pokertools-arena 0.16.2 → 0.17.0

package/README.md

@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 | **Package** | `npx pokertools-arena` |
 | **Runtime** | Node.js ≥ 24 for tooling; any modern browser for the app |
 
-> **Current release: 0.16.2.** Blind levels now advance by a default multiplier of ×2, so blinds double each level unless changed in the tournament settings.
+> **Current release: 0.17.0.** Seats on OpenRouter models that advertise reasoning efforts can now pick a per-seat reasoning effort, so a slow reasoner such as DeepSeek can be lowered from its `high` default to `low` instead of exhausting the action clock and being auto-folded.
 
 ---
 

package/dist/app.js

@@ -114432,8 +114432,15 @@ async function fetchStreamingJson(url, options, { maxRetries = 1, onDelta = null
     throw new ArenaRequestError(message, { status: response.status, category: requestErrorCategory(response.status), payload, incidents });
   }
 }
+function requestErrorDetail(err) {
+  const parts = [summarizeError(err)];
+  const nested = err?.payload?.error?.metadata?.raw ?? err?.payload?.metadata?.raw;
+  if (typeof nested === "string") parts.push(nested);
+  else if (nested) parts.push(String(JSON.stringify(nested)));
+  return parts.join(" ");
+}
 function isUnsupportedToolChoiceError(err) {
-  const message = summarizeError(err);
+  const message = requestErrorDetail(err);
   return [400, 404, 422].includes(Number(err?.status)) && /tool[_ -]?choice|tool call|tools?.*(?:unsupported|support)|no endpoints?.*support/i.test(message);
 }
 function mapGet(mapish, key, fallback = 0) {
@@ -114459,13 +114466,23 @@ function jsonSafe(value) {
 }
 var protocolCapabilityCache = /* @__PURE__ */ new Map();
 var modelSupportedParameters = /* @__PURE__ */ new Map();
+var modelReasoningCapabilities = /* @__PURE__ */ new Map();
 var DEFAULT_TEMPERATURE = 0.3;
 function registerModelCapabilities(models = []) {
   for (const entry of models ?? []) {
     const id2 = typeof entry === "string" ? entry : entry?.id;
+    if (!id2) continue;
     const parameters = typeof entry === "object" && entry ? entry.supported_parameters : null;
-    if (!id2 || !Array.isArray(parameters)) continue;
-    modelSupportedParameters.set(String(id2), new Set(parameters.map(String)));
+    if (Array.isArray(parameters)) modelSupportedParameters.set(String(id2), new Set(parameters.map(String)));
+    const reasoning = typeof entry === "object" && entry ? entry.reasoning : null;
+    if (!reasoning || typeof reasoning !== "object") continue;
+    const efforts = Array.isArray(reasoning.supported_efforts) ? reasoning.supported_efforts.map((value) => String(value).trim().toLowerCase()).filter(Boolean) : [];
+    const declaredDefault = String(reasoning.default_effort || "").trim().toLowerCase();
+    modelReasoningCapabilities.set(String(id2), {
+      mandatory: reasoning.mandatory === true,
+      supportedEfforts: efforts,
+      defaultEffort: efforts.includes(declaredDefault) ? declaredDefault : null
+    });
   }
 }
 function modelSupportsParameter(model, parameter) {
@@ -114473,6 +114490,34 @@ function modelSupportsParameter(model, parameter) {
   if (!supported) return null;
   return supported.has(String(parameter));
 }
+function reasoningCapabilities(model) {
+  return modelReasoningCapabilities.get(String(model || "")) ?? null;
+}
+function reasoningEffortsFor(model) {
+  return reasoningCapabilities(model)?.supportedEfforts ?? [];
+}
+function defaultReasoningEffort(model) {
+  return reasoningCapabilities(model)?.defaultEffort ?? null;
+}
+function requiresReasoning(model) {
+  return reasoningCapabilities(model)?.mandatory === true;
+}
+function resolveReasoningEffort(model, requested) {
+  const value = String(requested || "").trim().toLowerCase();
+  if (!value) return null;
+  const capabilities = reasoningCapabilities(model);
+  if (!capabilities) return value;
+  return capabilities.supportedEfforts.includes(value) ? value : null;
+}
+function reasoningOverrideFor(agent) {
+  const effort = resolveReasoningEffort(agent?.model, agent?.reasoningEffort);
+  return effort ? { effort } : { max_tokens: 256, exclude: false };
+}
+function truncationReasoningOverride(model) {
+  const capabilities = reasoningCapabilities(model);
+  if (!capabilities) return { effort: "low" };
+  return capabilities.supportedEfforts.includes("low") ? { effort: "low" } : { max_tokens: 4096, exclude: false };
+}
 function resolveTemperature(model, requested) {
   if (modelSupportsParameter(model, "temperature") === false) return void 0;
   return Number.isFinite(Number(requested)) ? Number(requested) : DEFAULT_TEMPERATURE;
@@ -114511,7 +114556,7 @@ function isReasoningModel(model) {
   return /(?:^|[\/._:-])(qwen3|qwq|deepseek-[rv]\d|magistral|glm-(?:\d+[a-z]*|latest|flash-latest)|gpt-oss|nemotron|reason(?:ing)?|thinking|o1|o3|o4)(?:$|[\/._:-])/.test(id2);
 }
 function wantsReasoning(agent) {
-  return isReasoningModel(agent?.model) || agent?.captureReasoning === true;
+  return isReasoningModel(agent?.model) || agent?.captureReasoning === true || reasoningCapabilities(agent?.model)?.mandatory === true || Boolean(resolveReasoningEffort(agent?.model, agent?.reasoningEffort));
 }
 function effectiveProtocol(agent, connection) {
   if (isOpenRouterConnection(connection) && isJevModel(agent?.model)) return "jev_decisions";
@@ -115287,7 +115332,7 @@ Respond with one of: ${criteriaKeys.map((k) => `${k} = ${criteria[k]}`).join(";
   }
   if (isOpenRouter) {
     body.provider = agent.provider ? { only: [agent.provider], allow_fallbacks: false, require_parameters: true } : { allow_fallbacks: true, require_parameters: true };
-    if (wantsReasoning(agent)) body.reasoning = reasoning ?? { max_tokens: 256, exclude: false };
+    if (wantsReasoning(agent)) body.reasoning = reasoning ?? reasoningOverrideFor(agent);
   }
   if (stream) {
     body.stream = true;
@@ -115350,7 +115395,7 @@ async function decideOpenAICompatible({ agent, connection, state, legalActions,
         result = await execute(actualProtocol);
       } else if (err?.truncated) {
         truncationRetry = true;
-        result = await execute(actualProtocol, { maxTokens: 4096, reasoning: { effort: "low" } });
+        result = await execute(actualProtocol, { maxTokens: 4096, reasoning: truncationReasoningOverride(agent.model) });
       } else throw err;
     }
     const normalized = normalizeDecisionObject(result.obj, legalActions, decisionId);
@@ -115526,7 +115571,7 @@ async function requestChatStage({ agent, connection, schema, toolName, systemPro
     }
     if (isOpenRouter) {
       body.provider = agent.provider ? { only: [agent.provider], allow_fallbacks: false, require_parameters: true } : { allow_fallbacks: true, require_parameters: true };
-      if (wantsReasoning(agent)) body.reasoning = override.reasoning ?? { max_tokens: 256, exclude: false };
+      if (wantsReasoning(agent)) body.reasoning = override.reasoning ?? reasoningOverrideFor(agent);
     }
     if (onDelta) {
       body.stream = true;
@@ -115570,7 +115615,7 @@ async function requestChatStage({ agent, connection, schema, toolName, systemPro
       return { ...result, protocolFallback: "tool\u2192json_schema" };
     }
     if (err?.truncated) {
-      const result = await execute(actual, { maxTokens: 4096, reasoning: { effort: "low" } });
+      const result = await execute(actual, { maxTokens: 4096, reasoning: truncationReasoningOverride(agent.model) });
       return { ...result, protocolFallback: "truncated\u2192retry" };
     }
     throw err;
@@ -115843,6 +115888,8 @@ var els = {
   seatProtocol: $("#seatProtocol"),
   seatProvider: $("#seatProvider"),
   seatCaptureReasoning: $("#seatCaptureReasoning"),
+  seatReasoningEffort: $("#seatReasoningEffort"),
+  seatReasoningEffortHelp: $("#seatReasoningEffortHelp"),
   seatError: $("#seatError"),
   removeSeatBtn: $("#removeSeatBtn"),
   cancelSeatBtn: $("#cancelSeatBtn"),
@@ -115893,6 +115940,7 @@ var WINNER_REVIEW_MS = 2e3;
 var seatAssignments = Array(MAX_LOBBY_SEATS).fill(null);
 var editingSeatIndex = null;
 var seatNameAuto = false;
+var seatReasoningEffortDraft = "";
 var lobbyVisible = true;
 var pendingAutostart = false;
 var arenaMaxDecisions = 0;
@@ -116198,7 +116246,8 @@ function injectedEnvironmentConfig() {
       model: String(player.model || ""),
       protocol: String(player.protocol || "tool"),
       provider: String(player.provider || ""),
-      captureReasoning: Boolean(player.captureReasoning)
+      captureReasoning: Boolean(player.captureReasoning),
+      reasoningEffort: String(player.reasoningEffort || "").trim().toLowerCase()
     }))
   };
 }
@@ -116515,7 +116564,7 @@ function normalizeConfig(input = {}) {
       if (!connIds.has(raw.connectionId)) throw new Error(`Connection missing for ${name}`);
       const model = String(raw.model || "").trim();
       if (!model) throw new Error(`Model missing for ${name}`);
-      return { id: `player-${lobbySeat + 1}`, seat: index, lobbySeat, name, connectionId: raw.connectionId, model, protocol: raw.protocol || "tool", provider: String(raw.provider || "").trim(), captureReasoning: raw.captureReasoning === true, temperature: clamp(Number(raw.temperature) || 0.3, 0, 2) };
+      return { id: `player-${lobbySeat + 1}`, seat: index, lobbySeat, name, connectionId: raw.connectionId, model, protocol: raw.protocol || "tool", provider: String(raw.provider || "").trim(), captureReasoning: raw.captureReasoning === true, reasoningEffort: String(raw.reasoningEffort || "").trim().toLowerCase(), temperature: clamp(Number(raw.temperature) || 0.3, 0, 2) };
     })
   };
 }
@@ -116833,6 +116882,7 @@ var TournamentDirector = class {
       model: agent.model,
       connection: connection?.name ?? agent.connectionId,
       provider: agent.provider || "auto",
+      reasoningEffort: agent.reasoningEffort || null,
       protocol: effectiveProtocol(agent, connection),
       handNumber: this.handNumber,
       street: this.engine.state.street,
@@ -116981,6 +117031,7 @@ var TournamentDirector = class {
       configuredModel: agent.model,
       resolvedModel: result?.model ?? agent.model,
       provider: agent.provider || "auto",
+      reasoningEffort: agent.reasoningEffort || null,
       action: { id: chosen.id, type: chosen.type, amount: chosen.amount, description: chosen.description },
       forced,
       legalActions: legalActions.map((a) => ({ id: a.id, type: a.type, amount: a.amount ?? null, description: a.description })),
@@ -117221,6 +117272,7 @@ function renderModelOptions(models, currentValue = "") {
   if (currentValue && !byId.has(currentValue)) byId.set(currentValue, { id: currentValue, name: currentValue });
   const rows = [...byId.values()].sort((a, b) => a.id.localeCompare(b.id));
   els.seatModelOptions.innerHTML = rows.map((model) => `<option value="${escapeHtml(model.id)}" label="${escapeHtml(model.name || model.id)}"></option>`).join("");
+  updateSeatReasoningEffortOptions();
 }
 async function refreshSeatModelCatalog({ force = false } = {}) {
   const connection = fullConnectionById(els.seatConnection?.value);
@@ -117274,9 +117326,41 @@ function defaultSeatDraft(seatIndex) {
     model: conn?.kind === "typesafe" ? "jev-latest" : "",
     protocol: conn?.kind === "typesafe" ? "jev_native" : "tool",
     provider: "",
-    captureReasoning: false
+    captureReasoning: false,
+    reasoningEffort: ""
   };
 }
+function updateSeatReasoningEffortOptions(selected) {
+  const select = els.seatReasoningEffort;
+  if (!select) return;
+  const openRouter = isOpenRouterConnection(connectionById(els.seatConnection.value));
+  const model = els.seatModel.value.trim();
+  const efforts = openRouter ? reasoningEffortsFor(model) : [];
+  const modelDefault = efforts.length ? defaultReasoningEffort(model) : null;
+  const current = String(selected ?? seatReasoningEffortDraft ?? "").trim().toLowerCase();
+  select.innerHTML = [
+    '<option value="">Arena default (capped)</option>',
+    ...efforts.map((effort) => `<option value="${escapeHtml(effort)}">${escapeHtml(effort)}${effort === modelDefault ? " \xB7 model default" : ""}</option>`)
+  ].join("");
+  if (efforts.includes(current)) {
+    select.value = current;
+    seatReasoningEffortDraft = current;
+  } else {
+    select.value = "";
+    if (!current) seatReasoningEffortDraft = "";
+  }
+  select.disabled = !efforts.length;
+  const help = els.seatReasoningEffortHelp;
+  if (!help) return;
+  help.dataset.tone = "";
+  if (!openRouter) help.textContent = "Reasoning effort is available for OpenRouter models that advertise it.";
+  else if (!efforts.length) help.textContent = "This model does not advertise reasoning efforts; the capped default is used.";
+  else if (!select.value && requiresReasoning(model)) {
+    help.textContent = `This model always reasons and ignores the capped default, so it can exceed the action clock and auto-fold. Pick an effort \u2014 ${efforts.includes("minimal") ? "minimal" : efforts[0]} is usually fastest.`;
+    help.dataset.tone = "bad";
+  } else if (modelDefault) help.textContent = `Model default is ${modelDefault}. Lower it when a slow reasoner runs out of action clock and auto-folds.`;
+  else help.textContent = "Lower it when a slow reasoner runs out of action clock and auto-folds.";
+}
 function applySeatProtocolRules() {
   const conn = connectionById(els.seatConnection.value);
   const kind = conn?.kind || "openrouter";
@@ -117285,6 +117369,7 @@ function applySeatProtocolRules() {
   const jevSeat = kind === "typesafe" || jevViaOpenRouter;
   document.querySelector(".seat-provider-field")?.classList.toggle("hidden", !openRouter || jevViaOpenRouter);
   document.querySelector(".seat-reasoning-field")?.classList.toggle("hidden", jevSeat);
+  document.querySelector(".seat-effort-field")?.classList.toggle("hidden", jevSeat);
   if (els.seatCaptureReasoning) {
     els.seatCaptureReasoning.disabled = jevSeat;
     const alreadyReasoning = isReasoningModel(els.seatModel.value.trim());
@@ -117305,6 +117390,7 @@ function applySeatProtocolRules() {
     els.seatProvider.disabled = !openRouter;
     if (els.seatModel.value === "jev-latest") els.seatModel.value = "";
   }
+  updateSeatReasoningEffortOptions();
 }
 function updateSeatSummary() {
   const count = seatAssignments.filter(Boolean).length;
@@ -117331,13 +117417,16 @@ function openSeatEditor(seatIndex) {
   els.seatProtocol.value = draft.protocol || "tool";
   els.seatProvider.value = draft.provider || "";
   if (els.seatCaptureReasoning) els.seatCaptureReasoning.checked = Boolean(draft.captureReasoning);
+  seatReasoningEffortDraft = String(draft.reasoningEffort || "").trim().toLowerCase();
   applySeatProtocolRules();
+  updateSeatReasoningEffortOptions(seatReasoningEffortDraft);
   syncSeatNameFromModel();
   void refreshSeatModelCatalog();
   els.seatError.classList.add("hidden");
   els.seatLockNotice.classList.toggle("hidden", !locked);
   for (const control of [els.seatName, els.seatConnection, els.seatModel, els.seatProtocol, els.seatProvider]) control.disabled = locked || control === els.seatProvider && (!isOpenRouterConnection(connectionById(els.seatConnection.value)) || isJevModel(els.seatModel.value));
   if (els.seatCaptureReasoning) els.seatCaptureReasoning.disabled = locked || els.seatCaptureReasoning.disabled;
+  if (els.seatReasoningEffort) els.seatReasoningEffort.disabled = locked || els.seatReasoningEffort.disabled;
   els.saveSeatBtn.disabled = locked;
   els.removeSeatBtn.disabled = locked || !seatAssignments[seatIndex];
   if (!els.seatDialog.open) els.seatDialog.showModal();
@@ -117355,7 +117444,8 @@ function readSeatDraft() {
     model: els.seatModel.value.trim(),
     protocol: els.seatProtocol.value,
     provider: els.seatProvider.disabled ? "" : els.seatProvider.value.trim(),
-    captureReasoning: Boolean(els.seatCaptureReasoning && !els.seatCaptureReasoning.disabled && els.seatCaptureReasoning.checked)
+    captureReasoning: Boolean(els.seatCaptureReasoning && !els.seatCaptureReasoning.disabled && els.seatCaptureReasoning.checked),
+    reasoningEffort: els.seatReasoningEffort && !els.seatReasoningEffort.disabled ? els.seatReasoningEffort.value.trim().toLowerCase() : ""
   };
 }
 function readSeatPlayers() {
@@ -117384,7 +117474,8 @@ function restoreSeatAssignments(rows = []) {
       model: player.model || "",
       protocol: player.protocol || "tool",
       provider: player.provider || "",
-      captureReasoning: player.captureReasoning === true
+      captureReasoning: player.captureReasoning === true,
+      reasoningEffort: String(player.reasoningEffort || "").trim().toLowerCase()
     };
   });
   updateSeatSummary();
@@ -118116,7 +118207,7 @@ function renderStats(s) {
 function tableRenderSignature(s) {
   const running = ["RUNNING", "PAUSED"].includes(s?.status);
   if (lobbyVisible && !running) {
-    return JSON.stringify(["lobby", seatAssignments.map((p) => p ? [p.name, p.model, p.protocol, p.connectionId, p.provider, Boolean(p.captureReasoning)] : null)]);
+    return JSON.stringify(["lobby", seatAssignments.map((p) => p ? [p.name, p.model, p.protocol, p.connectionId, p.provider, Boolean(p.captureReasoning), p.reasoningEffort || ""] : null)]);
   }
   const t = s?.table;
   if (!t) return JSON.stringify(["empty", s?.status || "IDLE"]);
@@ -119500,6 +119591,9 @@ els.seatName.addEventListener("input", () => {
 });
 els.seatProtocol.addEventListener("change", applySeatProtocolRules);
 els.seatCaptureReasoning?.addEventListener("change", applySeatProtocolRules);
+els.seatReasoningEffort?.addEventListener("change", () => {
+  seatReasoningEffortDraft = els.seatReasoningEffort.value;
+});
 els.refreshModelsBtn?.addEventListener("click", () => void refreshSeatModelCatalog({ force: true }));
 els.removeSeatBtn.addEventListener("click", () => {
   if (editingSeatIndex == null || director && ["RUNNING", "PAUSED"].includes(director.status)) return;

package/dist/index.html

@@ -304,6 +304,11 @@
             <span class="checkbox-field"><input id="seatCaptureReasoning" type="checkbox" /> Capture raw model reasoning</span>
             <span class="field-help seat-reasoning-help hidden">This model is not a reasoning model by default. Capturing its reasoning can be far slower (Gemma measured ~2s → 27–48s per decision) and is outside the standard benchmark track. Raise the action clock before using it.</span>
           </label>
+          <label class="seat-effort-field">
+            <span class="field-label-row">Reasoning effort <button class="info-button inline-info" type="button" aria-label="About reasoning effort" data-tip="How much hidden thinking the model may spend. Higher effort is smarter but slower; a slow reasoner can exhaust the action clock and be forced to fold. Options come from the OpenRouter model catalogue, and an unset value keeps the arena's fixed reasoning cap.">i</button></span>
+            <select id="seatReasoningEffort"></select>
+            <span id="seatReasoningEffortHelp" class="field-help"></span>
+          </label>
         </div>
       </div>
       <div id="seatError" class="setup-error hidden"></div>

package/dist/pokertools-arena.html

@@ -548,7 +548,7 @@ label input, label select { margin-top: 5px; font-weight: 450; }
 .split-footer { justify-content: space-between; }
 .seat-footer-actions, .replay-share-actions { display: flex; gap: 7px; }
 .seat-editor-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr)); gap: 12px; }
-.seat-model-field { grid-column: 1 / -1; }
+.seat-model-field, .seat-effort-field { grid-column: 1 / -1; }
 .model-input-wrap { margin-top: 6px; display: grid; grid-template-columns: minmax(0, 1fr) 38px; gap: 8px; }
 .model-input-wrap input { margin: 0; }
 .field-icon-button, .dialog-body .remove-connection { width: 38px; height: 38px; min-height: 38px; border-radius: 8px; }
@@ -1041,6 +1041,11 @@ label input, label select { margin-top: 5px; font-weight: 450; }
             <span class="checkbox-field"><input id="seatCaptureReasoning" type="checkbox" /> Capture raw model reasoning</span>
             <span class="field-help seat-reasoning-help hidden">This model is not a reasoning model by default. Capturing its reasoning can be far slower (Gemma measured ~2s → 27–48s per decision) and is outside the standard benchmark track. Raise the action clock before using it.</span>
           </label>
+          <label class="seat-effort-field">
+            <span class="field-label-row">Reasoning effort <button class="info-button inline-info" type="button" aria-label="About reasoning effort" data-tip="How much hidden thinking the model may spend. Higher effort is smarter but slower; a slow reasoner can exhaust the action clock and be forced to fold. Options come from the OpenRouter model catalogue, and an unset value keeps the arena's fixed reasoning cap.">i</button></span>
+            <select id="seatReasoningEffort"></select>
+            <span id="seatReasoningEffortHelp" class="field-help"></span>
+          </label>
         </div>
       </div>
       <div id="seatError" class="setup-error hidden"></div>
@@ -115591,8 +115596,15 @@ async function fetchStreamingJson(url, options, { maxRetries = 1, onDelta = null
     throw new ArenaRequestError(message, { status: response.status, category: requestErrorCategory(response.status), payload, incidents });
   }
 }
+function requestErrorDetail(err) {
+  const parts = [summarizeError(err)];
+  const nested = err?.payload?.error?.metadata?.raw ?? err?.payload?.metadata?.raw;
+  if (typeof nested === "string") parts.push(nested);
+  else if (nested) parts.push(String(JSON.stringify(nested)));
+  return parts.join(" ");
+}
 function isUnsupportedToolChoiceError(err) {
-  const message = summarizeError(err);
+  const message = requestErrorDetail(err);
   return [400, 404, 422].includes(Number(err?.status)) && /tool[_ -]?choice|tool call|tools?.*(?:unsupported|support)|no endpoints?.*support/i.test(message);
 }
 function mapGet(mapish, key, fallback = 0) {
@@ -115618,13 +115630,23 @@ function jsonSafe(value) {
 }
 var protocolCapabilityCache = /* @__PURE__ */ new Map();
 var modelSupportedParameters = /* @__PURE__ */ new Map();
+var modelReasoningCapabilities = /* @__PURE__ */ new Map();
 var DEFAULT_TEMPERATURE = 0.3;
 function registerModelCapabilities(models = []) {
   for (const entry of models ?? []) {
     const id2 = typeof entry === "string" ? entry : entry?.id;
+    if (!id2) continue;
     const parameters = typeof entry === "object" && entry ? entry.supported_parameters : null;
-    if (!id2 || !Array.isArray(parameters)) continue;
-    modelSupportedParameters.set(String(id2), new Set(parameters.map(String)));
+    if (Array.isArray(parameters)) modelSupportedParameters.set(String(id2), new Set(parameters.map(String)));
+    const reasoning = typeof entry === "object" && entry ? entry.reasoning : null;
+    if (!reasoning || typeof reasoning !== "object") continue;
+    const efforts = Array.isArray(reasoning.supported_efforts) ? reasoning.supported_efforts.map((value) => String(value).trim().toLowerCase()).filter(Boolean) : [];
+    const declaredDefault = String(reasoning.default_effort || "").trim().toLowerCase();
+    modelReasoningCapabilities.set(String(id2), {
+      mandatory: reasoning.mandatory === true,
+      supportedEfforts: efforts,
+      defaultEffort: efforts.includes(declaredDefault) ? declaredDefault : null
+    });
   }
 }
 function modelSupportsParameter(model, parameter) {
@@ -115632,6 +115654,34 @@ function modelSupportsParameter(model, parameter) {
   if (!supported) return null;
   return supported.has(String(parameter));
 }
+function reasoningCapabilities(model) {
+  return modelReasoningCapabilities.get(String(model || "")) ?? null;
+}
+function reasoningEffortsFor(model) {
+  return reasoningCapabilities(model)?.supportedEfforts ?? [];
+}
+function defaultReasoningEffort(model) {
+  return reasoningCapabilities(model)?.defaultEffort ?? null;
+}
+function requiresReasoning(model) {
+  return reasoningCapabilities(model)?.mandatory === true;
+}
+function resolveReasoningEffort(model, requested) {
+  const value = String(requested || "").trim().toLowerCase();
+  if (!value) return null;
+  const capabilities = reasoningCapabilities(model);
+  if (!capabilities) return value;
+  return capabilities.supportedEfforts.includes(value) ? value : null;
+}
+function reasoningOverrideFor(agent) {
+  const effort = resolveReasoningEffort(agent?.model, agent?.reasoningEffort);
+  return effort ? { effort } : { max_tokens: 256, exclude: false };
+}
+function truncationReasoningOverride(model) {
+  const capabilities = reasoningCapabilities(model);
+  if (!capabilities) return { effort: "low" };
+  return capabilities.supportedEfforts.includes("low") ? { effort: "low" } : { max_tokens: 4096, exclude: false };
+}
 function resolveTemperature(model, requested) {
   if (modelSupportsParameter(model, "temperature") === false) return void 0;
   return Number.isFinite(Number(requested)) ? Number(requested) : DEFAULT_TEMPERATURE;
@@ -115670,7 +115720,7 @@ function isReasoningModel(model) {
   return /(?:^|[\/._:-])(qwen3|qwq|deepseek-[rv]\d|magistral|glm-(?:\d+[a-z]*|latest|flash-latest)|gpt-oss|nemotron|reason(?:ing)?|thinking|o1|o3|o4)(?:$|[\/._:-])/.test(id2);
 }
 function wantsReasoning(agent) {
-  return isReasoningModel(agent?.model) || agent?.captureReasoning === true;
+  return isReasoningModel(agent?.model) || agent?.captureReasoning === true || reasoningCapabilities(agent?.model)?.mandatory === true || Boolean(resolveReasoningEffort(agent?.model, agent?.reasoningEffort));
 }
 function effectiveProtocol(agent, connection) {
   if (isOpenRouterConnection(connection) && isJevModel(agent?.model)) return "jev_decisions";
@@ -116446,7 +116496,7 @@ Respond with one of: ${criteriaKeys.map((k) => `${k} = ${criteria[k]}`).join(";
   }
   if (isOpenRouter) {
     body.provider = agent.provider ? { only: [agent.provider], allow_fallbacks: false, require_parameters: true } : { allow_fallbacks: true, require_parameters: true };
-    if (wantsReasoning(agent)) body.reasoning = reasoning ?? { max_tokens: 256, exclude: false };
+    if (wantsReasoning(agent)) body.reasoning = reasoning ?? reasoningOverrideFor(agent);
   }
   if (stream) {
     body.stream = true;
@@ -116509,7 +116559,7 @@ async function decideOpenAICompatible({ agent, connection, state, legalActions,
         result = await execute(actualProtocol);
       } else if (err?.truncated) {
         truncationRetry = true;
-        result = await execute(actualProtocol, { maxTokens: 4096, reasoning: { effort: "low" } });
+        result = await execute(actualProtocol, { maxTokens: 4096, reasoning: truncationReasoningOverride(agent.model) });
       } else throw err;
     }
     const normalized = normalizeDecisionObject(result.obj, legalActions, decisionId);
@@ -116685,7 +116735,7 @@ async function requestChatStage({ agent, connection, schema, toolName, systemPro
     }
     if (isOpenRouter) {
       body.provider = agent.provider ? { only: [agent.provider], allow_fallbacks: false, require_parameters: true } : { allow_fallbacks: true, require_parameters: true };
-      if (wantsReasoning(agent)) body.reasoning = override.reasoning ?? { max_tokens: 256, exclude: false };
+      if (wantsReasoning(agent)) body.reasoning = override.reasoning ?? reasoningOverrideFor(agent);
     }
     if (onDelta) {
       body.stream = true;
@@ -116729,7 +116779,7 @@ async function requestChatStage({ agent, connection, schema, toolName, systemPro
       return { ...result, protocolFallback: "tool\u2192json_schema" };
     }
     if (err?.truncated) {
-      const result = await execute(actual, { maxTokens: 4096, reasoning: { effort: "low" } });
+      const result = await execute(actual, { maxTokens: 4096, reasoning: truncationReasoningOverride(agent.model) });
       return { ...result, protocolFallback: "truncated\u2192retry" };
     }
     throw err;
@@ -117002,6 +117052,8 @@ var els = {
   seatProtocol: $("#seatProtocol"),
   seatProvider: $("#seatProvider"),
   seatCaptureReasoning: $("#seatCaptureReasoning"),
+  seatReasoningEffort: $("#seatReasoningEffort"),
+  seatReasoningEffortHelp: $("#seatReasoningEffortHelp"),
   seatError: $("#seatError"),
   removeSeatBtn: $("#removeSeatBtn"),
   cancelSeatBtn: $("#cancelSeatBtn"),
@@ -117052,6 +117104,7 @@ var WINNER_REVIEW_MS = 2e3;
 var seatAssignments = Array(MAX_LOBBY_SEATS).fill(null);
 var editingSeatIndex = null;
 var seatNameAuto = false;
+var seatReasoningEffortDraft = "";
 var lobbyVisible = true;
 var pendingAutostart = false;
 var arenaMaxDecisions = 0;
@@ -117357,7 +117410,8 @@ function injectedEnvironmentConfig() {
       model: String(player.model || ""),
       protocol: String(player.protocol || "tool"),
       provider: String(player.provider || ""),
-      captureReasoning: Boolean(player.captureReasoning)
+      captureReasoning: Boolean(player.captureReasoning),
+      reasoningEffort: String(player.reasoningEffort || "").trim().toLowerCase()
     }))
   };
 }
@@ -117674,7 +117728,7 @@ function normalizeConfig(input = {}) {
       if (!connIds.has(raw.connectionId)) throw new Error(`Connection missing for ${name}`);
       const model = String(raw.model || "").trim();
       if (!model) throw new Error(`Model missing for ${name}`);
-      return { id: `player-${lobbySeat + 1}`, seat: index, lobbySeat, name, connectionId: raw.connectionId, model, protocol: raw.protocol || "tool", provider: String(raw.provider || "").trim(), captureReasoning: raw.captureReasoning === true, temperature: clamp(Number(raw.temperature) || 0.3, 0, 2) };
+      return { id: `player-${lobbySeat + 1}`, seat: index, lobbySeat, name, connectionId: raw.connectionId, model, protocol: raw.protocol || "tool", provider: String(raw.provider || "").trim(), captureReasoning: raw.captureReasoning === true, reasoningEffort: String(raw.reasoningEffort || "").trim().toLowerCase(), temperature: clamp(Number(raw.temperature) || 0.3, 0, 2) };
     })
   };
 }
@@ -117992,6 +118046,7 @@ var TournamentDirector = class {
       model: agent.model,
       connection: connection?.name ?? agent.connectionId,
       provider: agent.provider || "auto",
+      reasoningEffort: agent.reasoningEffort || null,
       protocol: effectiveProtocol(agent, connection),
       handNumber: this.handNumber,
       street: this.engine.state.street,
@@ -118140,6 +118195,7 @@ var TournamentDirector = class {
       configuredModel: agent.model,
       resolvedModel: result?.model ?? agent.model,
       provider: agent.provider || "auto",
+      reasoningEffort: agent.reasoningEffort || null,
       action: { id: chosen.id, type: chosen.type, amount: chosen.amount, description: chosen.description },
       forced,
       legalActions: legalActions.map((a) => ({ id: a.id, type: a.type, amount: a.amount ?? null, description: a.description })),
@@ -118380,6 +118436,7 @@ function renderModelOptions(models, currentValue = "") {
   if (currentValue && !byId.has(currentValue)) byId.set(currentValue, { id: currentValue, name: currentValue });
   const rows = [...byId.values()].sort((a, b) => a.id.localeCompare(b.id));
   els.seatModelOptions.innerHTML = rows.map((model) => `<option value="${escapeHtml(model.id)}" label="${escapeHtml(model.name || model.id)}"></option>`).join("");
+  updateSeatReasoningEffortOptions();
 }
 async function refreshSeatModelCatalog({ force = false } = {}) {
   const connection = fullConnectionById(els.seatConnection?.value);
@@ -118433,9 +118490,41 @@ function defaultSeatDraft(seatIndex) {
     model: conn?.kind === "typesafe" ? "jev-latest" : "",
     protocol: conn?.kind === "typesafe" ? "jev_native" : "tool",
     provider: "",
-    captureReasoning: false
+    captureReasoning: false,
+    reasoningEffort: ""
   };
 }
+function updateSeatReasoningEffortOptions(selected) {
+  const select = els.seatReasoningEffort;
+  if (!select) return;
+  const openRouter = isOpenRouterConnection(connectionById(els.seatConnection.value));
+  const model = els.seatModel.value.trim();
+  const efforts = openRouter ? reasoningEffortsFor(model) : [];
+  const modelDefault = efforts.length ? defaultReasoningEffort(model) : null;
+  const current = String(selected ?? seatReasoningEffortDraft ?? "").trim().toLowerCase();
+  select.innerHTML = [
+    '<option value="">Arena default (capped)</option>',
+    ...efforts.map((effort) => `<option value="${escapeHtml(effort)}">${escapeHtml(effort)}${effort === modelDefault ? " \xB7 model default" : ""}</option>`)
+  ].join("");
+  if (efforts.includes(current)) {
+    select.value = current;
+    seatReasoningEffortDraft = current;
+  } else {
+    select.value = "";
+    if (!current) seatReasoningEffortDraft = "";
+  }
+  select.disabled = !efforts.length;
+  const help = els.seatReasoningEffortHelp;
+  if (!help) return;
+  help.dataset.tone = "";
+  if (!openRouter) help.textContent = "Reasoning effort is available for OpenRouter models that advertise it.";
+  else if (!efforts.length) help.textContent = "This model does not advertise reasoning efforts; the capped default is used.";
+  else if (!select.value && requiresReasoning(model)) {
+    help.textContent = `This model always reasons and ignores the capped default, so it can exceed the action clock and auto-fold. Pick an effort \u2014 ${efforts.includes("minimal") ? "minimal" : efforts[0]} is usually fastest.`;
+    help.dataset.tone = "bad";
+  } else if (modelDefault) help.textContent = `Model default is ${modelDefault}. Lower it when a slow reasoner runs out of action clock and auto-folds.`;
+  else help.textContent = "Lower it when a slow reasoner runs out of action clock and auto-folds.";
+}
 function applySeatProtocolRules() {
   const conn = connectionById(els.seatConnection.value);
   const kind = conn?.kind || "openrouter";
@@ -118444,6 +118533,7 @@ function applySeatProtocolRules() {
   const jevSeat = kind === "typesafe" || jevViaOpenRouter;
   document.querySelector(".seat-provider-field")?.classList.toggle("hidden", !openRouter || jevViaOpenRouter);
   document.querySelector(".seat-reasoning-field")?.classList.toggle("hidden", jevSeat);
+  document.querySelector(".seat-effort-field")?.classList.toggle("hidden", jevSeat);
   if (els.seatCaptureReasoning) {
     els.seatCaptureReasoning.disabled = jevSeat;
     const alreadyReasoning = isReasoningModel(els.seatModel.value.trim());
@@ -118464,6 +118554,7 @@ function applySeatProtocolRules() {
     els.seatProvider.disabled = !openRouter;
     if (els.seatModel.value === "jev-latest") els.seatModel.value = "";
   }
+  updateSeatReasoningEffortOptions();
 }
 function updateSeatSummary() {
   const count = seatAssignments.filter(Boolean).length;
@@ -118490,13 +118581,16 @@ function openSeatEditor(seatIndex) {
   els.seatProtocol.value = draft.protocol || "tool";
   els.seatProvider.value = draft.provider || "";
   if (els.seatCaptureReasoning) els.seatCaptureReasoning.checked = Boolean(draft.captureReasoning);
+  seatReasoningEffortDraft = String(draft.reasoningEffort || "").trim().toLowerCase();
   applySeatProtocolRules();
+  updateSeatReasoningEffortOptions(seatReasoningEffortDraft);
   syncSeatNameFromModel();
   void refreshSeatModelCatalog();
   els.seatError.classList.add("hidden");
   els.seatLockNotice.classList.toggle("hidden", !locked);
   for (const control of [els.seatName, els.seatConnection, els.seatModel, els.seatProtocol, els.seatProvider]) control.disabled = locked || control === els.seatProvider && (!isOpenRouterConnection(connectionById(els.seatConnection.value)) || isJevModel(els.seatModel.value));
   if (els.seatCaptureReasoning) els.seatCaptureReasoning.disabled = locked || els.seatCaptureReasoning.disabled;
+  if (els.seatReasoningEffort) els.seatReasoningEffort.disabled = locked || els.seatReasoningEffort.disabled;
   els.saveSeatBtn.disabled = locked;
   els.removeSeatBtn.disabled = locked || !seatAssignments[seatIndex];
   if (!els.seatDialog.open) els.seatDialog.showModal();
@@ -118514,7 +118608,8 @@ function readSeatDraft() {
     model: els.seatModel.value.trim(),
     protocol: els.seatProtocol.value,
     provider: els.seatProvider.disabled ? "" : els.seatProvider.value.trim(),
-    captureReasoning: Boolean(els.seatCaptureReasoning && !els.seatCaptureReasoning.disabled && els.seatCaptureReasoning.checked)
+    captureReasoning: Boolean(els.seatCaptureReasoning && !els.seatCaptureReasoning.disabled && els.seatCaptureReasoning.checked),
+    reasoningEffort: els.seatReasoningEffort && !els.seatReasoningEffort.disabled ? els.seatReasoningEffort.value.trim().toLowerCase() : ""
   };
 }
 function readSeatPlayers() {
@@ -118543,7 +118638,8 @@ function restoreSeatAssignments(rows = []) {
       model: player.model || "",
       protocol: player.protocol || "tool",
       provider: player.provider || "",
-      captureReasoning: player.captureReasoning === true
+      captureReasoning: player.captureReasoning === true,
+      reasoningEffort: String(player.reasoningEffort || "").trim().toLowerCase()
     };
   });
   updateSeatSummary();
@@ -119275,7 +119371,7 @@ function renderStats(s) {
 function tableRenderSignature(s) {
   const running = ["RUNNING", "PAUSED"].includes(s?.status);
   if (lobbyVisible && !running) {
-    return JSON.stringify(["lobby", seatAssignments.map((p) => p ? [p.name, p.model, p.protocol, p.connectionId, p.provider, Boolean(p.captureReasoning)] : null)]);
+    return JSON.stringify(["lobby", seatAssignments.map((p) => p ? [p.name, p.model, p.protocol, p.connectionId, p.provider, Boolean(p.captureReasoning), p.reasoningEffort || ""] : null)]);
   }
   const t = s?.table;
   if (!t) return JSON.stringify(["empty", s?.status || "IDLE"]);
@@ -120659,6 +120755,9 @@ els.seatName.addEventListener("input", () => {
 });
 els.seatProtocol.addEventListener("change", applySeatProtocolRules);
 els.seatCaptureReasoning?.addEventListener("change", applySeatProtocolRules);
+els.seatReasoningEffort?.addEventListener("change", () => {
+  seatReasoningEffortDraft = els.seatReasoningEffort.value;
+});
 els.refreshModelsBtn?.addEventListener("click", () => void refreshSeatModelCatalog({ force: true }));
 els.removeSeatBtn.addEventListener("click", () => {
   if (editingSeatIndex == null || director && ["RUNNING", "PAUSED"].includes(director.status)) return;

package/dist/styles.css

@@ -492,7 +492,7 @@ label input, label select { margin-top: 5px; font-weight: 450; }
 .split-footer { justify-content: space-between; }
 .seat-footer-actions, .replay-share-actions { display: flex; gap: 7px; }
 .seat-editor-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr)); gap: 12px; }
-.seat-model-field { grid-column: 1 / -1; }
+.seat-model-field, .seat-effort-field { grid-column: 1 / -1; }
 .model-input-wrap { margin-top: 6px; display: grid; grid-template-columns: minmax(0, 1fr) 38px; gap: 8px; }
 .model-input-wrap input { margin: 0; }
 .field-icon-button, .dialog-body .remove-connection { width: 38px; height: 38px; min-height: 38px; border-radius: 8px; }

package/docs/diagnostics/SUMMARY.md

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# pokertools-arena 0.16.2 — benchmark methodology & results
+# pokertools-arena 0.17.0 — benchmark methodology & results
 
 Generated: 2026-09-19T18:19:58.352Z
 Methodology: paired fixed-state corpus; deterministic interleaving with recorded experiment seed.

package/docs/diagnostics/summary.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "schemaVersion": 1,
-  "version": "0.16.2",
+  "version": "0.17.0",
   "generatedAt": "2026-09-19T18:19:58.352Z",
   "experiments": [
     "paired"

package/docs/releases/RELEASE_NOTES.md

@@ -1,5 +1,37 @@
 # Release notes
 
+## 0.17.0 — per-seat reasoning effort
+
+- The seat editor now exposes **Reasoning effort** for OpenRouter models whose
+  catalogue entry advertises `supported_efforts` (for example
+  `deepseek/deepseek-v4.1-flash`: `max`, `high`, `low`, default `high`). The
+  options are populated from `GET /api/v1/models`, so an effort the model does
+  not accept can never be selected, and the catalogue default is labelled in the
+  list.
+- Choosing an effort sends OpenRouter `reasoning: { effort }` for that seat.
+  Leaving it on **Arena default (capped)** keeps the existing
+  `reasoning: { max_tokens: 256, exclude: false }` request, so unmodified seats
+  and existing benchmark runs are unchanged.
+- This addresses slow reasoners that exhaust the action clock and get
+  auto-folded: a seat can drop DeepSeek-class models from their `high` default to
+  `low` and answer inside the 30 s action + 30 s time-bank budget. The chosen
+  effort is recorded on `DECISION_START` and `DECISION` events.
+- The truncation retry now lowers to an effort the catalogue actually supports
+  (falling back to the larger token cap when `low` is not offered) instead of
+  always sending `low`.
+- Models whose catalogue entry marks reasoning as `mandatory` now get the larger
+  completion budget even when their name misses the reasoning heuristic (for
+  example `meta/muse-spark-1.3-contributor`), instead of being starved by the
+  320-token default.
+- Those mandatory-reasoning models also show a warning in the seat editor when no
+  effort is selected, because the capped default does not constrain a model that
+  always reasons and it can still run past the action clock.
+- The tool-to-JSON-schema fallback now reads OpenRouter's nested provider detail
+  (`error.metadata.raw`). Providers that reject every named `tool_choice` — Meta's
+  Muse Spark endpoints only accept `"auto"` — return a generic "Provider returned
+  error", which previously hid the real reason and forced an auto-fold on every
+  hand.
+
 ## 0.16.2 — blind multiplier defaults to ×2
 
 - The default `blindMultiplier` is now `2` (was `1.5`), so blinds double at each

package/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "pokertools-arena",
-  "version": "0.16.2",
+  "version": "0.17.0",
   "description": "Browser-first AI poker benchmark powered by @pokertools/engine with generic OpenAI-compatible endpoints, optional OpenRouter/Jev Decisions routing, deterministic hierarchical decisions, paired fixed-state methodology, and reproducible reporting.",
   "type": "module",
   "bin": {

package/src/app.js

@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import {
   legalAggressiveSizes, buildHierarchicalDecision, familyCriteria, sizeCriteria,
   applyBenchmarkMode, renderDecisionState, aggregateActionProbabilitiesByFamily, probabilityStats, SIZE_LABELS,
   isAggressiveType, familyForActionType, FAMILY_LABELS, decisionClockPhase, isReasoningModel, wantsReasoning,
+  reasoningEffortsFor, defaultReasoningEffort, requiresReasoning,
 } from './lib/decision-core.js';
 // Table sound effects. esbuild inlines these as data URLs at build time (see
 // build.mjs), so the bundled and single-file builds both carry the audio and no
@@ -44,7 +45,7 @@ const els = {
   setupDialog: $('#setupDialog'), setupForm: $('#setupForm'), closeSetup: $('#closeSetup'), setupError: $('#setupError'), saveSettingsBtn: $('#saveSettingsBtn'), seatSummary: $('#seatSummary'),
   connectionsEditor: $('#connectionsEditor'), connectionRowTemplate: $('#connectionRowTemplate'), addConnectionBtn: $('#addConnectionBtn'),
   seatDialog: $('#seatDialog'), seatForm: $('#seatForm'), closeSeat: $('#closeSeat'), seatDialogTitle: $('#seatDialogTitle'), seatLockNotice: $('#seatLockNotice'),
-  seatName: $('#seatName'), seatConnection: $('#seatConnection'), seatModel: $('#seatModel'), seatModelOptions: $('#seatModelOptions'), seatModelStatus: $('#seatModelStatus'), refreshModelsBtn: $('#refreshModelsBtn'), seatProtocol: $('#seatProtocol'), seatProvider: $('#seatProvider'), seatCaptureReasoning: $('#seatCaptureReasoning'), seatError: $('#seatError'), removeSeatBtn: $('#removeSeatBtn'), cancelSeatBtn: $('#cancelSeatBtn'), saveSeatBtn: $('#saveSeatBtn'),
+  seatName: $('#seatName'), seatConnection: $('#seatConnection'), seatModel: $('#seatModel'), seatModelOptions: $('#seatModelOptions'), seatModelStatus: $('#seatModelStatus'), refreshModelsBtn: $('#refreshModelsBtn'), seatProtocol: $('#seatProtocol'), seatProvider: $('#seatProvider'), seatCaptureReasoning: $('#seatCaptureReasoning'), seatReasoningEffort: $('#seatReasoningEffort'), seatReasoningEffortHelp: $('#seatReasoningEffortHelp'), seatError: $('#seatError'), removeSeatBtn: $('#removeSeatBtn'), cancelSeatBtn: $('#cancelSeatBtn'), saveSeatBtn: $('#saveSeatBtn'),
   testsDialog: $('#testsDialog'), closeTests: $('#closeTests'), runTestsBtn: $('#runTestsBtn'), clearTestsBtn: $('#clearTestsBtn'), testsStatus: $('#testsStatus'), testsParticipants: $('#testsParticipants'), testsProgressLabel: $('#testsProgressLabel'), testsProgressFill: $('#testsProgressFill'), testsResults: $('#testsResults'),
   replayDialog: $('#replayDialog'), closeReplay: $('#closeReplay'), replayTitle: $('#replayTitle'), replayBadge: $('#replayBadge'), replaySubtitle: $('#replaySubtitle'), replayOpponents: $('#replayOpponents'), replayStreet: $('#replayStreet'), replayBoard: $('#replayBoard'), replayPot: $('#replayPot'), replayHero: $('#replayHero'), replaySummary: $('#replaySummary'), replayAction: $('#replayAction'), replayReason: $('#replayReason'), replayReasoning: $('#replayReasoning'), replayHistory: $('#replayHistory'), replayLegal: $('#replayLegal'), replayLegalSummary: $('#replayLegalSummary'), replayShareStatus: $('#replayShareStatus'), copyReplayImage: $('#copyReplayImage'), shareReplayImage: $('#shareReplayImage'), saveReplayImage: $('#saveReplayImage'),
 };
@@ -64,6 +65,9 @@ const WINNER_REVIEW_MS = 2_000;
 let seatAssignments = Array(MAX_LOBBY_SEATS).fill(null);
 let editingSeatIndex = null;
 let seatNameAuto = false;
+// The effort select is rebuilt whenever the model catalogue resolves, so the
+// seat's intended choice is tracked separately from the live option list.
+let seatReasoningEffortDraft = '';
 let lobbyVisible = true;
 let pendingAutostart = false;
 let arenaMaxDecisions = 0;
@@ -356,6 +360,7 @@ function injectedEnvironmentConfig() {
       protocol: String(player.protocol || 'tool'),
       provider: String(player.provider || ''),
       captureReasoning: Boolean(player.captureReasoning),
+      reasoningEffort: String(player.reasoningEffort || '').trim().toLowerCase(),
     })),
   };
 }
@@ -628,7 +633,7 @@ function normalizeConfig(input = {}) {
       if (!connIds.has(raw.connectionId)) throw new Error(`Connection missing for ${name}`);
       const model = String(raw.model || '').trim();
       if (!model) throw new Error(`Model missing for ${name}`);
-      return { id: `player-${lobbySeat + 1}`, seat: index, lobbySeat, name, connectionId: raw.connectionId, model, protocol: raw.protocol || 'tool', provider: String(raw.provider || '').trim(), captureReasoning: raw.captureReasoning === true, temperature: clamp(Number(raw.temperature) || 0.3, 0, 2) };
+      return { id: `player-${lobbySeat + 1}`, seat: index, lobbySeat, name, connectionId: raw.connectionId, model, protocol: raw.protocol || 'tool', provider: String(raw.provider || '').trim(), captureReasoning: raw.captureReasoning === true, reasoningEffort: String(raw.reasoningEffort || '').trim().toLowerCase(), temperature: clamp(Number(raw.temperature) || 0.3, 0, 2) };
     }),
   };
 }
@@ -815,6 +820,7 @@ class TournamentDirector {
     }
     this.currentDecision = {
       id: decisionId, playerId: agent.id, playerName: agent.name, seat, model: agent.model, connection: connection?.name ?? agent.connectionId, provider: agent.provider || 'auto',
+      reasoningEffort: agent.reasoningEffort || null,
       protocol: effectiveProtocol(agent, connection), handNumber: this.handNumber, street: this.engine.state.street, position: positionForSeat(this.engine.state, seat),
       startedAt, baseMs, timeBankMs: bankBefore, lowTimeMs: Math.round(this.config.lowTimeSeconds * 1000), lowTimeFraction: this.config.lowTimeFraction, pausedMs: 0, pausedAt: null, architecture,
       hierarchy: hierarchy ? { families: hierarchy.families, stage1: hierarchy.stage1, stage2: hierarchy.stage2, aggressiveFamily: hierarchy.aggressiveFamily } : null,
@@ -915,6 +921,7 @@ class TournamentDirector {
       playerId: agent.id, playerName: agent.name, connection: connection?.name,
       protocol: result?.meta?.method ?? effectiveProtocol(agent, connection), requestedProtocol: effectiveProtocol(agent, connection), protocolFallback: result?.meta?.protocolFallback ?? null,
       configuredModel: agent.model, resolvedModel: result?.model ?? agent.model, provider: agent.provider || 'auto',
+      reasoningEffort: agent.reasoningEffort || null,
       action: { id: chosen.id, type: chosen.type, amount: chosen.amount, description: chosen.description }, forced,
       legalActions: legalActions.map(a => ({ id: a.id, type: a.type, amount: a.amount ?? null, description: a.description })),
       latencyMs: reportedLatency, primaryDecisionLatencyMs: result?.primaryDecisionLatencyMs ?? reportedLatency,
@@ -1129,6 +1136,7 @@ function renderModelOptions(models, currentValue = '') {
   if (currentValue && !byId.has(currentValue)) byId.set(currentValue, { id: currentValue, name: currentValue });
   const rows = [...byId.values()].sort((a, b) => a.id.localeCompare(b.id));
   els.seatModelOptions.innerHTML = rows.map(model => `<option value="${escapeHtml(model.id)}" label="${escapeHtml(model.name || model.id)}"></option>`).join('');
+  updateSeatReasoningEffortOptions();
 }
 async function refreshSeatModelCatalog({ force = false } = {}) {
   const connection = fullConnectionById(els.seatConnection?.value);
@@ -1183,8 +1191,46 @@ function defaultSeatDraft(seatIndex) {
     protocol: conn?.kind === 'typesafe' ? 'jev_native' : 'tool',
     provider: '',
     captureReasoning: false,
+    reasoningEffort: '',
   };
 }
+// The effort choices come from the model catalogue, so an unsupported value can
+// never be selected. An empty value keeps the historical request shape.
+function updateSeatReasoningEffortOptions(selected) {
+  const select = els.seatReasoningEffort;
+  if (!select) return;
+  const openRouter = isOpenRouterConnection(connectionById(els.seatConnection.value));
+  const model = els.seatModel.value.trim();
+  const efforts = openRouter ? reasoningEffortsFor(model) : [];
+  const modelDefault = efforts.length ? defaultReasoningEffort(model) : null;
+  const current = String(selected ?? seatReasoningEffortDraft ?? '').trim().toLowerCase();
+  select.innerHTML = [
+    '<option value="">Arena default (capped)</option>',
+    ...efforts.map(effort => `<option value="${escapeHtml(effort)}">${escapeHtml(effort)}${effort === modelDefault ? ' · model default' : ''}</option>`),
+  ].join('');
+  // Until the catalogue resolves, an empty option list must not discard the
+  // seat's saved choice; keep the draft so the picker restores it on rebuild.
+  if (efforts.includes(current)) {
+    select.value = current;
+    seatReasoningEffortDraft = current;
+  } else {
+    select.value = '';
+    if (!current) seatReasoningEffortDraft = '';
+  }
+  select.disabled = !efforts.length;
+  const help = els.seatReasoningEffortHelp;
+  if (!help) return;
+  help.dataset.tone = '';
+  if (!openRouter) help.textContent = 'Reasoning effort is available for OpenRouter models that advertise it.';
+  else if (!efforts.length) help.textContent = 'This model does not advertise reasoning efforts; the capped default is used.';
+  else if (!select.value && requiresReasoning(model)) {
+    // The arena cap is a token limit, not an effort; models that always reason
+    // ignore it and run at their own default, which is how they blow the clock.
+    help.textContent = `This model always reasons and ignores the capped default, so it can exceed the action clock and auto-fold. Pick an effort — ${efforts.includes('minimal') ? 'minimal' : efforts[0]} is usually fastest.`;
+    help.dataset.tone = 'bad';
+  } else if (modelDefault) help.textContent = `Model default is ${modelDefault}. Lower it when a slow reasoner runs out of action clock and auto-folds.`;
+  else help.textContent = 'Lower it when a slow reasoner runs out of action clock and auto-folds.';
+}
 function applySeatProtocolRules() {
   const conn = connectionById(els.seatConnection.value);
   const kind = conn?.kind || 'openrouter';
@@ -1193,6 +1239,7 @@ function applySeatProtocolRules() {
   const jevSeat = kind === 'typesafe' || jevViaOpenRouter;
   document.querySelector('.seat-provider-field')?.classList.toggle('hidden', !openRouter || jevViaOpenRouter);
   document.querySelector('.seat-reasoning-field')?.classList.toggle('hidden', jevSeat);
+  document.querySelector('.seat-effort-field')?.classList.toggle('hidden', jevSeat);
   if (els.seatCaptureReasoning) {
     els.seatCaptureReasoning.disabled = jevSeat;
     const alreadyReasoning = isReasoningModel(els.seatModel.value.trim());
@@ -1213,6 +1260,7 @@ function applySeatProtocolRules() {
     els.seatProvider.disabled = !openRouter;
     if (els.seatModel.value === 'jev-latest') els.seatModel.value = '';
   }
+  updateSeatReasoningEffortOptions();
 }
 function updateSeatSummary() {
   const count = seatAssignments.filter(Boolean).length;
@@ -1239,13 +1287,16 @@ function openSeatEditor(seatIndex) {
   els.seatProtocol.value = draft.protocol || 'tool';
   els.seatProvider.value = draft.provider || '';
   if (els.seatCaptureReasoning) els.seatCaptureReasoning.checked = Boolean(draft.captureReasoning);
+  seatReasoningEffortDraft = String(draft.reasoningEffort || '').trim().toLowerCase();
   applySeatProtocolRules();
+  updateSeatReasoningEffortOptions(seatReasoningEffortDraft);
   syncSeatNameFromModel();
   void refreshSeatModelCatalog();
   els.seatError.classList.add('hidden');
   els.seatLockNotice.classList.toggle('hidden', !locked);
   for (const control of [els.seatName, els.seatConnection, els.seatModel, els.seatProtocol, els.seatProvider]) control.disabled = locked || (control === els.seatProvider && (!isOpenRouterConnection(connectionById(els.seatConnection.value)) || isJevModel(els.seatModel.value)));
   if (els.seatCaptureReasoning) els.seatCaptureReasoning.disabled = locked || els.seatCaptureReasoning.disabled;
+  if (els.seatReasoningEffort) els.seatReasoningEffort.disabled = locked || els.seatReasoningEffort.disabled;
   els.saveSeatBtn.disabled = locked;
   els.removeSeatBtn.disabled = locked || !seatAssignments[seatIndex];
   if (!els.seatDialog.open) els.seatDialog.showModal();
@@ -1261,6 +1312,7 @@ function readSeatDraft() {
     protocol: els.seatProtocol.value,
     provider: els.seatProvider.disabled ? '' : els.seatProvider.value.trim(),
     captureReasoning: Boolean(els.seatCaptureReasoning && !els.seatCaptureReasoning.disabled && els.seatCaptureReasoning.checked),
+    reasoningEffort: els.seatReasoningEffort && !els.seatReasoningEffort.disabled ? els.seatReasoningEffort.value.trim().toLowerCase() : '',
   };
 }
 function readSeatPlayers() {
@@ -1290,6 +1342,7 @@ function restoreSeatAssignments(rows = []) {
       protocol: player.protocol || 'tool',
       provider: player.provider || '',
       captureReasoning: player.captureReasoning === true,
+      reasoningEffort: String(player.reasoningEffort || '').trim().toLowerCase(),
     };
   });
   updateSeatSummary();
@@ -2019,7 +2072,7 @@ function renderStats(s) {
 function tableRenderSignature(s) {
   const running = ['RUNNING', 'PAUSED'].includes(s?.status);
   if (lobbyVisible && !running) {
-    return JSON.stringify(['lobby', seatAssignments.map(p => p ? [p.name, p.model, p.protocol, p.connectionId, p.provider, Boolean(p.captureReasoning)] : null)]);
+    return JSON.stringify(['lobby', seatAssignments.map(p => p ? [p.name, p.model, p.protocol, p.connectionId, p.provider, Boolean(p.captureReasoning), p.reasoningEffort || ''] : null)]);
   }
   const t = s?.table;
   if (!t) return JSON.stringify(['empty', s?.status || 'IDLE']);
@@ -3223,6 +3276,7 @@ els.seatModel.addEventListener('input', () => { applySeatProtocolRules(); syncSe
 els.seatName.addEventListener('input', () => { seatNameAuto = false; });
 els.seatProtocol.addEventListener('change', applySeatProtocolRules);
 els.seatCaptureReasoning?.addEventListener('change', applySeatProtocolRules);
+els.seatReasoningEffort?.addEventListener('change', () => { seatReasoningEffortDraft = els.seatReasoningEffort.value; });
 els.refreshModelsBtn?.addEventListener('click', () => void refreshSeatModelCatalog({ force: true }));
 els.removeSeatBtn.addEventListener('click', () => {
   if (editingSeatIndex == null || (director && ['RUNNING', 'PAUSED'].includes(director.status))) return;

package/src/index.html

@@ -304,6 +304,11 @@
             <span class="checkbox-field"><input id="seatCaptureReasoning" type="checkbox" /> Capture raw model reasoning</span>
             <span class="field-help seat-reasoning-help hidden">This model is not a reasoning model by default. Capturing its reasoning can be far slower (Gemma measured ~2s → 27–48s per decision) and is outside the standard benchmark track. Raise the action clock before using it.</span>
           </label>
+          <label class="seat-effort-field">
+            <span class="field-label-row">Reasoning effort <button class="info-button inline-info" type="button" aria-label="About reasoning effort" data-tip="How much hidden thinking the model may spend. Higher effort is smarter but slower; a slow reasoner can exhaust the action clock and be forced to fold. Options come from the OpenRouter model catalogue, and an unset value keeps the arena's fixed reasoning cap.">i</button></span>
+            <select id="seatReasoningEffort"></select>
+            <span id="seatReasoningEffortHelp" class="field-help"></span>
+          </label>
         </div>
       </div>
       <div id="seatError" class="setup-error hidden"></div>

package/src/lib/decision-core.js

@@ -176,8 +176,20 @@ export async function fetchStreamingJson(url, options, { maxRetries = 1, onDelta
   }
 }
 
+// OpenRouter reports upstream provider failures as a generic "Provider returned
+// error" while the real reason sits in `error.metadata.raw`. Error handling that
+// keys off message text (the tool_choice fallback) must read that nested detail
+// or it silently stops firing for models like meta/muse-spark, whose provider
+// rejects every named tool_choice.
+export function requestErrorDetail(err) {
+  const parts = [summarizeError(err)];
+  const nested = err?.payload?.error?.metadata?.raw ?? err?.payload?.metadata?.raw;
+  if (typeof nested === 'string') parts.push(nested);
+  else if (nested) parts.push(String(JSON.stringify(nested)));
+  return parts.join(' ');
+}
 export function isUnsupportedToolChoiceError(err) {
-  const message = summarizeError(err);
+  const message = requestErrorDetail(err);
   return [400, 404, 422].includes(Number(err?.status)) && /tool[_ -]?choice|tool call|tools?.*(?:unsupported|support)|no endpoints?.*support/i.test(message);
 }
 export function mapGet(mapish, key, fallback = 0) {
@@ -216,14 +228,33 @@ export const protocolCapabilityCache = new Map();
 // catalogue says the model supports them. Unknown models keep the prior default
 // so behaviour is unchanged when no catalogue has been loaded.
 export const modelSupportedParameters = new Map();
+
+// OpenRouter also advertises a per-model `reasoning` object
+// ({ mandatory, supported_efforts, default_effort }) when the model exposes a
+// reasoning-effort control. Sending an effort the catalogue does not list is a
+// hard routing failure under `require_parameters`, and sending the wrong one is
+// how a slow reasoner burns the action clock and gets auto-folded, so the
+// catalogue is treated as the source of truth for what a seat may request.
+export const modelReasoningCapabilities = new Map();
 export const DEFAULT_TEMPERATURE = 0.3;
 
 export function registerModelCapabilities(models = []) {
   for (const entry of models ?? []) {
     const id = typeof entry === 'string' ? entry : entry?.id;
+    if (!id) continue;
     const parameters = typeof entry === 'object' && entry ? entry.supported_parameters : null;
-    if (!id || !Array.isArray(parameters)) continue;
-    modelSupportedParameters.set(String(id), new Set(parameters.map(String)));
+    if (Array.isArray(parameters)) modelSupportedParameters.set(String(id), new Set(parameters.map(String)));
+    const reasoning = typeof entry === 'object' && entry ? entry.reasoning : null;
+    if (!reasoning || typeof reasoning !== 'object') continue;
+    const efforts = Array.isArray(reasoning.supported_efforts)
+      ? reasoning.supported_efforts.map(value => String(value).trim().toLowerCase()).filter(Boolean)
+      : [];
+    const declaredDefault = String(reasoning.default_effort || '').trim().toLowerCase();
+    modelReasoningCapabilities.set(String(id), {
+      mandatory: reasoning.mandatory === true,
+      supportedEfforts: efforts,
+      defaultEffort: efforts.includes(declaredDefault) ? declaredDefault : null,
+    });
   }
 }
 
@@ -233,6 +264,43 @@ export function modelSupportsParameter(model, parameter) {
   return supported.has(String(parameter));
 }
 
+export function reasoningCapabilities(model) {
+  return modelReasoningCapabilities.get(String(model || '')) ?? null;
+}
+export function reasoningEffortsFor(model) {
+  return reasoningCapabilities(model)?.supportedEfforts ?? [];
+}
+export function defaultReasoningEffort(model) {
+  return reasoningCapabilities(model)?.defaultEffort ?? null;
+}
+export function requiresReasoning(model) {
+  return reasoningCapabilities(model)?.mandatory === true;
+}
+// Returns the requested effort when the model can accept it. Unknown models
+// (non-OpenRouter endpoints, or a catalogue that has not loaded yet) keep the
+// requested value so an explicit seat choice is never silently dropped.
+export function resolveReasoningEffort(model, requested) {
+  const value = String(requested || '').trim().toLowerCase();
+  if (!value) return null;
+  const capabilities = reasoningCapabilities(model);
+  if (!capabilities) return value;
+  return capabilities.supportedEfforts.includes(value) ? value : null;
+}
+// The reasoning payload for a normal request. An explicit, supported effort
+// wins; otherwise the historical completed-reasoning cap is preserved so
+// benchmark behaviour is unchanged for seats that never touch the control.
+export function reasoningOverrideFor(agent) {
+  const effort = resolveReasoningEffort(agent?.model, agent?.reasoningEffort);
+  return effort ? { effort } : { max_tokens: 256, exclude: false };
+}
+// The truncation retry lowers effort so a long reasoner can still answer inside
+// the action clock. Models that do not advertise `low` fall back to the cap.
+export function truncationReasoningOverride(model) {
+  const capabilities = reasoningCapabilities(model);
+  if (!capabilities) return { effort: 'low' };
+  return capabilities.supportedEfforts.includes('low') ? { effort: 'low' } : { max_tokens: 4096, exclude: false };
+}
+
 // Returns the temperature to send, or undefined when the model's endpoints do
 // not support the parameter. Only optional sampling parameters are gated this
 // way; structural parameters (tools, response_format, max_tokens) stay enforced
@@ -275,7 +343,9 @@ export function isReasoningModel(model) {
 // asked for hidden reasoning (Gemma measurably can), at a large latency cost, so
 // it stays an explicit seat choice rather than a blanket default.
 export function wantsReasoning(agent) {
-  return isReasoningModel(agent?.model) || agent?.captureReasoning === true;
+  return isReasoningModel(agent?.model) || agent?.captureReasoning === true
+    || reasoningCapabilities(agent?.model)?.mandatory === true
+    || Boolean(resolveReasoningEffort(agent?.model, agent?.reasoningEffort));
 }
 export function effectiveProtocol(agent, connection) {
   if (isOpenRouterConnection(connection) && isJevModel(agent?.model)) return 'jev_decisions';
@@ -1099,7 +1169,7 @@ export function buildOpenAICompatibleBody({ agent, connection, state, legalActio
   }
   if (isOpenRouter) {
     body.provider = agent.provider ? { only: [agent.provider], allow_fallbacks: false, require_parameters: true } : { allow_fallbacks: true, require_parameters: true };
-    if (wantsReasoning(agent)) body.reasoning = reasoning ?? { max_tokens: 256, exclude: false };
+    if (wantsReasoning(agent)) body.reasoning = reasoning ?? reasoningOverrideFor(agent);
   }
   if (stream) { body.stream = true; body.stream_options = { include_usage: true }; }
   return body;
@@ -1160,7 +1230,7 @@ export async function decideOpenAICompatible({ agent, connection, state, legalAc
         // return nothing. Retry once with a larger budget and a lower reasoning
         // effort rather than forcing an automatic fallback.
         truncationRetry = true;
-        result = await execute(actualProtocol, { maxTokens: 4096, reasoning: { effort: 'low' } });
+        result = await execute(actualProtocol, { maxTokens: 4096, reasoning: truncationReasoningOverride(agent.model) });
       } else throw err;
     }
     const normalized = normalizeDecisionObject(result.obj, legalActions, decisionId);
@@ -1347,7 +1417,7 @@ async function requestChatStage({ agent, connection, schema, toolName, systemPro
     }
     if (isOpenRouter) {
       body.provider = agent.provider ? { only: [agent.provider], allow_fallbacks: false, require_parameters: true } : { allow_fallbacks: true, require_parameters: true };
-      if (wantsReasoning(agent)) body.reasoning = override.reasoning ?? { max_tokens: 256, exclude: false };
+      if (wantsReasoning(agent)) body.reasoning = override.reasoning ?? reasoningOverrideFor(agent);
     }
     if (onDelta) { body.stream = true; body.stream_options = { include_usage: true }; }
     return body;
@@ -1388,7 +1458,7 @@ async function requestChatStage({ agent, connection, schema, toolName, systemPro
     if (err?.truncated) {
       // Retry once with a larger budget and lower reasoning effort instead of
       // letting a truncated reasoning stage force an automatic fallback.
-      const result = await execute(actual, { maxTokens: 4096, reasoning: { effort: 'low' } });
+      const result = await execute(actual, { maxTokens: 4096, reasoning: truncationReasoningOverride(agent.model) });
       return { ...result, protocolFallback: 'truncated→retry' };
     }
     throw err;

package/src/styles.css

@@ -492,7 +492,7 @@ label input, label select { margin-top: 5px; font-weight: 450; }
 .split-footer { justify-content: space-between; }
 .seat-footer-actions, .replay-share-actions { display: flex; gap: 7px; }
 .seat-editor-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr)); gap: 12px; }
-.seat-model-field { grid-column: 1 / -1; }
+.seat-model-field, .seat-effort-field { grid-column: 1 / -1; }
 .model-input-wrap { margin-top: 6px; display: grid; grid-template-columns: minmax(0, 1fr) 38px; gap: 8px; }
 .model-input-wrap input { margin: 0; }
 .field-icon-button, .dialog-body .remove-connection { width: 38px; height: 38px; min-height: 38px; border-radius: 8px; }