diff --git a/public/src/games/gofish/GoFishGame.js b/public/src/games/gofish/GoFishGame.js
index 8136e7b..d7e7bb8 100644
--- a/public/src/games/gofish/GoFishGame.js
+++ b/public/src/games/gofish/GoFishGame.js
@@ -651,7 +651,7 @@ export default class GoFishGame extends Phaser.Scene {
     if (after === before) { this.animating = false; return; }
     const last = after.lastAsk;
 
-    this.animateAsk(askerSeat, targetSeat, rank, last, before, () => {
+    this.animateAsk(askerSeat, targetSeat, rank, last, before, (liveSprites) => {
       // Fish with pool cards remaining — player must pick interactively.
       if (after.phase === 'pick') {
         this.gs = after;
@@ -678,16 +678,17 @@ export default class GoFishGame extends Phaser.Scene {
       }
 
       if (last.newPairs > 0 && last.pairedCards?.length >= 2) {
-        this.time.delayedCall(600, () => {
-          this.hideBanner();
+        // Cards from animateAsk are already visible in position.
+        // Do NOT call renderAll() here — it would destroy the liveSprites.
+        // renderAll() is deferred to after the pair animation completes.
+        this.hideBanner();
+        this.animatePairedCards(askerSeat, last.pairedCards, () => {
           this.renderAll();
           this.updateStatus();
-          this.animatePairedCards(askerSeat, last.pairedCards, () => {
-            this.animating = false;
-            if (isGameOver(this.gs)) { this.endGame(); return; }
-            this.maybeStartAITurn();
-          });
-        });
+          this.animating = false;
+          if (isGameOver(this.gs)) { this.endGame(); return; }
+          this.maybeStartAITurn();
+        }, liveSprites ?? null);
       } else {
         this.time.delayedCall(900, () => {
           this.renderAll();
@@ -754,24 +755,31 @@ export default class GoFishGame extends Phaser.Scene {
             return { sprite, tx, ty };
           });
 
+          // After target cards are shown, fan all sprites into a holding position
+          // at the asker's show zone — they stay visible for the pair animation.
           const waitMs = 250 + (n - 1) * 80 + 380;
           this.time.delayedCall(waitMs, () => {
-            if (askerSprite.active) {
-              this.tweens.add({
-                targets: askerSprite, alpha: 0, duration: 200,
-                onComplete: () => { if (askerSprite.active) askerSprite.destroy(); },
-              });
-            }
-            for (const { sprite } of targetSprites) {
+            const FGAP = 8;
+            const nTotal = 1 + targetSprites.length;
+            const isAskerVert = askerSlot === 'left' || askerSlot === 'right';
+            const allSprites = [
+              askerSprite,
+              ...targetSprites.map(({ sprite }) => sprite),
+            ].map((sprite, i) => {
+              const x = isAskerVert
+                ? askerShow.x
+                : askerShow.x + (i - (nTotal - 1) / 2) * (CARD_W + FGAP);
+              const y = isAskerVert
+                ? askerShow.y + (i - (nTotal - 1) / 2) * (CARD_H + FGAP)
+                : askerShow.y;
+              return { sprite, x, y };
+            });
+
+            for (const { sprite, x, y } of allSprites) {
               if (!sprite.active) continue;
-              this.tweens.add({
-                targets: sprite,
-                x: askerLayout.handCenter.x, y: askerLayout.handCenter.y,
-                alpha: 0, duration: 380, ease: 'Cubic.easeIn',
-                onComplete: () => { if (sprite.active) sprite.destroy(); },
-              });
+              this.tweens.add({ targets: sprite, x, y, duration: 280, ease: 'Cubic.easeOut' });
             }
-            this.time.delayedCall(420, onComplete);
+            this.time.delayedCall(320, () => onComplete(allSprites));
           });
         } else {
           // Fish — flip card back face-down and return it to hand.
@@ -822,7 +830,30 @@ export default class GoFishGame extends Phaser.Scene {
     });
   }
 
-  animatePairedCards(askerSeat, pairedCards, onComplete) {
+  animatePairedCards(askerSeat, pairedCards, onComplete, preSprites = null) {
+    if (preSprites) {
+      // Cards are already face-up and in position from animateAsk — skip sprite creation.
+      const sprites = preSprites.map(({ sprite, x, y }) => ({ sprite, targetX: x, targetY: y }));
+      playSound(this, SFX.CARD_PLACE);
+      this.time.delayedCall(200, () => {
+        const cx = sprites.reduce((s, { targetX }) => s + targetX, 0) / sprites.length;
+        const cy = sprites.reduce((s, { targetY }) => s + targetY, 0) / sprites.length;
+        this.spawnFireworks(cx, cy);
+        this.time.delayedCall(350, () => this.spawnFireworks(cx, cy));
+      });
+      this.time.delayedCall(1200, () => {
+        for (const { sprite } of sprites) {
+          if (!sprite.active) continue;
+          this.tweens.add({
+            targets: sprite, x: CX, y: CY, alpha: 0, duration: 500, ease: 'Cubic.easeIn',
+            onComplete: () => { if (sprite.active) sprite.destroy(); },
+          });
+        }
+      });
+      this.time.delayedCall(1800, onComplete);
+      return;
+    }
+
     const slot = this.slotForSeat[askerSeat];
     const layout = slotLayout(slot);
     const n = pairedCards.length;
diff --git a/public/src/games/gofish/GoFishLogic.js b/public/src/games/gofish/GoFishLogic.js
index d2b09b5..4170e4b 100644
--- a/public/src/games/gofish/GoFishLogic.js
+++ b/public/src/games/gofish/GoFishLogic.js
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ export function applyAsk(state, targetSeat, rank) {
     pairedCards: [],
   };
   ensureHasCards(next, askerSeat);
-  if (!canAsk(next, askerSeat)) advanceTurn(next);
+  advanceTurn(next);
   checkGameOver(next);
   return next;
 }