diff --git a/SongRequest/templates/index.html b/SongRequest/templates/index.html
index 8b44a17..f8fd2ed 100644
--- a/SongRequest/templates/index.html
+++ b/SongRequest/templates/index.html
@@ -338,6 +338,7 @@
       border: 1px solid var(--border);
       border-radius: var(--radius);
       transition: all 0.2s ease;
+      position: relative;
     }
 
     .request-card:hover { border-color: #3a3a3a; }
@@ -422,7 +423,9 @@
     .card-actions {
       display: flex;
       gap: 0.5rem;
-      margin-top: 0.5rem;
+      position: absolute;
+      top: 0.625rem;
+      right: 0.625rem;
     }
 
     .btn {
@@ -541,6 +544,14 @@
       display: flex;
       flex-direction: column;
       min-width: 0;
+      flex: 1;
+    }
+
+    .alt-actions {
+      display: flex;
+      gap: 0.375rem;
+      flex-shrink: 0;
+      margin-left: auto;
     }
 
     .alt-title {
diff --git a/SongRequest/web.py b/SongRequest/web.py
index 81d7615..e2bdaee 100644
--- a/SongRequest/web.py
+++ b/SongRequest/web.py
@@ -32,26 +32,35 @@ def _render_alternates(request_id: int, alternates_json: str, status: str) -> st
 
     esc = html.escape
     show_approve = status == "pending"
+    show_play = status in ("pending", "approved")
     items = []
     for idx, alt in enumerate(alts):
         artwork = esc(alt.get("artwork_url", "").replace("600x600", "100x100"))
         title = esc(alt.get("title", ""))
         artist = esc(alt.get("artist", ""))
         url = esc(alt.get("apple_music_url", ""))
-        approve_btn = ""
+        buttons = []
         if show_approve:
-            approve_btn = (
+            buttons.append(
                 f'<button hx-post="/api/requests/{request_id}/approve-alt/{idx}"'
                 f' hx-swap="outerHTML" hx-target="#request-{request_id}"'
                 f' class="btn btn-approve btn-sm admin-only"'
                 f' onclick="event.stopPropagation();">Approve</button>'
             )
+        if show_play:
+            buttons.append(
+                f'<button hx-post="/api/requests/{request_id}/play-alt/{idx}"'
+                f' hx-swap="outerHTML" hx-target="#request-{request_id}"'
+                f' class="btn btn-played btn-sm admin-only"'
+                f' onclick="event.stopPropagation();">Mark Played</button>'
+            )
+        actions_html = f'<div class="alt-actions admin-only">{"".join(buttons)}</div>' if buttons else ""
         items.append(
             f'<div class="alt-card" onclick="event.stopPropagation(); window.open(\'{url}\',\'_blank\')">'
             f'<img class="alt-art" src="{artwork}" alt="" loading="lazy" />'
             f'<div class="alt-info"><span class="alt-title">{title}</span>'
             f'<span class="alt-artist">{artist}</span></div>'
-            f'{approve_btn}</div>'
+            f'{actions_html}</div>'
         )
     return (
         '<details class="alternates" onclick="event.stopPropagation();">'
@@ -104,8 +113,8 @@ def render_request_card(req: SongRequestModel) -> str:
       <div class="card-album">{esc(req.album)}</div>
       <div class="card-meta">Requested by {esc(req.requester_nick)} in {esc(req.channel)} at {created}</div>
       <span class="card-status-badge">{esc(req.status)}</span>
-      {actions}
     </div>
+    {actions}
   </div>
   {alternates_html}
 </div>"""
@@ -181,6 +190,7 @@ class WebServer:
         app.router.add_get("/api/channels", self._handle_channels)
         app.router.add_get("/api/requests", self._handle_api_get)
         app.router.add_post("/api/requests/{request_id}/approve-alt/{alt_idx}", self._handle_approve_alt)
+        app.router.add_post("/api/requests/{request_id}/play-alt/{alt_idx}", self._handle_play_alt)
         app.router.add_post("/api/requests/{request_id}/{action}", self._handle_api_action)
         app.router.add_get("/api/export/markdown", self._handle_export_markdown)
         app.router.add_get("/api/status", self._handle_get_status)
@@ -446,6 +456,46 @@ class WebServer:
 
         return web.Response(text=card_html, content_type="text/html")
 
+    async def _handle_play_alt(self, request: web.Request) -> web.Response:
+        denied = self._require_auth(request)
+        if denied:
+            return denied
+
+        try:
+            request_id = int(request.match_info["request_id"])
+            alt_idx = int(request.match_info["alt_idx"])
+        except (ValueError, KeyError):
+            return web.Response(text="Bad request", status=400)
+
+        req = self._store.get(request_id)
+        if not req:
+            return web.Response(text="Request not found", status=404)
+
+        try:
+            alts = json.loads(req.alternates_json) if req.alternates_json else []
+        except (json.JSONDecodeError, TypeError):
+            alts = []
+
+        if alt_idx < 0 or alt_idx >= len(alts):
+            return web.Response(text="Invalid alternate index", status=400)
+
+        alt = alts[alt_idx]
+        self._store.swap_alternate(request_id, alt)
+        req = self._store.update_status(request_id, "played")
+        if not req:
+            return web.Response(text="Request not found", status=404)
+
+        card_html = render_request_card(req)
+        await self._broadcast("request-update", card_html)
+
+        if self._on_status_change:
+            try:
+                self._on_status_change(req)
+            except Exception:
+                log.exception("SongRequest: on_status_change callback failed")
+
+        return web.Response(text=card_html, content_type="text/html")
+
     async def _handle_export_markdown(self, request: web.Request) -> web.Response:
         denied = self._require_auth(request)
         if denied: