diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 38d22f1..2fd7915 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "@nodots/backgammon-core",
-  "version": "1.0.1",
+  "version": "1.0.2",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "@nodots/backgammon-core",
-      "version": "1.0.1",
+      "version": "1.0.2",
       "license": "GPL-3.0",
       "dependencies": {
         "@nodots/backgammon-types": "^1.0.3",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 40e5595..6692080 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@nodots/backgammon-core",
-  "version": "1.0.1",
+  "version": "1.0.2",
   "description": "Core game logic for Nodots Backgammon",
   "main": "dist/index.js",
   "types": "dist/index.d.ts",
diff --git a/src/Play/__tests__/must-use-both-dice-rule.test.ts b/src/Play/__tests__/must-use-both-dice-rule.test.ts
index cd095c1..9534f3c 100644
--- a/src/Play/__tests__/must-use-both-dice-rule.test.ts
+++ b/src/Play/__tests__/must-use-both-dice-rule.test.ts
@@ -161,13 +161,25 @@ describe('Play - must use both dice (stranded-die bug)', () => {
       expect([...(play.dieValuesPlayableAtStart ?? [])].sort()).toEqual([3, 6])
     })
 
-    test('playing the smaller die (3) is rejected', () => {
+    test('initialize converts the smaller-die move to a completed no-move', () => {
       const board = makeBoard()
       const play = Play.initialize(board, movingPlayer('white', 'clockwise', [6, 3]))
-      const thrown = captureThrow(() =>
-        Play.move(board, play, originAt(board, 'clockwise', 9), 3)
+      const smaller = play.moves.find((m) => m.dieValue === 3)
+      const larger = play.moves.find((m) => m.dieValue === 6)
+      expect(smaller?.stateKind).toBe('completed')
+      expect(smaller?.moveKind).toBe('no-move')
+      expect(larger?.stateKind).toBe('ready')
+    })
+
+    test('attempting the smaller die (3) plays the larger (6) instead', () => {
+      const board = makeBoard()
+      const play = Play.initialize(board, movingPlayer('white', 'clockwise', [6, 3]))
+      const result = Play.move(board, play, originAt(board, 'clockwise', 9), 3)
+      const executed = result.play.moves.find(
+        (m) => m.stateKind === 'completed' && m.moveKind !== 'no-move'
       )
-      expect(thrown?.name).toBe('MustUseLargerDieError')
+      expect(executed?.dieValue).toBe(6)
+      expect(diceUsed(result.play)).toBe(1)
     })
 
     test('playing the larger die (6) is accepted', () => {
@@ -178,6 +190,119 @@ describe('Play - must use both dice (stranded-die bug)', () => {
     })
   })
 
+  describe('last checker bears off with either die (production game 2d98cf14)', () => {
+    // One checker on the player's 2-point, 14 already off. Roll [3,5]: either
+    // die bears off and ends the game, so maxDiceUsable is 1 and the rules
+    // require the larger die (5). The robot picked the 3 and every turn
+    // attempt was rejected, freezing the game in 'moving'.
+    const makeBoardClockwise = (): BackgammonBoard =>
+      Board.buildBoard([
+        {
+          position: { clockwise: 2, counterclockwise: 23 },
+          checkers: { color: 'white', qty: 1 },
+        },
+        {
+          position: 'off',
+          direction: 'clockwise',
+          checkers: { color: 'white', qty: 14 },
+        },
+        {
+          position: { clockwise: 13, counterclockwise: 12 },
+          checkers: { color: 'black', qty: 5 },
+        },
+        {
+          position: { clockwise: 19, counterclockwise: 6 },
+          checkers: { color: 'black', qty: 5 },
+        },
+        {
+          position: { clockwise: 24, counterclockwise: 1 },
+          checkers: { color: 'black', qty: 5 },
+        },
+      ])
+
+    test('initialize prunes the smaller die: 3 is a no-move, 5 is a ready bear-off', () => {
+      const board = makeBoardClockwise()
+      const play = Play.initialize(board, movingPlayer('white', 'clockwise', [3, 5]))
+      expect(play.maxDiceUsable).toBe(1)
+      expect([...(play.dieValuesPlayableAtStart ?? [])].sort()).toEqual([3, 5])
+      const smaller = play.moves.find((m) => m.dieValue === 3)
+      const larger = play.moves.find((m) => m.dieValue === 5)
+      expect(smaller?.stateKind).toBe('completed')
+      expect(smaller?.moveKind).toBe('no-move')
+      expect(larger?.stateKind).toBe('ready')
+      expect(larger?.moveKind).toBe('bear-off')
+    })
+
+    test('moving the last checker bears off with the 5, no throw', () => {
+      const board = makeBoardClockwise()
+      const play = Play.initialize(board, movingPlayer('white', 'clockwise', [3, 5]))
+      const result = Play.move(board, play, originAt(board, 'clockwise', 2))
+      const executed = result.play.moves.find(
+        (m) => m.stateKind === 'completed' && m.moveKind !== 'no-move'
+      )
+      expect(executed?.dieValue).toBe(5)
+      expect(diceUsed(result.play)).toBe(1)
+      expect(result.play.moves.some((m) => m.stateKind === 'ready')).toBe(false)
+      expect(result.board.off.clockwise.checkers.length).toBe(15)
+    })
+
+    test('roll order [5,3] behaves the same', () => {
+      const board = makeBoardClockwise()
+      const play = Play.initialize(board, movingPlayer('white', 'clockwise', [5, 3]))
+      const smaller = play.moves.find((m) => m.dieValue === 3)
+      expect(smaller?.moveKind).toBe('no-move')
+      const result = Play.move(board, play, originAt(board, 'clockwise', 2))
+      const executed = result.play.moves.find(
+        (m) => m.stateKind === 'completed' && m.moveKind !== 'no-move'
+      )
+      expect(executed?.dieValue).toBe(5)
+      expect(result.board.off.clockwise.checkers.length).toBe(15)
+    })
+
+    test('counterclockwise mirror behaves the same', () => {
+      const board = Board.buildBoard([
+        {
+          position: { clockwise: 23, counterclockwise: 2 },
+          checkers: { color: 'white', qty: 1 },
+        },
+        {
+          position: 'off',
+          direction: 'counterclockwise',
+          checkers: { color: 'white', qty: 14 },
+        },
+        {
+          position: { clockwise: 12, counterclockwise: 13 },
+          checkers: { color: 'black', qty: 5 },
+        },
+        {
+          position: { clockwise: 6, counterclockwise: 19 },
+          checkers: { color: 'black', qty: 5 },
+        },
+        {
+          position: { clockwise: 1, counterclockwise: 24 },
+          checkers: { color: 'black', qty: 5 },
+        },
+      ])
+      const play = Play.initialize(
+        board,
+        movingPlayer('white', 'counterclockwise', [3, 5])
+      )
+      expect(play.maxDiceUsable).toBe(1)
+      const smaller = play.moves.find((m) => m.dieValue === 3)
+      expect(smaller?.moveKind).toBe('no-move')
+      const result = Play.move(
+        board,
+        play,
+        originAt(board, 'counterclockwise', 2)
+      )
+      const executed = result.play.moves.find(
+        (m) => m.stateKind === 'completed' && m.moveKind !== 'no-move'
+      )
+      expect(executed?.dieValue).toBe(5)
+      expect(result.board.off.counterclockwise.checkers.length).toBe(15)
+    })
+  })
+
   describe('doubles', () => {
     // One mobile checker on 13 can play two 6s (13->7->1); a blocked back
     // checker on 24 caps usage at 2 of the four 6s.
diff --git a/src/Play/index.ts b/src/Play/index.ts
index 1bc4cd0..98d9fd7 100644
--- a/src/Play/index.ts
+++ b/src/Play/index.ts
@@ -78,7 +78,21 @@ export class Play {
     const expectedDieValue = options?.expectedDieValue
 
     // Get initial die values (no mutation)
-    let firstDieValue = expectedDieValue ?? readyMoves[0].dieValue
+    // Must-use-larger-die: when one die can be played this turn and more
+    // than one die value is still ready, the larger die is the only choice
+    // the rules allow. Plays persisted before initialize pruned the
+    // smaller-die move (stale plays from the database) still carry both
+    // moves as ready — prefer the larger die for them.
+    const distinctReadyDice = [...new Set(readyMoves.map((m) => m.dieValue))]
+    const largerDieMandatory =
+      typeof expectedDieValue !== 'number' &&
+      play.maxDiceUsable === 1 &&
+      distinctReadyDice.length >= 2
+    let firstDieValue =
+      expectedDieValue ??
+      (largerDieMandatory
+        ? distinctReadyDice.reduce((a, b) => (b > a ? b : a))
+        : readyMoves[0].dieValue)
     const otherMoves = readyMoves.filter((m) => m.dieValue !== firstDieValue)
     let secondDieValue =
       otherMoves.length > 0 ? otherMoves[0].dieValue : firstDieValue
@@ -922,6 +936,45 @@ export class Play {
       ),
     ] as BackgammonDieValue[]
 
+    // Must-use-larger-die rule, applied at turn start: when one die can be
+    // played this turn and both dice had moves from the turn-start board,
+    // the rules require the larger die. pureMove rejects the smaller die
+    // after execution; converting its move to a completed no-move here means
+    // the option is never offered to humans or robots. Production game
+    // 2d98cf14: one checker on the 2-point, roll [3,5] — either die bears
+    // off, the robot picked 3 and every turn attempt was rejected.
+    if (
+      maxDiceUsable === 1 &&
+      dieValuesPlayableAtStart.length >= 2 &&
+      playableReentries === 0
+    ) {
+      const largerDie = dieValuesPlayableAtStart.reduce((a, b) =>
+        b > a ? b : a
+      )
+      for (let i = 0; i < allMoves.length; i++) {
+        const move = allMoves[i]
+        if (
+          move.stateKind === 'ready' &&
+          move.dieValue !== largerDie &&
+          // cast: _sequenceDependent is a private marker set above, not on the move type
+          !(move as any)._sequenceDependent
+        ) {
+          allMoves[i] = {
+            id: move.id,
+            player,
+            dieValue: move.dieValue,
+            stateKind: 'completed',
+            moveKind: 'no-move',
+            possibleMoves: [],
+            origin: undefined,
+            destination: undefined,
+            isHit: false,
+            // cast: literal matches the no-move constructions elsewhere in this function
+          } as BackgammonMoveCompletedNoMove
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
     // Check if all moves are no-moves and auto-complete the play
     const allMovesAreNoMoves = allMoves.every(
       (move) => move.moveKind === 'no-move'