans/YYYY-MM-DD-ai-player-phase-2-recon.md` against the existing spec. Phase 2 reuses the `Brain` and `BotDriver` infrastructure unchanged; new pieces are `OllamaClient`, `ollama-endpoints` (preflight + failover), `prompt`, `parse`, `ReconBrain`, plus `aiInfo` protocol field, `'ai_unavailable'` end reason, post-game reasoning reveal UI.
+
+3. **Tune Casual difficulty if needed.** Single-line change in `packages/server/src/bot/casual-brain.ts` — `level` default in `CasualOpts` (currently 2). Drop to 1 if it feels unbeatable; raise to 3 if trivial.
 
 ## Blockers / Open Questions