diff --git a/tests/browser/lobby.test.js b/tests/browser/lobby.test.js
index 4096960ed..2d418cc28 100644
--- a/tests/browser/lobby.test.js
+++ b/tests/browser/lobby.test.js
@@ -2281,6 +2281,271 @@ lobbyTest(
   },
 );
 
+lobbyTest(
+  "clicking an already selected problem card releases manual selection",
+  async (page) => {
+    const easyCard = EASY[0];
+    await page.addInitScript(
+      ([key, id]) => localStorage.setItem(key, JSON.stringify([id])),
+      [PRACTICE_LIST_KEY, easyCard],
+    );
+
+    await lobby(page);
+    await awaitReady(page);
+
+    const initial = await snapshot(page);
+
+    // Draw out-of-filter Easy card from saved practice list
+    await page.click("#practice-list-pick");
+    assert.equal((await snapshot(page)).card, easyCard);
+
+    // Open problem picker so the card grid is visible in DOM
+    await page.click("details.problem-picker summary");
+    const cardButton = page.locator(`[data-problem="${easyCard}"]`);
+    assert.equal(
+      await cardButton.isVisible(),
+      true,
+      "selected card must be visible as an exception",
+    );
+
+    // Activate the card button via keyboard while it holds focus
+    await cardButton.focus();
+    await page.keyboard.press("Enter");
+
+    const after = await snapshot(page);
+    assert.notEqual(after.card, easyCard);
+    assert.match(after.note, /^Selected problem:/);
+    assert.equal(
+      await page.locator(`[data-problem="${after.card}"]`).isVisible(),
+      true,
+      "the redrawn card must be shown in the grid",
+    );
+    assert.equal(
+      after.duration,
+      initial.duration,
+      "releasing manual override must restore duration",
+    );
+    assert.equal(
+      await cardButton.isVisible(),
+      false,
+      "out-of-filter card must be hidden after deselection",
+    );
+
+    // Focus must move to problem-picker summary when deselected card hides
+    assert.equal(
+      await page.evaluate(
+        () =>
+          document.activeElement ===
+          document.querySelector("details.problem-picker summary"),
+      ),
+      true,
+      "focus must move to problem-picker summary when deselected card hides",
+    );
+  },
+);
+
+lobbyTest(
+  "deselecting a recommended problem card preserves the card but restores the recommendation note",
+  async (page) => {
+    const dueProblem = EASY[0];
+    reports = [savedAttempt(dueProblem)];
+
+    await lobby(page);
+    await setLevel(page, "Easy", true);
+    await setLevel(page, "Medium", false);
+    await awaitReady(page);
+
+    const initial = await snapshot(page);
+    assert.equal(initial.card, dueProblem);
+    assert.match(initial.note, /Review due after/);
+
+    // Open picker and manually select the recommended card
+    await page.click("details.problem-picker summary");
+    await page.click(`[data-problem="${dueProblem}"]`);
+
+    const selected = await snapshot(page);
+    assert.equal(selected.card, dueProblem);
+    assert.match(selected.note, /Selected problem:/);
+
+    // Click it again to deselect
+    await page.click(`[data-problem="${dueProblem}"]`);
+
+    const after = await snapshot(page);
+    assert.equal(
+      after.card,
+      dueProblem,
+      "card is unchanged when recommendation lands on the same problem",
+    );
+    assert.match(
+      after.note,
+      /Review due after/,
+      "note restores to review due explanation",
+    );
+  },
+);
+
+lobbyTest(
+  "releasing an in-filter card keeps focus on its button",
+  async (page) => {
+    await lobby(page);
+    await awaitReady(page);
+
+    const initial = await snapshot(page);
+
+    // Pick an in-filter card that differs from the default recommendation
+    const otherCard = MEDIUM.find((id) => id !== initial.card) ?? MEDIUM[1];
+    const cardButton = page.locator(`[data-problem="${otherCard}"]`);
+
+    await page.click("details.problem-picker summary");
+    await cardButton.click();
+
+    const manualPick = await snapshot(page);
+    assert.equal(manualPick.card, otherCard);
+
+    // Focus the button and release via keyboard
+    await cardButton.focus();
+    await page.keyboard.press("Enter");
+
+    // 1. Focus assertion
+    assert.equal(
+      await page.evaluate(
+        (id) =>
+          document.activeElement ===
+          document.querySelector(`[data-problem="${id}"]`),
+        otherCard,
+      ),
+      true,
+      "focus must remain on button when the released card stays visible",
+    );
+
+    // 2. Deselection assertion: state reverts to the recommendation
+    const released = await snapshot(page);
+    assert.equal(
+      released.card,
+      initial.card,
+      "selected card must revert to initial recommendation",
+    );
+    assert.equal(
+      released.note,
+      initial.note,
+      "recommendation note must revert to initial recommendation",
+    );
+  },
+);
+
+lobbyTest(
+  "releasing a manual pick before history loads clears selection and disables start",
+  async (page) => {
+    const release = await heldLobby(page);
+    try {
+      await page.click("details.problem-picker summary");
+      const card = MEDIUM[0];
+      const cardButton = page.locator(`[data-problem="${card}"]`);
+
+      // Manually select a problem before history completes
+      await cardButton.click();
+
+      const selected = await snapshot(page);
+      assert.equal(selected.card, card);
+      assert.equal(selected.startDisabled, false);
+
+      // Deselect the card while history is still held
+      await cardButton.click();
+
+      const released = await snapshot(page);
+      assert.equal(released.note, "", "recommendation note must be empty");
+      assert.equal(
+        released.startDisabled,
+        true,
+        "Start button must be disabled",
+      );
+      assert.equal(
+        await page.locator('[data-problem][aria-pressed="true"]').count(),
+        0,
+        "no problem card should be pressed after releasing before history loads",
+      );
+    } finally {
+      release();
+    }
+  },
+);
+
+lobbyTest(
+  "releasing a card after held history resolves applies the suggested level",
+  async (page) => {
+    reports = [missed(MEDIUM[0]), missed(MEDIUM[1])];
+    const release = await heldLobby(page);
+    try {
+      await page.click("details.problem-picker summary");
+      const card = MEDIUM[0];
+      const cardButton = page.locator(`[data-problem="${card}"]`);
+
+      // Manually pick a card before history finishes loading
+      await cardButton.click();
+      assert.equal((await snapshot(page)).card, card);
+
+      // Let history resolve while the card is manually selected
+      release();
+      await reaches(
+        page,
+        () => !document.querySelector("#random-problem").disabled,
+      );
+      // Deselect the card after held history has settled
+      await cardButton.click();
+
+      const released = await snapshot(page);
+      assert.deepEqual(
+        released.levels,
+        ["Easy"],
+        "Suggested difficulty level from resolved history must be applied",
+      );
+      assert.equal(
+        released.startDisabled,
+        false,
+        "Start button must be enabled once recommendation settles",
+      );
+    } finally {
+      release();
+    }
+  },
+);
+
+lobbyTest(
+  "releasing a card before history loads moves focus to summary if card gets hidden",
+  async (page) => {
+    const errors = [];
+    page.on("pageerror", (error) => errors.push(error.message));
+    reports = [missed(MEDIUM[0]), missed(MEDIUM[1])];
+    const release = await heldLobby(page);
+    try {
+      await page.click("details.problem-picker summary");
+      const cardButton = page.locator(`[data-problem="${MEDIUM[0]}"]`);
+
+      await cardButton.click();
+      await cardButton.click();
+      assert.equal(
+        await isFocused(cardButton),
+        true,
+        "focus should still be on the released card before history loads",
+      );
+
+      release();
+      await awaitReady(page);
+
+      assert.deepEqual((await snapshot(page)).levels, ["Easy"]);
+      assert.equal(await cardButton.isHidden(), true);
+      assert.equal(
+        await isFocused(page.locator("details.problem-picker summary")),
+        true,
+        "focus must move to the picker summary when the focused card is hidden",
+      );
+      assert.deepEqual(errors, []);
+    } finally {
+      release();
+    }
+  },
+);
+
 lobbyTest(
   "opening the picker preserves a due review outside the selected difficulty",
   async (page) => {
diff --git a/web/app.js b/web/app.js
index a591c75a7..e9e3b7f5c 100644
--- a/web/app.js
+++ b/web/app.js
@@ -292,7 +292,9 @@ function selectedEditorOptions() {
 }
 
 // A picked card is a choice about this one interview, not about the filter the
-// checkboxes carry, so it leaves them alone. It suggests a length to go with
+// checkboxes carry, so it leaves them alone. Clicking the currently chosen card
+// again toggles it off, releasing the manual selection and falling back to the
+// default recommendation. When selecting a card, it suggests a length to go with
 // the level it belongs to, which `setDuration` applies only if the candidate
 // has not already chosen one.
 for (const card of cards) {
@@ -309,6 +311,25 @@ for (const card of cards) {
     syncLobbyControls();
   });
   card.button.addEventListener("click", () => {
+    if (manualProblem && problem === card) {
+      const hadFocus = document.activeElement === card.button;
+      manualProblem = false;
+      keptDraw = null;
+      avoidedProblem = undefined;
+      applyDifficulties();
+      if (historyReady) {
+        const note = manualDifficulty ? "" : applySuggestedLevel();
+        // Releasing a manual pick falls back to deterministic recommendation.
+        // If the card is due or the only match, it intentionally stays selected.
+        recommend(note);
+      } else {
+        setProblem(null);
+        nodes.recommendation.textContent = "";
+      }
+      if (card.button.hidden) focusPickerSummary();
+      else if (hadFocus) card.button.focus();
+      return;
+    }
     // setProblem clears the exception; restore it when reselecting.
     const wasException = searchVisibilityException === card;
     manualProblem = true;
@@ -941,6 +962,9 @@ function refreshHistory() {
 /// describing history the page had already replaced.
 function settle() {
   historyReady = true;
+  const focusedCard = cards.find(
+    (card) => card.button === document.activeElement,
+  );
   // A back/forward restore reapplies the filters. Keep an explicit choice
   // visible, whether selected by card, practice draw or history's Try again.
   // A non-empty title search still owns card visibility during account refresh.
@@ -959,6 +983,8 @@ function settle() {
   // still stands, so the button the account refresh held down needs releasing
   // here rather than there.
   syncLobbyControls();
+  // If the card that held focus got hidden, recover focus to the picker summary
+  if (focusedCard?.button.hidden) focusPickerSummary();
 }
 
 async function loadAccount(generation) {