diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/pipeline/PipelinePhaseGroup.tsx b/apps/web/src/components/pipeline/PipelinePhaseGroup.tsx
index 191c307..dfc7536 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/pipeline/PipelinePhaseGroup.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/pipeline/PipelinePhaseGroup.tsx
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ interface PipelinePhaseGroupProps {
 }
 
 export function PipelinePhaseGroup({ phase, tasks, taskDepsRaw, isBlocked, detailAgent }: PipelinePhaseGroupProps) {
+  const approvePhase = trpc.approvePhase.useMutation();
   const queuePhase = trpc.queuePhase.useMutation();
 
   // Sort tasks topologically by dependency order
@@ -52,7 +53,12 @@ export function PipelinePhaseGroup({ phase, tasks, taskDepsRaw, isBlocked, detai
     return { sorted: sortedTasks, blockedByCountMap: countMap };
   }, [tasks, taskDepsRaw]);
 
-  const canExecute = phase.status === "approved" && !isBlocked;
+  const hasNonDetailTasks = tasks.length > 0;
+  const canExecute =
+    (phase.status === "approved" || (phase.status === "pending" && hasNonDetailTasks)) &&
+    !isBlocked;
+  const isPending = phase.status === "pending";
+  const isMutating = approvePhase.isPending || queuePhase.isPending;
   const isDetailing =
     detailAgent?.status === "running" ||
     detailAgent?.status === "waiting_for_input";
@@ -68,11 +74,21 @@ export function PipelinePhaseGroup({ phase, tasks, taskDepsRaw, isBlocked, detai
         </span>
         {canExecute && (
           <button
-            onClick={() => queuePhase.mutate({ phaseId: phase.id })}
-            title="Queue phase"
+            onClick={async () => {
+              if (isPending) {
+                await approvePhase.mutateAsync({ phaseId: phase.id });
+              }
+              queuePhase.mutate({ phaseId: phase.id });
+            }}
+            disabled={isMutating}
+            title={isPending ? "Approve & queue phase" : "Queue phase"}
             className="shrink-0"
           >
-            <Play className="h-3.5 w-3.5 text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground" />
+            {isMutating ? (
+              <Loader2 className="h-3.5 w-3.5 animate-spin text-muted-foreground" />
+            ) : (
+              <Play className="h-3.5 w-3.5 text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground" />
+            )}
           </button>
         )}
       </div>
diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/pipeline/PipelineTab.tsx b/apps/web/src/components/pipeline/PipelineTab.tsx
index db8326d..25fd4ff 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/pipeline/PipelineTab.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/pipeline/PipelineTab.tsx
@@ -135,12 +135,25 @@ function PipelineTabInner({ initiativeId, phases, phasesLoading }: PipelineTabPr
     [phases, dependencyEdges],
   );
 
-  // Count how many phases are approved and ready to execute
-  const approvedCount = useMemo(
-    () => phases.filter((p) => p.status === "approved").length,
-    [phases],
-  );
+  // Count phases that can be executed: approved OR pending with non-detail tasks
+  const { actionableCount, pendingPhaseIds } = useMemo(() => {
+    const pending: string[] = [];
+    let count = 0;
+    for (const p of phases) {
+      if (p.status === "approved") {
+        count++;
+      } else if (p.status === "pending") {
+        const phaseTasks = tasksByPhase[p.id] ?? [];
+        if (phaseTasks.length > 0) {
+          count++;
+          pending.push(p.id);
+        }
+      }
+    }
+    return { actionableCount: count, pendingPhaseIds: pending };
+  }, [phases, tasksByPhase]);
 
+  const approvePhase = trpc.approvePhase.useMutation();
   const queueAll = trpc.queueAllPhases.useMutation();
 
   // Register tasks with ExecutionContext for TaskSlideOver
@@ -185,19 +198,24 @@ function PipelineTabInner({ initiativeId, phases, phasesLoading }: PipelineTabPr
 
   return (
     <div className="space-y-4">
-      {approvedCount > 0 && (
+      {actionableCount > 0 && (
         <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
           <Button
             size="sm"
-            onClick={() => queueAll.mutate({ initiativeId })}
-            disabled={queueAll.isPending}
+            onClick={async () => {
+              for (const phaseId of pendingPhaseIds) {
+                await approvePhase.mutateAsync({ phaseId });
+              }
+              queueAll.mutate({ initiativeId });
+            }}
+            disabled={approvePhase.isPending || queueAll.isPending}
           >
-            {queueAll.isPending ? (
+            {approvePhase.isPending || queueAll.isPending ? (
               <Loader2 className="mr-1.5 h-3.5 w-3.5 animate-spin" />
             ) : (
               <Play className="mr-1.5 h-3.5 w-3.5" />
             )}
-            Execute {approvedCount === 1 ? "1 phase" : `${approvedCount} phases`}
+            Execute {actionableCount === 1 ? "1 phase" : `${actionableCount} phases`}
           </Button>
         </div>
       )}
diff --git a/docs/frontend.md b/docs/frontend.md
index a5f122b..67a72f5 100644
--- a/docs/frontend.md
+++ b/docs/frontend.md
@@ -162,8 +162,9 @@ Configured in `src/lib/trpc.ts`. Uses `@trpc/react-query` with TanStack Query fo
 ### Pipeline Visualization
 1. Execution tab → pipeline DAG shows phases as nodes
 2. Drag to add dependencies between phases
-3. Approve phases → queue for dispatch
-4. Tasks auto-queued when phase starts
+3. Per-phase Play button: if phase is `pending` (with non-detail tasks), approves then queues in one click; if already `approved`, just queues
+4. "Execute N phases" top-level button: approves all `pending` phases that have tasks, then calls `queueAllPhases` — count includes both `pending` (with tasks) and `approved` phases
+5. Tasks auto-queued when phase starts
 
 ### Detailing Phases
 1. Select phase → "Detail" button