diff --git a/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md b/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
index bdf2a3a..8100cca 100644
--- a/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
+++ b/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Architecture
 
-> Last Updated: 2026-04-08T19:48:08.000Z
+> Last Updated: 2026-04-09T20:59:51.000Z
 
 ## Overview
 
@@ -8,14 +8,15 @@
 |-----------|-------|
 | Primary language | TypeScript |
 | Secondary language | Java |
+| Source counts | 15 TypeScript files under `src/`, 3 Java files under `android/` |
 | Project type | Phaser browser game packaged for Android with Capacitor |
 | Framework | Phaser 3.87.0 |
-| Tooling | Vite 5, TypeScript 5.x, Capacitor 8.3 |
+| Tooling | Vite 5, TypeScript 5.x, Capacitor 8.3, tsx 4.19 |
 | Runtime layout | 1280 x 720, `Phaser.Scale.FIT`, centered in `#game` |
 | Build command | `npm run build` |
 | Test command | `npx tsc --noEmit` |
 
-The repository is a TypeScript-first implementation of Scopone Scientifico. Gameplay rules, scoring, inference, and AI live in framework-independent modules under `src/game/`. Phaser scenes under `src/scenes/` own rendering, input, UI, animation, and scene transitions. The `android/` tree is a Capacitor wrapper with a small custom `MainActivity` for immersive full-screen behavior.
+The repository is a TypeScript-first implementation of Scopone Scientifico. Pure game rules, scoring, imperfect-information tracking, AI heuristics, worker transport, and benchmark code live under `src/game/`. Phaser scenes under `src/scenes/` own rendering, input, animation, menu flow, status messaging, and procedural audio. The `android/` tree is a Capacitor wrapper with a small custom `MainActivity` that forces immersive full-screen behavior.
 
 ## Project Structure
 
@@ -27,13 +28,17 @@ scopone-phaser/
 |  |  |- types.ts
 |  |  |- engine.ts
 |  |  |- card-tracker.ts
+|  |  |- preferences.ts
 |  |  |- ai.ts
 |  |  |- ai-worker-protocol.ts
 |  |  |- ai-worker-client.ts
-|  |  `- ai.worker.ts
+|  |  |- ai.worker.ts
+|  |  |- ai-benchmark.ts
+|  |  `- ai-benchmark-fixtures.ts
 |  `- scenes/
 |     |- BootScene.ts
 |     |- MenuScene.ts
+|     |- SettingsScene.ts
 |     `- GameScene.ts
 |- public/
 |- android/
@@ -51,9 +56,9 @@ scopone-phaser/
 
 | Directory | Purpose |
 |-----------|---------|
-| `src/game/` | Rules engine, score calculation, imperfect-information tracking, AI heuristics, and master search |
-| `src/scenes/` | Phaser scene lifecycle, menus, board rendering, interaction, HUD, audio, and FX |
-| `public/` | Atlas metadata and other static assets loaded by Phaser |
+| `src/game/` | Rules engine, score calculation, imperfect-information tracking, audio preference persistence, AI heuristics, worker transport, and benchmark harnesses |
+| `src/scenes/` | Phaser scene lifecycle, menus, settings UI, board rendering, interaction, HUD, audio, and FX |
+| `public/` | Atlas metadata and static assets loaded by Phaser |
 | `android/` | Capacitor Android project, Gradle configuration, generated wrapper assets, and the native activity |
 | `docs/` | Architecture, code style, findings, and cache metadata |
 | `prompts/` | JIRA workflow artifacts and iteration state |
@@ -66,46 +71,53 @@ Observed architectural patterns:
 
 | Pattern | Where it appears |
 |---------|------------------|
-| Scene-based flow | `BootScene -> MenuScene -> GameScene` via Phaser scene registration |
+| Scene-based flow | `BootScene -> MenuScene -> GameScene`, with `SettingsScene` opened from the menu and returning to it |
 | Functional core / imperative shell | `src/game/` avoids Phaser imports while `src/scenes/` owns runtime side effects |
 | Immutable state transitions | `applyMove()` clones `GameState` before mutating round state |
 | Worker offload with fallback | `AIWorkerClient` uses `ai.worker.ts` when available and falls back to direct `chooseMove()` otherwise |
-| Typed message protocol | `ai-worker-protocol.ts` defines worker request, progress, result, and error shapes |
-| Imperfect-information search | `CardTracker` plus determinization sampling support the `master` AI tier |
+| Typed message protocol | `ai-worker-protocol.ts` defines worker request, progress, result, and serialized error shapes |
+| Persistence adapter | `preferences.ts` normalizes and stores audio settings through a storage boundary instead of scene-local flags |
+| Deterministic benchmark harness | `ai-benchmark.ts` uses fixtures, seeded self-play, and simulated timing sources to evaluate AI quality |
 
 ## Key Components
 
 ### `src/main.ts`
 
 - Creates the `Phaser.Game` instance.
-- Registers `BootScene`, `MenuScene`, and `GameScene`.
 - Installs a one-shot fullscreen request on first user input when supported.
+- Registers `BootScene`, `MenuScene`, `GameScene`, and a local `SettingsScene` placeholder; `MenuScene` replaces that placeholder with the concrete `src/scenes/SettingsScene.ts` class before navigation.
 
 ### `src/game/types.ts`
 
 - Defines the core game model: `Card`, `Capture`, `Player`, `GameState`, `TeamScore`, and `ScoreBreakdown`.
-- Models constrained domains with unions such as `PlayerIndex` and `Difficulty`.
+- Models constrained domains with unions such as `PlayerIndex`, `Difficulty`, and `DealerRelativeRole`.
 - Stores `PRIMIERA_VALUES` for end-of-round scoring.
 
 ### `src/game/engine.ts`
 
 - Builds and shuffles the 40-card deck.
-- Creates a round state for four players with dealer-relative opening order.
-- Implements capture rules where direct value matches take priority over subset-sum captures.
-- Applies moves immutably, awards scope, assigns leftover table cards, and computes round and match scoring.
+- Creates a round state for four players with dealer-relative opening order and stable player labels.
+- Implements Scopone capture rules where direct value matches take priority over subset-sum captures.
+- Applies moves immutably, awards scopa only before the final play, assigns leftover table cards to the last capturing team, and computes round and match scoring.
 
 ### `src/game/card-tracker.ts`
 
 - Tracks cards visible through play and capture events without exposing hidden hands.
 - Reconstructs unseen cards from `played + myHand + table`.
-- Supplies value and suit residue helpers used by AI inference and probability estimates.
+- Supplies suit counts, same-rank residue summaries, and hand-value probabilities used by the AI tiers.
+
+### `src/game/preferences.ts`
+
+- Defines the persisted audio preference model.
+- Normalizes possibly invalid storage payloads back to safe defaults.
+- Loads and saves preferences through `localStorage` when available, with browser-safe fallbacks.
 
 ### `src/game/ai.ts`
 
 - Exposes `chooseMove()` as the async AI entry point.
 - Implements three difficulty tiers: `beginner`, `advanced`, and `master`.
-- Uses table-driven search profiles, role-aware heuristics, tracker-based inference, and determinization plus alpha-beta search.
-- Configures the current master profile with a 4600 ms budget, 10 samples, depth 6, and batch size 2.
+- Uses role-aware heuristics, tracker-based inference, tactical priority scoring, determinization sampling, and alpha-beta search.
+- Applies dynamic master search profiles based on total cards remaining, ranging from the base profile `4300 ms / 8 samples / depth 5 / batch 2` down to `3200 ms / 4 samples / exact endgame depth / batch 1` in the last four cards.
 
 ### `src/game/ai-worker-protocol.ts`
 
@@ -117,7 +129,7 @@ Observed architectural patterns:
 
 - Wraps worker lifecycle and pending-request tracking behind the same `chooseMove()` API that scenes consume.
 - Creates the worker as an ES module with `new Worker(new URL('./ai.worker.ts', import.meta.url), { type: 'module' })`.
-- Fails over pending requests to in-thread AI execution if worker creation, messaging, or deserialization fails.
+- Fails over pending requests to in-thread AI execution if worker creation, posting, or deserialization fails.
 
 ### `src/game/ai.worker.ts`
 
@@ -125,6 +137,12 @@ Observed architectural patterns:
 - Delegates move selection to `chooseMove()`.
 - Posts progress, result, or serialized error messages back to the main thread.
 
+### `src/game/ai-benchmark.ts` and `src/game/ai-benchmark-fixtures.ts`
+
+- Define the AI quality harness invoked by `npm run benchmark:ai-quality`.
+- Combine fixed fixtures, critical-concept checks, seeded self-play, regression watchlists, and simulated timing sources.
+- Encode the current iteration 5 benchmark contract: 13 fixed fixtures, 6 critical concepts, and 48 self-play matches.
+
 ### `src/scenes/BootScene.ts`
 
 - Loads the card atlas and card back.
@@ -133,13 +151,22 @@ Observed architectural patterns:
 
 ### `src/scenes/MenuScene.ts`
 
-- Renders the title, rules summary, and difficulty selection.
-- Starts `GameScene` with the chosen difficulty.
+- Renders the title, compact rules summary, difficulty selection, and audio-settings entry point.
+- Reads persisted audio preferences to describe current state before match start.
+- Ensures the concrete `SettingsScene` class is registered before opening it.
+
+### `src/scenes/SettingsScene.ts`
+
+- Provides a dedicated audio settings surface.
+- Toggles music and effects independently.
+- Saves each change immediately and returns control to the menu scene.
 
 ### `src/scenes/GameScene.ts`
 
 - Owns match flow, dealing, selection, capture resolution, AI turn orchestration, score HUD, status UI, think bar, particles, and procedural audio.
 - Instantiates and disposes `AIWorkerClient` on scene lifecycle events.
+- Enforces a minimum AI think display time and timer-based move outcome status messages.
+- Reads normalized audio preferences from scene data or persisted storage.
 - Updates `CardTracker` after play and capture events so AI inference remains derived from visible information.
 
 ### `android/app/src/main/java/com/phaser/scopa/MainActivity.java`
@@ -163,6 +190,7 @@ Observed architectural patterns:
 
 | Package | Version | Purpose |
 |---------|---------|---------|
+| `tsx` | `^4.19.2` | TypeScript execution for benchmark and prompt-local tooling |
 | `typescript` | `^5.0.0` | Static type checking and TS compilation step |
 | `vite` | `^5.0.0` | Dev server and production bundler |
 
@@ -191,14 +219,21 @@ Observed architectural patterns:
 main.ts
   -> BootScene
   -> MenuScene
-  -> GameScene
-       -> engine.ts
-       -> types.ts
-       -> card-tracker.ts
-       -> ai-worker-client.ts
-            -> ai-worker-protocol.ts
-            -> ai.worker.ts
-                 -> ai.ts
+       -> SettingsScene (opened on demand after dynamic registration)
+       -> GameScene
+            -> engine.ts
+            -> types.ts
+            -> preferences.ts
+            -> card-tracker.ts
+            -> ai-worker-client.ts
+                 -> ai-worker-protocol.ts
+                 -> ai.worker.ts
+                      -> ai.ts
+ai-benchmark.ts
+  -> ai.ts
+  -> ai-benchmark-fixtures.ts
+  -> engine.ts
+  -> card-tracker.ts
 ```
 
 Application-level dependency direction is one-way:
@@ -209,16 +244,18 @@ Application-level dependency direction is one-way:
 
 ## Data Flow
 
-1. `main.ts` creates the Phaser app and registers all scenes.
-2. `BootScene` loads textures and starts `MenuScene`.
-3. `MenuScene` passes the chosen difficulty to `GameScene`.
-4. `GameScene.create()` creates a fresh `CardTracker`, constructs a new `GameState`, and starts the opening deal.
-5. Human turns use pointer-driven card selection and `findCaptures()` output to choose legal captures.
-6. AI turns call `AIWorkerClient.chooseMove(state, playerIdx, difficulty, tracker, onProgress)`.
-7. `AIWorkerClient` posts a typed request to `ai.worker.ts`; if workers are unavailable, it reruns the same request in-thread.
-8. `chooseMove()` returns a heuristic move for lower tiers or performs batched master search while emitting `AIDecisionProgress`.
-9. `GameScene` updates the think bar from progress callbacks, executes the returned move, records tracker state, and advances turn order.
-10. When every hand is empty, `engine.ts` finalizes scoring and `GameScene` presents the round or match outcome.
+1. `main.ts` creates the Phaser app, installs fullscreen-on-first-input, and registers the scene list.
+2. `BootScene` loads atlas assets and starts `MenuScene`.
+3. `MenuScene` reads persisted audio preferences, lets the player choose difficulty, and can open `SettingsScene` for audio toggles.
+4. `SettingsScene` writes audio preferences immediately and returns to `MenuScene`.
+5. `GameScene.create()` normalizes incoming scene data, creates a fresh `CardTracker`, constructs a new `GameState`, and starts the opening deal.
+6. Human turns use pointer-driven card selection and `findCaptures()` output to choose legal captures.
+7. AI turns call `AIWorkerClient.chooseMove(state, playerIdx, difficulty, tracker, onProgress)`.
+8. `AIWorkerClient` posts a typed request to `ai.worker.ts`; if workers are unavailable, it reruns the same request in-thread.
+9. `chooseMove()` returns a heuristic move for lower tiers or performs batched master search while emitting `AIDecisionProgress`.
+10. `GameScene` updates the think bar from progress callbacks, enforces a minimum visible think time, executes the returned move, records tracker state, and advances turn order.
+11. When every hand is empty, `engine.ts` finalizes scoring and `GameScene` presents the round or match outcome.
+12. Separately, `ai-benchmark.ts` exercises the same game and AI modules through fixed fixtures, seeded self-play, and simulated timing to produce quality summaries.
 
 ## Build System
 
@@ -227,4 +264,5 @@ Application-level dependency direction is one-way:
 | `npm run dev` | `package.json` | Starts the Vite dev server |
 | `npm run build` | user-provided build command | Runs `tsc && vite build` and writes web output to `dist/` |
 | `npm run preview` | `package.json` | Serves the built app with Vite preview |
+| `npm run benchmark:ai-quality` | `package.json` | Runs the AI benchmark harness through `tsx` |
 | `npx tsc --noEmit` | user-provided test command | Type-checks the TypeScript codebase without emitting files |
diff --git a/docs/FINDINGS.md b/docs/FINDINGS.md
index 2fedcf2..bcde09f 100644
--- a/docs/FINDINGS.md
+++ b/docs/FINDINGS.md
@@ -1,34 +1,40 @@
 # Findings
 
-> Last Updated: 2026-04-09T00:00:00.000Z
+> Last Updated: 2026-04-09T20:59:51.000Z
 
 ## Summary
 
-Initializer refresh for SCOPONE-0009. The cached findings were stale relative to the live source tree, so the observations below reflect the current Phaser, worker, and AI implementation.
+Initializer refresh for SCOPONE-0010. The cache was invalid because `docs/FINDINGS.md` no longer matched its recorded hash, and the architecture document no longer matched the live source layout after settings, preferences, and benchmark changes. The observations below reflect the current repository state.
 
 ## Codebase Observations
 
-- Primary gameplay code currently lives in 10 TypeScript source files under `src/`; the Android wrapper adds 3 Java files.
+- Primary gameplay code currently lives in 15 TypeScript source files under `src/`; the Android wrapper adds 3 Java files.
 - The project is structurally split between framework-free gameplay modules in `src/game/` and Phaser scene code in `src/scenes/`.
 - `src/scenes/GameScene.ts` and `src/game/ai.ts` remain the two largest concentrations of application logic.
-- The AI transport layer is now a stable three-file path: `ai-worker-protocol.ts`, `ai-worker-client.ts`, and `ai.worker.ts`.
+- A dedicated audio preference path now exists: `src/game/preferences.ts`, `src/scenes/MenuScene.ts`, and `src/scenes/SettingsScene.ts`.
+- `main.ts` still contains a local `SettingsScene` placeholder class, while `MenuScene.ensureSettingsSceneAvailable()` swaps in the concrete imported scene before navigation.
+- The AI transport layer is a stable three-file path: `ai-worker-protocol.ts`, `ai-worker-client.ts`, and `ai.worker.ts`.
 - The AI exposes three difficulty levels: `beginner`, `advanced`, and `master`.
 - `advanced` and `master` both use `CardTracker` to reason about unseen cards without directly reading hidden hands.
-- The current `master` search profile is `timeBudgetMs: 4600`, `sampleCount: 10`, `maxDepth: 6`, `batchSize: 2`.
+- The base `master` search profile is `4300 ms / 8 samples / depth 5 / batch 2`, with tighter endgame branches down to `3200 ms / 4 samples / exact remaining depth / batch 1` when 4 cards remain.
 - `GameScene` consumes AI progress callbacks to update an on-screen think bar while a worker request is running.
+- `GameScene` now enforces `AI_MIN_THINK_MS = 1000` and `MOVE_OUTCOME_STATUS_MS = 2000` through timer-backed scene logic.
 - `AIWorkerClient` fails over pending work to in-thread `chooseMove()` if worker creation, posting, or deserialization fails.
+- The AI benchmark harness is now in source under `src/game/ai-benchmark.ts` and `src/game/ai-benchmark-fixtures.ts`, and `package.json` exposes it as `npm run benchmark:ai-quality`.
+- The current benchmark contract is iteration 5: 13 fixed fixtures, 6 critical concepts, and 48 self-play matches.
 - The Android wrapper targets SDK 36 with `minSdkVersion` 24 and applies immersive mode from the native activity.
-- Audio remains procedural via Web Audio; no dedicated audio asset pipeline is present in the source tree.
+- Audio remains procedural via Web Audio; there is still no dedicated audio asset pipeline in the source tree.
 - No ESLint or Prettier configuration is present.
 - The only repository-wide verification command supplied is `npx tsc --noEmit`.
 
 ## Potential Improvement Areas
 
-- `GameScene.ts` still centralizes layout, turn flow, HUD updates, effects, and audio in one scene class, which raises maintenance cost.
-- `ai.ts` still combines heuristic tiers, inference helpers, determinization, and alpha-beta evaluation in one module.
-- Worker transport is isolated cleanly, but progress rendering remains coupled to scene-level UI concerns.
-- A 4600 ms master search budget may still be noticeable on slower mobile devices even with batch yielding.
-- There is no dedicated automated rules or AI test suite beyond type-checking.
+- `GameScene.ts` still centralizes layout, turn flow, HUD updates, effects, audio, status messaging, and AI orchestration in one scene class.
+- `ai.ts` still combines heuristic tiers, inference helpers, determinization, move ordering, and alpha-beta evaluation in one module.
+- The current settings flow works, but the dual registration pattern for `SettingsScene` in `main.ts` plus dynamic replacement in `MenuScene` is fragile and worth simplifying later.
+- Worker transport is isolated cleanly, but progress rendering and fallback behavior remain coupled to scene-level UI concerns.
+- A 3.2 to 4.35 second master search window may still be noticeable on slower mobile devices even with yielding and the minimum-think pacing already in place.
+- There is no dedicated automated rules test suite beyond type-checking and the AI benchmark harness.
 - Formatting and style are enforced socially rather than by automated linting or formatting tools.
 
 ## Current Rule / Implementation Notes
@@ -39,14 +45,15 @@ Initializer refresh for SCOPONE-0009. The cached findings were stale relative to
 - When multiple direct matches exist, `findCaptures()` returns one single-card option per matching card.
 - Subset-sum captures are considered only when no direct match exists.
 - `applyMove()` defaults to the first legal capture if no explicit capture choice is supplied.
-- Scope is awarded only when a capture clears the table before the final play of the round.
+- Scopa is awarded only when a capture clears the table before the final play of the round.
 
 ### AI implementation snapshot
 
 - `beginner` uses a simpler heuristic with noise to remain beatable.
-- `advanced` adds race awareness, anti-scopa logic, partner setup, anchor play, and tracker-based probability estimates.
-- `master` orders legal moves with a quick evaluator, samples hidden hands, and scores them with alpha-beta search under the active deadline.
+- `advanced` adds race awareness, anti-scopa logic, partner setup, denari pressure, and tracker-based probability estimates.
+- `master` orders legal moves with a quick evaluator, samples hidden hands, and scores them with alpha-beta search under a dynamic deadline.
 - Progress is reported through `AIDecisionProgress` so the scene can keep the think bar responsive.
+- `CardTracker` now exposes same-rank residue summaries through `getValueRankResidue()` and `getValueRankResidueSummary()`, and those semantics are the live inference surface for unseen-value reasoning.
 
 ### Worker execution snapshot
 
@@ -59,11 +66,19 @@ Initializer refresh for SCOPONE-0009. The cached findings were stale relative to
 ### Scene / UI implementation snapshot
 
 - `BootScene` loads atlas assets and presents a simple loading bar.
-- `MenuScene` exposes difficulty selection before match start.
+- `MenuScene` now exposes both difficulty selection and a dedicated entry point into `SettingsScene`.
+- `SettingsScene` persists music and effects toggles immediately through `saveAudioPreferences()`.
+- `GameScene` reads normalized audio preferences from scene data or persisted storage before match start.
 - `GameScene` tracks played and captured cards in `CardTracker` as the round evolves.
-- The scene owns score HUD rendering, player labels, status text, think-bar rendering, and procedural particle effects.
+- The scene owns score HUD rendering, player labels, status text, think-bar rendering, procedural audio, and particle effects.
 - Round-end and match-end flows remain managed inside the scene instead of separate overlay components.
 
+### Benchmark snapshot
+
+- `ai-benchmark.ts` now uses a simulated timing source for fixture and self-play evaluation instead of depending only on wall-clock timing.
+- The benchmark summary records per-seed aggregates, dual-loss seeds, and a regression watchlist intersection.
+- The harness remains source-local under `src/`, so it is covered by the default `npx tsc --noEmit` include set.
+
 ## Research Performed
 
 ### Web Research: Scopone Scientifico Rules (2026-03-31)
@@ -118,34 +133,11 @@ Initializer refresh for SCOPONE-0009. The cached findings were stale relative to
 - The current `GameScene` pattern of registering one-shot shutdown and destroy handlers is aligned with Phaser guidance for worker disposal and UI cleanup.
 - Dealer rotation and next-round state changes can stay inside the existing in-scene orchestration without requiring a different Phaser lifecycle primitive.
 
-### SCOPONE-0009: Iteration 3 strength-planning notes (2026-04-08)
+### SCOPONE-0010: UI, settings, and benchmark refresh notes (2026-04-09)
 
-- `src/game/ai.ts` currently generates master determinization samples by uniformly shuffling all unseen cards and slicing them into opponents' hidden hands; it does not yet bias assignments by dealer role, parity residue, or observed capture semantics.
-- The transposition-table key in `src/game/ai.ts` includes the exact sampled hidden hands, so reuse is effective within a determinized sample but does not merge equivalent uncertainty classes across different sample assignments.
-- No executable benchmark harness or AI quality test module exists under `src/`; the current timing evidence lives only in prompt artifacts such as `prompts/SCOPONE-0009/iteration_2/benchmark_summary.md`.
-- `tsconfig.json` includes only `src`, so any automated quality or self-play harness that should be typechecked by the default `npx tsc --noEmit` command needs to live under `src/` unless the project configuration changes.
-
-### SCOPONE-0009: Iteration 3 continuation notes (2026-04-09)
-
-- The accepted iteration 3 benchmark work is now present in source: `src/game/ai-benchmark.ts` and `src/game/ai-benchmark-fixtures.ts` exist under `src/`, `package.json` exposes `benchmark:ai-quality`, and the harness already measures fixed fixtures, self-play, and production-master timing.
-- The live production master budgets in `src/game/ai.ts` are already below the requested five-second ceiling in every shipped branch: base `4300`, `<= 20 cards` `4350`, `<= 12 cards` `4200`, `<= 8 cards` `3900`, `<= 6 cards` `3600`, and `<= 4 cards` `3200` milliseconds.
-- `src/scenes/GameScene.ts` still executes AI turns immediately after `await aiClient.chooseMove(...)` resolves in `doAIMove()`; there is currently no scene-level minimum think-time floor.
-- `src/scenes/GameScene.ts` still uses a bare `setStatus(msg)` helper that only calls `this.statusText.setText(msg)`; there is no timed persistence policy, no cancellation of prior status timers, and no dedicated post-move outcome message path.
-- Phaser 3.87 scene timers can be cancelled with `TimerEvent.remove()` and their references cleaned with `TimerEvent.destroy()`; the current scene already listens to `shutdown` and `destroy`, so timed status cleanup belongs in the existing `handleSceneShutdown()` path.
-
-### SCOPONE-0009: Iteration 3 refresh notes (2026-04-09)
-
-- The current `src/game/ai.ts` heuristic does not reason about numeric even/odd card values; it already computes the unseen copy count for each rank and stores whether the remaining copies for that rank are in a singleton residue or a paired residue, but the internal names still use `oddResidue`, `evenResidue`, and `scoreParityTableState`, which can mislead future work.
-- The live tactical seam that needs refresh is therefore naming and policy framing, not a wholesale replacement of the underlying signal: the AI should explicitly treat `apparigliare` / `sparigliare` as preserving or breaking same-rank copy residues and connect that to table control, scopa prevention, and forced replies.
-- The accepted benchmark harness in `src/game/ai-benchmark.ts` still measures runtime with `performance.now()` and therefore depends on wall-clock search time. It does not yet use an injected or simulated search clock for fast validation runs.
-- `src/scenes/GameScene.ts` already contains the previously planned pacing and status work: `AI_MIN_THINK_MS = 1000`, `MOVE_OUTCOME_STATUS_MS = 2000`, a timer-backed `setStatus(...)`, and `handleSceneShutdown()` timer cleanup are all present in source and should be preserved rather than re-planned.
-- `src/game/ai-benchmark-fixtures.ts` still contains one fixture and tag using the stale label `dealer-parity-preserve-pair` / `critical-dealer-parity`; if benchmark files are reopened for simulated timing, that terminology should be refreshed to rank-residue wording at the same time.
-
-### SCOPONE-0009: Iteration 5 planning notes (2026-04-09)
-
-- The live AI quality harness in `src/game/ai-benchmark.ts` still hard-codes an `iteration: 4` quality gate with targets of `12` fixed fixtures, `4` critical concepts, and `48` self-play matches requiring `>= 30` wins and `<= 12` losses; the readable summary does not yet surface cross-seed aggregation such as the recurring dual-loss seeds from the latest rejected run.
-- `src/game/ai-benchmark-fixtures.ts` currently covers `settebello-capture`, `anti-scopa-defense`, `dealer-rank-residue-preservation`, and `exact-endgame-resolution` as critical concepts, but it does not yet encode an explicit critical fixture for partner invitation / partner scopa setup and does not yet make `fare scopa` itself a critical concept despite the user's new ordering.
-- Non-critical fixtures already exist for denari pressure, late denari shielding, and seven pressure, so the benchmark seam for iteration 5 is to rebalance critical-vs-fixed coverage and ordering expectations rather than to introduce a second harness.
-- Cross-tier heuristic priorities are concentrated in `src/game/ai.ts`: beginner logic in `scoreCaptureBeginner()` / `scoreDumpBeginner()`, advanced logic in `scoreCaptureAdv()` / `scoreDumpAdv()`, and master root/search logic in `quickEval()`, `orderSearchMoves()`, `generateSamples()`, and `evaluateFast()`.
-- Partner-aware logic already exists in all three tiers, but it is currently additive and distributed across multiple heuristics; there is no single explicit priority ladder that guarantees `partner setup` outranks seven denial, denari denial, and generic material capture across the whole file.
-- Anti-scopa prevention is already strong enough to pass the fixed tactical fixtures, but the rejected iteration 4 result (`18` wins, `30` losses over `48` seeded self-play matches) indicates that full-game strength is still limited by strategic continuity across seed-intrinsic lines rather than by isolated tactical blindness.
+- `src/game/preferences.ts` is now the authoritative audio preference seam. It normalizes stored values and shields scenes from malformed storage state.
+- `src/scenes/MenuScene.ts` now reads persisted audio preferences and exposes a dedicated settings entry point instead of keeping audio options implicit.
+- `src/scenes/SettingsScene.ts` exists as a real scene and persists music and effects toggles independently through `saveAudioPreferences()`.
+- `src/scenes/GameScene.ts` already contains the previously planned pacing and status work: `AI_MIN_THINK_MS = 1000`, `MOVE_OUTCOME_STATUS_MS = 2000`, timer-backed `setStatus(...)`, and `handleSceneShutdown()` timer cleanup are all present in source and should be treated as current behavior, not future work.
+- `src/game/ai-benchmark.ts` now enforces an iteration 5 contract with simulated timing, cross-seed aggregation, dual-loss reporting, and a regression watchlist intersection. Older findings that described iteration 4 targets or wall-clock-only timing are stale.
+- `main.ts` still registers a local `SettingsScene` stub while `MenuScene` dynamically installs the concrete scene implementation before use. This works today but is an architectural wrinkle worth remembering in later planning.
diff --git a/src/game/preferences.ts b/src/game/preferences.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5745e6f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/game/preferences.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+import { Difficulty } from './types';
+
+export interface AudioPreferences {
+  musicEnabled: boolean;
+  effectsEnabled: boolean;
+}
+
+export interface GameSceneData {
+  difficulty: Difficulty;
+  audioPreferences: AudioPreferences;
+}
+
+export interface SettingsSceneData {
+  returnSceneKey?: string;
+}
+
+export const AUDIO_PREFERENCES_STORAGE_KEY = 'scopone.audio-preferences';
+
+export const DEFAULT_AUDIO_PREFERENCES: AudioPreferences = {
+  musicEnabled: true,
+  effectsEnabled: true,
+};
+
+const cloneDefaultAudioPreferences = (): AudioPreferences => ({
+  ...DEFAULT_AUDIO_PREFERENCES,
+});
+
+const getBrowserStorage = (): Storage | null => {
+  if (typeof window === 'undefined') {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  try {
+    return window.localStorage;
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+};
+
+export const normalizeAudioPreferences = (value: unknown): AudioPreferences => {
+  if (!value || typeof value !== 'object') {
+    return cloneDefaultAudioPreferences();
+  }
+
+  const candidate = value as Partial<AudioPreferences>;
+
+  return {
+    musicEnabled:
+      typeof candidate.musicEnabled === 'boolean'
+        ? candidate.musicEnabled
+        : DEFAULT_AUDIO_PREFERENCES.musicEnabled,
+    effectsEnabled:
+      typeof candidate.effectsEnabled === 'boolean'
+        ? candidate.effectsEnabled
+        : DEFAULT_AUDIO_PREFERENCES.effectsEnabled,
+  };
+};
+
+export const loadAudioPreferences = (storage: Storage | null = getBrowserStorage()): AudioPreferences => {
+  if (!storage) {
+    return cloneDefaultAudioPreferences();
+  }
+
+  try {
+    const rawPreferences = storage.getItem(AUDIO_PREFERENCES_STORAGE_KEY);
+
+    if (!rawPreferences) {
+      return cloneDefaultAudioPreferences();
+    }
+
+    return normalizeAudioPreferences(JSON.parse(rawPreferences));
+  } catch {
+    return cloneDefaultAudioPreferences();
+  }
+};
+
+export const saveAudioPreferences = (
+  preferences: AudioPreferences,
+  storage: Storage | null = getBrowserStorage(),
+): AudioPreferences => {
+  const normalizedPreferences = normalizeAudioPreferences(preferences);
+
+  if (!storage) {
+    return normalizedPreferences;
+  }
+
+  try {
+    storage.setItem(AUDIO_PREFERENCES_STORAGE_KEY, JSON.stringify(normalizedPreferences));
+  } catch {
+    return normalizedPreferences;
+  }
+
+  return normalizedPreferences;
+};
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/main.ts b/src/main.ts
index 86530bd..b41bd50 100644
--- a/src/main.ts
+++ b/src/main.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,12 @@ import { BootScene } from './scenes/BootScene';
 import { MenuScene } from './scenes/MenuScene';
 import { GameScene } from './scenes/GameScene';
 
+class SettingsScene extends Phaser.Scene {
+  constructor() {
+    super({ key: 'SettingsScene' });
+  }
+}
+
 const installFullscreenRequest = (host: HTMLElement): void => {
   const canRequestFullscreen =
     typeof document.fullscreenEnabled === 'boolean'
@@ -48,7 +54,7 @@ const config: Phaser.Types.Core.GameConfig = {
   height: 720,
   backgroundColor: '#1a5c2a',
   parent: 'game',
-  scene: [BootScene, MenuScene, GameScene],
+  scene: [BootScene, MenuScene, GameScene, SettingsScene],
   scale: {
     mode: Phaser.Scale.FIT,
     autoCenter: Phaser.Scale.CENTER_BOTH,
diff --git a/src/scenes/GameScene.ts b/src/scenes/GameScene.ts
index bae1aed..d3d2b64 100644
--- a/src/scenes/GameScene.ts
+++ b/src/scenes/GameScene.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,12 @@ import {
 import { AIMove, AIDecisionProgress } from '../game/ai';
 import { AIWorkerClient, AIWorkerClientLike } from '../game/ai-worker-client';
 import { CardTracker } from '../game/card-tracker';
+import {
+  DEFAULT_AUDIO_PREFERENCES,
+  GameSceneData,
+  loadAudioPreferences,
+  normalizeAudioPreferences,
+} from '../game/preferences';
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Suit ordering for hand grouping
@@ -31,6 +37,10 @@ const CH_A = 645 * CARD_SCALE_AI;      // card height for AI     ≈ 81
 const SCOREBAR_H = 54;
 const AI_MIN_THINK_MS = 1000;
 const MOVE_OUTCOME_STATUS_MS = 2000;
+const PLAYED_CARD_TRAVEL_MS = 400;
+const CAPTURE_COLLAPSE_MS = 480;
+const CAPTURE_COLLAPSE_DELAY_MS = 60;
+const NON_CAPTURE_TABLE_TWEEN_MS = 560;
 
 // Player positions:
 // 0 = South (human, bottom), 1 = West (AI, left, rotated -90°)
@@ -101,6 +111,7 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
   private audioCtx: AudioContext | null = null;
   private musicGain: GainNode | null = null;
   private musicStarted = false;
+  private audioPreferences = DEFAULT_AUDIO_PREFERENCES;
 
   constructor() {
     super({ key: 'GameScene' });
@@ -110,13 +121,16 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
   // Create
   // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-  create(data?: { difficulty?: Difficulty }): void {
+  create(data?: Partial<GameSceneData>): void {
     const W = this.scale.width;
     const H = this.scale.height;
     this.tableCenter = { x: W / 2, y: (H + SCOREBAR_H) / 2 + 10 };
 
     // Read difficulty from scene data (MenuScene passes it)
     this.difficulty = data?.difficulty ?? 'advanced';
+    this.audioPreferences = data?.audioPreferences
+      ? normalizeAudioPreferences(data.audioPreferences)
+      : loadAudioPreferences();
     this.tracker = new CardTracker();
     this.aiClient?.dispose();
     this.aiClient = new AIWorkerClient();
@@ -467,12 +481,47 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
   }
 
   private buildMoveOutcomeStatus(playerIdx: PlayerIndex, card: Card, capture: Card[] | null): string {
-    const player = this.state.players[playerIdx];
+    const actor = this.getMoveActorPrefix(playerIdx);
+
     if (!capture || capture.length === 0) {
-      return `${player.name} gioca ${cardName(card)}`;
+      return `${actor} giocato ${cardName(card)}.`;
     }
 
-    return `${player.name} cattura ${capture.map(cardName).join(', ')} con ${cardName(card)}`;
+    return `${actor} preso ${capture.map(cardName).join(', ')} con ${cardName(card)}.`;
+  }
+
+  private getTurnStatus(playerIdx: PlayerIndex): string {
+    switch (playerIdx) {
+      case 0:
+        return 'Tocca a te.';
+      case 2:
+        return 'Sta giocando il tuo compagno.';
+      default:
+        return `Sta giocando ${this.state.players[playerIdx].name}.`;
+    }
+  }
+
+  private getMoveActorPrefix(playerIdx: PlayerIndex): string {
+    switch (playerIdx) {
+      case 0:
+        return 'Hai';
+      case 2:
+        return 'Il tuo compagno ha';
+      default:
+        return `${this.state.players[playerIdx].name} ha`;
+    }
+  }
+
+  private getSingleCapturePrompt(capture: Card[]): string {
+    return `Puoi prendere ${capture.map(cardName).join(', ')}. Clicca di nuovo per confermare.`;
+  }
+
+  private getAiMoveErrorStatus(playerIdx: PlayerIndex): string {
+    if (playerIdx === 2) {
+      return 'Problema durante la mossa del tuo compagno.';
+    }
+
+    return `Problema durante la mossa di ${this.state.players[playerIdx].name}.`;
   }
 
   // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -662,7 +711,7 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     if (this.state.roundOver) { this.showRoundEnd(); return; }
     const cur = this.state.currentPlayer;
     const player = this.state.players[cur];
-    this.setStatus(`Turno di ${player.name}`, { persist: true });
+    this.setStatus(this.getTurnStatus(cur), { persist: true });
     this.pulseLabel(cur);
 
     if (player.isHuman) {
@@ -725,7 +774,7 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     } catch (error) {
       console.error('AI move failed', error);
       if (this.aiClient === aiClient && this.scene.isActive('GameScene') && this.state === turnState) {
-        this.setStatus('Errore durante la mossa AI');
+        this.setStatus(this.getAiMoveErrorStatus(playerIdx));
       }
     } finally {
       if (this.aiClient === aiClient && this.scene.isActive('GameScene') && this.state === turnState) {
@@ -795,14 +844,14 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     }
 
     if (captures.length === 0) {
-      this.setStatus('Nessuna cattura — clicca di nuovo per giocare sul tavolo');
+      this.setStatus('Non puoi prendere nulla: clicca di nuovo per lasciare la carta sul tavolo.');
       this.highlightTableForDump(card);
     } else if (captures.length === 1) {
-      this.setStatus(`Cattura: ${captures[0].map(cardName).join(', ')} — clicca di nuovo per confermare`);
+      this.setStatus(this.getSingleCapturePrompt(captures[0]));
       this.pendingCaptures = captures;
       this.highlightCapture(captures[0]);
     } else {
-      this.setStatus('Scegli le carte da catturare');
+      this.setStatus('Scegli quale presa vuoi fare.');
       this.pendingCaptures = captures;
       this.highlightMultipleCaptures(captures);
     }
@@ -878,7 +927,7 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
       bg.lineStyle(2, color.stroke, 0.8);
       bg.strokeRoundedRect(W / 2 - 180, y - 14, 360, 28, 7);
       const btn = this.add.zone(W / 2, y, 360, 28).setInteractive({ useHandCursor: true }).setDepth(21);
-      const txt = this.add.text(W / 2, y, `Cattura: ${label}`, {
+      const txt = this.add.text(W / 2, y, `Prendi: ${label}`, {
         fontFamily: 'serif', fontSize: '14px', color: color.text,
       }).setOrigin(0.5).setDepth(21);
       btn.on('pointerdown', () => this.confirmMove(this.selectedCard!, cap));
@@ -966,7 +1015,7 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
       this.tweens.add({
         targets: cardImg,
         x: this.tableCenter.x, y: this.tableCenter.y,
-        duration: 200, ease: 'Power2',
+        duration: PLAYED_CARD_TRAVEL_MS, ease: 'Power2',
         onComplete: () => {
           this.spawnCaptureEffect(this.tableCenter.x, this.tableCenter.y, isSettebello);
 
@@ -991,7 +1040,7 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
             this.tweens.add({
               targets: img,
               x: pilePos.x, y: pilePos.y, alpha: 0,
-              duration: 240, delay: 30,
+              duration: CAPTURE_COLLAPSE_MS, delay: CAPTURE_COLLAPSE_DELAY_MS,
               onComplete: () => {
                 img.setVisible(false);
                 done++;
@@ -1022,7 +1071,7 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
       this.tweens.add({
         targets: cardImg,
         x: tablePos.x, y: tablePos.y, angle: randomAngle,
-        duration: 280, ease: 'Back.Out',
+        duration: NON_CAPTURE_TABLE_TWEEN_MS, ease: 'Back.Out',
         onComplete: () => this.afterMove(playerIdx, card, null, nextState, oldState),
       });
     }
@@ -1300,6 +1349,7 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
   // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   private startMusic(): void {
+    if (!this.audioPreferences.musicEnabled) return;
     if (this.musicStarted) return;
     this.musicStarted = true;
     try {
@@ -1374,6 +1424,7 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
   }
 
   private playSfx(type: 'card_play' | 'capture' | 'scopa' | 'settebello'): void {
+    if (!this.audioPreferences.effectsEnabled) return;
     if (!this.audioCtx) return;
     const ctx = this.audioCtx;
     const now = ctx.currentTime;
@@ -1406,6 +1457,7 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
   }
 
   private stopMusic(): void {
+    if (!this.audioPreferences.musicEnabled) return;
     if (this.musicGain && this.audioCtx) {
       this.musicGain.gain.linearRampToValueAtTime(0, this.audioCtx.currentTime + 1.5);
     }
@@ -1432,14 +1484,14 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     panel.strokeRoundedRect(W / 2 - 280, H / 2 - 210, 560, 420, 16);
 
     const lines: Array<[string, string]> = [
-      [`Fine Mano ${this.state.roundNumber ?? 1}`, '#ffd700'],
+      [`Fine della mano ${this.state.roundNumber ?? 1}`, '#ffd700'],
       ['', ''],
-      [`Team A   +${t0.roundPoints} pt   →   ${t0.totalPoints} totali`, '#aaffaa'],
-      [`Team B   +${t1.roundPoints} pt   →   ${t1.totalPoints} totali`, '#ffaaaa'],
+      [`Squadra tua   +${t0.roundPoints} pt   →   ${t0.totalPoints} totali`, '#aaffaa'],
+      [`Avversari     +${t1.roundPoints} pt   →   ${t1.totalPoints} totali`, '#ffaaaa'],
       ['', ''],
       [`Carte     A=${t0.cards}  B=${t1.cards}   ${pointStr(bd.cartePoint)}`,     '#ffffff'],
       [`Denari    A=${t0.denari}  B=${t1.denari}   ${pointStr(bd.denariPoint)}`,   '#ffdd88'],
-      [`Settebello  →  ${bd.settebelloPoint === 0 ? 'Team A' : 'Team B'}`,        '#ffd700'],
+      [`Settebello  →  ${bd.settebelloPoint === 0 ? 'squadra tua' : 'avversari'}`, '#ffd700'],
       [`Primiera  A=${t0.primiera}  B=${t1.primiera}   ${pointStr(bd.primieraPoint)}`, '#aaddff'],
       [`Scope     A=${bd.scopeTeam0}  B=${bd.scopeTeam1}`,                         '#ccffcc'],
     ];
@@ -1501,11 +1553,11 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     pg.lineStyle(3, 0xffd700, 0.8);
     pg.strokeRoundedRect(W / 2 - 220, H / 2 - 150, 440, 310, 20);
 
-    this.add.text(W / 2, H / 2 - 110, 'PARTITA FINITA', {
+    this.add.text(W / 2, H / 2 - 110, 'PARTITA CONCLUSA', {
       fontFamily: 'Georgia, serif', fontSize: '44px', color: '#ffd700',
       stroke: '#000', strokeThickness: 6,
     }).setOrigin(0.5).setDepth(42);
-    this.add.text(W / 2, H / 2 - 30, win ? 'Team A (Tu + Compagno)' : 'Team B (AI)', {
+    this.add.text(W / 2, H / 2 - 30, win ? 'Vince la tua squadra' : 'Vincono gli avversari', {
       fontFamily: 'serif', fontSize: '26px',
       color: win ? '#aaffaa' : '#ffaaaa',
     }).setOrigin(0.5).setDepth(42);
@@ -1584,5 +1636,5 @@ function cardName(card: Card): string {
 }
 
 function pointStr(p: 0 | 1 | null): string {
-  return p === null ? '(pari)' : p === 0 ? '→ A' : '→ B';
+  return p === null ? '(pari)' : p === 0 ? '→ squadra tua' : '→ avversari';
 }
diff --git a/src/scenes/MenuScene.ts b/src/scenes/MenuScene.ts
index 76c17ad..c58c576 100644
--- a/src/scenes/MenuScene.ts
+++ b/src/scenes/MenuScene.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,47 @@
 import Phaser from 'phaser';
 import { Difficulty } from '../game/types';
+import { GameSceneData, loadAudioPreferences } from '../game/preferences';
+import { SettingsScene } from './SettingsScene';
+
+type MenuButtonPalette = {
+  base: number;
+  hover: number;
+};
+
+type DifficultyOption = {
+  label: string;
+  subtitle: string;
+  value: Difficulty;
+  palette: MenuButtonPalette;
+};
+
+type RuleSection = {
+  heading: string;
+  lines: string[];
+};
+
+const TITLE_STYLE: Phaser.Types.GameObjects.Text.TextStyle = {
+  fontFamily: 'Georgia, serif',
+  fontSize: '52px',
+  color: '#ffd700',
+  stroke: '#000000',
+  strokeThickness: 4,
+  resolution: 2,
+};
+
+const PANEL_TITLE_STYLE: Phaser.Types.GameObjects.Text.TextStyle = {
+  fontFamily: 'Georgia, serif',
+  fontSize: '24px',
+  color: '#ffd700',
+  resolution: 2,
+};
+
+const BODY_STYLE: Phaser.Types.GameObjects.Text.TextStyle = {
+  fontFamily: 'Georgia, serif',
+  fontSize: '18px',
+  color: '#f8f5e6',
+  resolution: 2,
+};
 
 export class MenuScene extends Phaser.Scene {
   constructor() {
@@ -7,97 +49,244 @@ export class MenuScene extends Phaser.Scene {
   }
 
   create(): void {
-    const W = this.scale.width;
-    const H = this.scale.height;
+    const width = this.scale.width;
+    const height = this.scale.height;
+    const audioPreferences = loadAudioPreferences();
 
-    // Background felt
-    this.add.rectangle(0, 0, W, H, 0x1a5c2a).setOrigin(0);
+    this.drawBackground(width, height);
+    this.drawDecorativeCards(width, height);
+    this.ensureSettingsSceneAvailable();
 
-    // Title
-    this.add.text(W / 2, H * 0.18, 'Scopone Scientifico', {
+    this.add.text(width / 2, 92, 'Scopone Scientifico', TITLE_STYLE).setOrigin(0.5);
+    this.add.text(width / 2, 142, 'Due squadre da due, una mano intera e lettura del tavolo fino all’ultimo punto.', {
       fontFamily: 'Georgia, serif',
-      fontSize: '52px',
-      color: '#ffd700',
-      stroke: '#000000',
-      strokeThickness: 4,
+      fontSize: '21px',
+      color: '#d9f2d2',
       resolution: 2,
     }).setOrigin(0.5);
 
-    this.add.text(W / 2, H * 0.30, '2 vs 2 · Tu + Compagno vs 2 AI', {
-      fontFamily: 'serif',
-      fontSize: '22px',
-      color: '#ccffcc',
-      resolution: 2,
-    }).setOrigin(0.5);
+    this.createRulesPanel(width, height);
+    this.createControlPanel(width, height, audioPreferences);
+  }
 
-    // Rules summary
-    const rules = [
-      '40 carte Napoletane · 10 a testa',
-      'Cattura per valore o somma',
-      'Punteggio: Carte · Denari · Settebello · Primiera · Scope',
-      'Prima squadra a 11 punti vince',
+  private drawBackground(width: number, height: number): void {
+    this.add.rectangle(0, 0, width, height, 0x123d22).setOrigin(0);
+    this.add.rectangle(width / 2, height / 2, width - 60, height - 60, 0x0b2916, 0.28)
+      .setStrokeStyle(2, 0xe8c25d, 0.35);
+    this.add.rectangle(width * 0.34, height * 0.58, width * 0.46, height * 0.50, 0x0d2215, 0.82)
+      .setStrokeStyle(2, 0xc8a445, 0.4);
+    this.add.rectangle(width * 0.77, height * 0.58, width * 0.24, height * 0.50, 0x10261b, 0.86)
+      .setStrokeStyle(2, 0xc8a445, 0.4);
+  }
+
+  private drawDecorativeCards(width: number, height: number): void {
+    const positions = [
+      [width * 0.08, height * 0.85],
+      [width * 0.14, height * 0.87],
+      [width * 0.92, height * 0.85],
+      [width * 0.86, height * 0.87],
     ];
-    rules.forEach((line, i) => {
-      this.add.text(W / 2, H * 0.40 + i * 26, line, {
-        fontFamily: 'serif',
-        fontSize: '17px',
-        color: '#ffffff',
-        resolution: 2,
-      }).setOrigin(0.5);
+
+    positions.forEach(([x, y]) => {
+      this.add.image(x, y, 'retro').setScale(0.08).setAngle(Phaser.Math.Between(-15, 15)).setAlpha(0.9);
     });
+  }
 
-    // Difficulty selection label
-    this.add.text(W / 2, H * 0.60, 'Scegli la difficoltà:', {
-      fontFamily: 'Georgia, serif',
-      fontSize: '20px',
-      color: '#ffd700',
-      resolution: 2,
-    }).setOrigin(0.5);
-
-    // Difficulty buttons
-    const difficulties: Array<{ label: string; value: Difficulty; color: number; hoverColor: number }> = [
-      { label: 'Principiante', value: 'beginner',  color: 0x4caf50, hoverColor: 0x66bb6a },
-      { label: 'Avanzato',     value: 'advanced',  color: 0xff9800, hoverColor: 0xffb74d },
-      { label: 'Maestro',      value: 'master',    color: 0xf44336, hoverColor: 0xef5350 },
+  private createRulesPanel(width: number, height: number): void {
+    const panelX = width * 0.12;
+    const panelY = 206;
+    const sections: RuleSection[] = [
+      {
+        heading: 'Tavolo e squadre',
+        lines: [
+          'Si gioca in coppia: Sud e Nord contro Ovest ed Est.',
+          'Nel vero scopone si distribuiscono tutte le 40 carte, 10 a giocatore.',
+        ],
+      },
+      {
+        heading: 'Come si prende',
+        lines: [
+          'Ogni carta cattura una carta dello stesso valore oppure una combinazione equivalente.',
+          'Se sul tavolo c’è una presa diretta dello stesso valore, quella ha sempre la precedenza.',
+        ],
+      },
+      {
+        heading: 'Punteggio partita',
+        lines: [
+          'A fine mano contano carte, denari, settebello, primiera e scope.',
+          'La sfida prosegue mano dopo mano finché una squadra arriva ad almeno 11 punti.',
+        ],
+      },
     ];
 
-    const btnWidth = 200;
-    const btnHeight = 50;
-    const totalWidth = difficulties.length * btnWidth + (difficulties.length - 1) * 20;
-    const startX = (W - totalWidth) / 2 + btnWidth / 2;
+    this.add.text(panelX, panelY, 'Regolamento essenziale', PANEL_TITLE_STYLE).setOrigin(0, 0.5);
 
-    difficulties.forEach((d, i) => {
-      const x = startX + i * (btnWidth + 20);
-      const y = H * 0.70;
-
-      const btn = this.add.rectangle(x, y, btnWidth, btnHeight, d.color, 1)
-        .setInteractive({ useHandCursor: true });
-
-      this.add.text(x, y, d.label, {
+    let currentY = panelY + 44;
+    sections.forEach((section) => {
+      this.add.text(panelX, currentY, section.heading, {
         fontFamily: 'Georgia, serif',
         fontSize: '20px',
         color: '#ffffff',
-        stroke: '#000000',
-        strokeThickness: 2,
         resolution: 2,
-      }).setOrigin(0.5);
+      }).setOrigin(0, 0.5);
+      currentY += 30;
 
-      btn.on('pointerover', () => btn.setFillStyle(d.hoverColor));
-      btn.on('pointerout', () => btn.setFillStyle(d.color));
-      btn.on('pointerdown', () => {
-        this.cameras.main.fadeOut(300, 0, 30, 0);
-        this.cameras.main.once('camerafadeoutcomplete', () => {
-          this.scene.start('GameScene', { difficulty: d.value });
-        });
+      section.lines.forEach((line) => {
+        this.add.text(panelX, currentY, `• ${line}`, {
+          ...BODY_STYLE,
+          wordWrap: { width: width * 0.40 },
+          lineSpacing: 5,
+        }).setOrigin(0, 0);
+        currentY += 54;
+      });
+
+      currentY += 6;
+    });
+
+    this.add.text(panelX, height - 92, 'Scegli la difficoltà quando vuoi iniziare: le preferenze audio vengono lette al momento della partita.', {
+      ...BODY_STYLE,
+      fontSize: '16px',
+      color: '#cfe5cd',
+      wordWrap: { width: width * 0.41 },
+    }).setOrigin(0, 0.5);
+  }
+
+  private createControlPanel(width: number, height: number, audioPreferences: ReturnType<typeof loadAudioPreferences>): void {
+    const panelCenterX = width * 0.77;
+    const difficultyOptions: DifficultyOption[] = [
+      {
+        label: 'Principiante',
+        subtitle: 'AI prudente e leggibile',
+        value: 'beginner',
+        palette: { base: 0x2e7d32, hover: 0x43a047 },
+      },
+      {
+        label: 'Avanzato',
+        subtitle: 'Pressione costante sul tavolo',
+        value: 'advanced',
+        palette: { base: 0xd97706, hover: 0xf59e0b },
+      },
+      {
+        label: 'Maestro',
+        subtitle: 'Massima lettura e priorità alle prese forti',
+        value: 'master',
+        palette: { base: 0xb91c1c, hover: 0xdc2626 },
+      },
+    ];
+
+    this.add.text(panelCenterX, 214, 'Inizia una partita', PANEL_TITLE_STYLE).setOrigin(0.5);
+    this.add.text(panelCenterX, 250, 'Ogni partita usa la difficoltà scelta qui sotto e le preferenze audio salvate.', {
+      ...BODY_STYLE,
+      fontSize: '16px',
+      color: '#d7ead1',
+      align: 'center',
+      wordWrap: { width: 250 },
+    }).setOrigin(0.5, 0);
+
+    difficultyOptions.forEach((option, index) => {
+      const y = 340 + index * 96;
+      this.createButton(panelCenterX, y, 260, 64, option.label, option.subtitle, option.palette, () => {
+        this.startGame(option.value);
       });
     });
 
-    // Show some face-down cards decoratively
-    const positions = [
-      [W * 0.08, H * 0.85], [W * 0.14, H * 0.87], [W * 0.92, H * 0.85], [W * 0.86, H * 0.87],
-    ];
-    for (const [x, y] of positions) {
-      this.add.image(x, y, 'retro').setScale(0.08).setAngle(Phaser.Math.Between(-15, 15));
+    const musicLabel = audioPreferences.musicEnabled ? 'attiva' : 'disattivata';
+    const effectsLabel = audioPreferences.effectsEnabled ? 'attivi' : 'disattivati';
+
+    this.add.text(panelCenterX, height - 154, `Musica ${musicLabel} · Effetti ${effectsLabel}`, {
+      ...BODY_STYLE,
+      fontSize: '16px',
+      color: '#cfe5cd',
+      align: 'center',
+    }).setOrigin(0.5);
+
+    this.createButton(
+      panelCenterX,
+      height - 100,
+      260,
+      58,
+      'Impostazioni audio',
+      'Modifica musica ed effetti in modo indipendente',
+      { base: 0x1f6f78, hover: 0x2f8f99 },
+      () => {
+        this.openSettings();
+      },
+    );
+  }
+
+  private createButton(
+    x: number,
+    y: number,
+    width: number,
+    height: number,
+    label: string,
+    subtitle: string,
+    palette: MenuButtonPalette,
+    onClick: () => void,
+  ): void {
+    const background = this.add.rectangle(x, y, width, height, palette.base, 1)
+      .setStrokeStyle(2, 0xf5e1a4, 0.4)
+      .setInteractive({ useHandCursor: true });
+
+    this.add.text(x, y - 10, label, {
+      fontFamily: 'Georgia, serif',
+      fontSize: '21px',
+      color: '#ffffff',
+      stroke: '#000000',
+      strokeThickness: 2,
+      resolution: 2,
+    }).setOrigin(0.5);
+
+    this.add.text(x, y + 14, subtitle, {
+      fontFamily: 'Georgia, serif',
+      fontSize: '13px',
+      color: '#f7f1d5',
+      resolution: 2,
+      align: 'center',
+    }).setOrigin(0.5);
+
+    background.on('pointerover', () => background.setFillStyle(palette.hover));
+    background.on('pointerout', () => background.setFillStyle(palette.base));
+    background.on('pointerdown', onClick);
+  }
+
+  private startGame(difficulty: Difficulty): void {
+    const gameData: GameSceneData = {
+      difficulty,
+      audioPreferences: loadAudioPreferences(),
+    };
+
+    this.cameras.main.fadeOut(300, 0, 30, 0);
+    this.cameras.main.once('camerafadeoutcomplete', () => {
+      this.scene.start('GameScene', gameData);
+    });
+  }
+
+  private openSettings(): void {
+    this.ensureSettingsSceneAvailable();
+    this.cameras.main.fadeOut(250, 0, 30, 0);
+    this.cameras.main.once('camerafadeoutcomplete', () => {
+      this.scene.start('SettingsScene', { returnSceneKey: 'MenuScene' });
+    });
+  }
+
+  private ensureSettingsSceneAvailable(): void {
+    let existingScene: Phaser.Scene | null = null;
+
+    try {
+      existingScene = this.scene.get('SettingsScene');
+    } catch {
+      existingScene = null;
     }
+
+    if (existingScene instanceof SettingsScene) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (existingScene) {
+      this.scene.remove('SettingsScene');
+    }
+
+    this.scene.add('SettingsScene', SettingsScene, false);
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/scenes/SettingsScene.ts b/src/scenes/SettingsScene.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f51f273
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/scenes/SettingsScene.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,193 @@
+import Phaser from 'phaser';
+import {
+  AudioPreferences,
+  SettingsSceneData,
+  loadAudioPreferences,
+  saveAudioPreferences,
+} from '../game/preferences';
+
+type ToggleDefinition = {
+  key: keyof AudioPreferences;
+  label: string;
+  description: string;
+};
+
+type ToggleVisuals = {
+  background: Phaser.GameObjects.Rectangle;
+  statusText: Phaser.GameObjects.Text;
+};
+
+const TOGGLE_DEFINITIONS: ToggleDefinition[] = [
+  {
+    key: 'musicEnabled',
+    label: 'Musica del tavolo',
+    description: 'Controlla il tappeto sonoro di sottofondo durante la partita.',
+  },
+  {
+    key: 'effectsEnabled',
+    label: 'Effetti di gioco',
+    description: 'Attiva prese, scope e segnali sonori senza toccare la musica.',
+  },
+];
+
+export class SettingsScene extends Phaser.Scene {
+  private preferences: AudioPreferences = loadAudioPreferences();
+  private returnSceneKey = 'MenuScene';
+  private toggleVisuals = new Map<keyof AudioPreferences, ToggleVisuals>();
+
+  constructor() {
+    super({ key: 'SettingsScene' });
+  }
+
+  create(data?: SettingsSceneData): void {
+    const width = this.scale.width;
+    const height = this.scale.height;
+
+    this.preferences = loadAudioPreferences();
+    this.returnSceneKey = data?.returnSceneKey ?? 'MenuScene';
+
+    this.add.rectangle(0, 0, width, height, 0x123d22).setOrigin(0);
+    this.add.rectangle(width / 2, height / 2, width - 120, height - 120, 0x0d2216, 0.88)
+      .setStrokeStyle(2, 0xd9b75f, 0.45);
+
+    this.add.text(width / 2, 120, 'Impostazioni audio', {
+      fontFamily: 'Georgia, serif',
+      fontSize: '46px',
+      color: '#ffd700',
+      stroke: '#000000',
+      strokeThickness: 4,
+      resolution: 2,
+    }).setOrigin(0.5);
+
+    this.add.text(width / 2, 176, 'Musica ed effetti sono separati: ogni scelta viene salvata subito e sarà usata nelle prossime partite.', {
+      fontFamily: 'Georgia, serif',
+      fontSize: '19px',
+      color: '#d7ead1',
+      resolution: 2,
+      align: 'center',
+      wordWrap: { width: 760 },
+    }).setOrigin(0.5);
+
+    TOGGLE_DEFINITIONS.forEach((definition, index) => {
+      this.createToggleRow(definition, width / 2, 286 + index * 132, 760, 96);
+    });
+
+    this.add.text(width / 2, 556, 'Puoi tornare al menu in qualsiasi momento: la difficoltà si sceglie lì, l’audio resta salvato qui.', {
+      fontFamily: 'Georgia, serif',
+      fontSize: '16px',
+      color: '#cfe5cd',
+      resolution: 2,
+      align: 'center',
+      wordWrap: { width: 720 },
+    }).setOrigin(0.5);
+
+    this.createButton(width / 2, height - 112, 280, 60, 'Torna al menu', 'Rientra alla schermata iniziale', () => {
+      this.returnToMenu();
+    });
+  }
+
+  private createToggleRow(definition: ToggleDefinition, x: number, y: number, width: number, height: number): void {
+    const row = this.add.rectangle(x, y, width, height, 0x173323, 0.96)
+      .setStrokeStyle(2, 0xcaa74a, 0.35)
+      .setInteractive({ useHandCursor: true });
+
+    this.add.text(x - width / 2 + 28, y - 16, definition.label, {
+      fontFamily: 'Georgia, serif',
+      fontSize: '24px',
+      color: '#ffffff',
+      resolution: 2,
+    }).setOrigin(0, 0.5);
+
+    this.add.text(x - width / 2 + 28, y + 14, definition.description, {
+      fontFamily: 'Georgia, serif',
+      fontSize: '16px',
+      color: '#d8ead2',
+      resolution: 2,
+      wordWrap: { width: 470 },
+    }).setOrigin(0, 0.5);
+
+    const toggleBackground = this.add.rectangle(x + width / 2 - 106, y, 148, 46, 0x356b39, 1)
+      .setStrokeStyle(2, 0xf5e1a4, 0.45);
+    const statusText = this.add.text(x + width / 2 - 106, y, '', {
+      fontFamily: 'Georgia, serif',
+      fontSize: '20px',
+      color: '#ffffff',
+      resolution: 2,
+    }).setOrigin(0.5);
+
+    this.toggleVisuals.set(definition.key, {
+      background: toggleBackground,
+      statusText,
+    });
+
+    row.on('pointerdown', () => {
+      this.togglePreference(definition.key);
+    });
+    row.on('pointerover', () => row.setFillStyle(0x1d402c, 1));
+    row.on('pointerout', () => row.setFillStyle(0x173323, 0.96));
+
+    this.refreshToggle(definition.key);
+  }
+
+  private createButton(
+    x: number,
+    y: number,
+    width: number,
+    height: number,
+    label: string,
+    subtitle: string,
+    onClick: () => void,
+  ): void {
+    const button = this.add.rectangle(x, y, width, height, 0x1f6f78, 1)
+      .setStrokeStyle(2, 0xf5e1a4, 0.4)
+      .setInteractive({ useHandCursor: true });
+
+    this.add.text(x, y - 10, label, {
+      fontFamily: 'Georgia, serif',
+      fontSize: '21px',
+      color: '#ffffff',
+      stroke: '#000000',
+      strokeThickness: 2,
+      resolution: 2,
+    }).setOrigin(0.5);
+
+    this.add.text(x, y + 14, subtitle, {
+      fontFamily: 'Georgia, serif',
+      fontSize: '13px',
+      color: '#f7f1d5',
+      resolution: 2,
+      align: 'center',
+    }).setOrigin(0.5);
+
+    button.on('pointerover', () => button.setFillStyle(0x2f8f99));
+    button.on('pointerout', () => button.setFillStyle(0x1f6f78));
+    button.on('pointerdown', onClick);
+  }
+
+  private togglePreference(key: keyof AudioPreferences): void {
+    this.preferences = saveAudioPreferences({
+      ...this.preferences,
+      [key]: !this.preferences[key],
+    });
+    this.refreshToggle(key);
+  }
+
+  private refreshToggle(key: keyof AudioPreferences): void {
+    const visuals = this.toggleVisuals.get(key);
+
+    if (!visuals) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const enabled = this.preferences[key];
+    visuals.background.setFillStyle(enabled ? 0x356b39 : 0x7a2f2f);
+    visuals.statusText.setText(enabled ? 'Attivo' : 'Disattivato');
+  }
+
+  private returnToMenu(): void {
+    this.cameras.main.fadeOut(250, 0, 30, 0);
+    this.cameras.main.once('camerafadeoutcomplete', () => {
+      this.scene.start(this.returnSceneKey);
+    });
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file