diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6a3a142..15aec61 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -65,7 +65,6 @@ flowchart LR
   skills --> skills_tune[kvb-skills-tune]
   skills --> skills_auto[kvb-skills-auto]
   skills --> skills_essence[kvb-skills-essence]
-  skills --> skills_shortcuts[kvb-skills-shortcuts]
   none --> cleanup[kvb-cleanup]
   none --> help[kvb-help]
 ```
@@ -137,7 +136,6 @@ flowchart LR
     autotune[kvb-skills-tune]
     autoskill[kvb-skills-auto]
     essence[kvb-skills-essence]
-    shortcuts[kvb-skills-shortcuts]
   end
   subgraph cat_none [no category]
     cleanup[kvb-cleanup]
@@ -210,7 +208,6 @@ flowchart LR
   dream --> autotune
   dream --> autoskill
   autoskill --> autotune
-  autoskill --> shortcuts
   autotune --> essence
 
   test --> triage
diff --git a/skills/kvb-code-no-comments/SKILL.md b/skills/kvb-code-no-comments/SKILL.md
index f7124a3..95407b3 100644
--- a/skills/kvb-code-no-comments/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/kvb-code-no-comments/SKILL.md
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ name: kvb-code-no-comments
 description: >
   Purge explanatory comments from staged and unstaged changes. Run
   AUTOMATICALLY before every commit or stage request (commit, commit
-  no-verify, stage next, socon, sobu, socobu, "commite ..."); also on
-  /kvb-code-no-comments or comment complaints.
+  no-verify, stage next, "commite ..."); also on /kvb-code-no-comments or
+  comment complaints.
 ---
 
 When the operator asks to commit or stage, run this audit first and only
diff --git a/skills/kvb-skills-auto/SKILL.md b/skills/kvb-skills-auto/SKILL.md
index edc7db9..895ee43 100644
--- a/skills/kvb-skills-auto/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/kvb-skills-auto/SKILL.md
@@ -18,15 +18,13 @@ vary), do the following:
 2. Then propose, in one short paragraph: the repeated pattern you observed,
    a skill name suggestion, the trigger phrasing, and what the skill would
    do. Ask whether to create it.
-3. On approval, write the skill:
-   - a conversation shortcut or expansion: add it to the `kvb-skills-shortcuts` skill
-     table instead of creating a new skill.
-   - anything else: persist it exactly as the `kvb-skills-tune` skill's
-     **Persistence** section specifies — locate the operator's skills
-     repository, write `skills/<name>/SKILL.md` there (or in the current
-     project for project-specific behavior), then mirror the skill directory
-     into `~/.claude/skills/` and `~/.agents/skills/`, plus the project's
-     `.claude/skills/` and `.agents/skills/` when it is project-specific.
+3. On approval, write the skill: persist it exactly as the
+   `kvb-skills-tune` skill's **Persistence** section specifies — locate the
+   operator's skills repository, write `skills/<name>/SKILL.md` there (or in
+   the current project for project-specific behavior), then mirror the skill
+   directory into `~/.claude/skills/` and `~/.agents/skills/`, plus the
+   project's `.claude/skills/` and `.agents/skills/` when it is
+   project-specific.
    Follow the local naming conventions and keep the skill a thin,
    single-purpose instruction; route to an authoritative doc when one
    exists instead of duplicating it.
diff --git a/skills/kvb-skills-shortcuts/SKILL.md b/skills/kvb-skills-shortcuts/SKILL.md
deleted file mode 100644
index 5a4bfca..0000000
--- a/skills/kvb-skills-shortcuts/SKILL.md
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,18 +0,0 @@
----
-name: kvb-skills-shortcuts
-description: >
-  Operator conversation shortcuts. Trigger when the message is exactly one of
-  these tokens, optionally with arguments: sobu, soco, socobu, socon, sona,
-  sote. Expand it and act on the expanded instruction.
----
-
-When an operator message is one of the shortcuts below, expand it to the meaning and act on it.
-
-| Shortcut | Meaning |
-| --- | --- |
-| `sobu` | Stage next bundle: stage the next logical bundle of verified changes, explain what it does, and list what still remains uncommitted. |
-| `soco` | Commit: commit the currently staged changes (pre-commit hooks run). |
-| `socobu` | Commit no-verify, then stage next bundle: run `socon` followed by `sobu`. |
-| `socon` | Commit no-verify: commit the currently staged changes with `--no-verify`. |
-| `sona` | New alias: add the shortcut the operator states to the appropriate table, keeping it sorted. |
-| `sote` | Run `make test`. |
diff --git a/skills/kvb-skills-tune/SKILL.md b/skills/kvb-skills-tune/SKILL.md
index 550ac9d..2cef335 100644
--- a/skills/kvb-skills-tune/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/kvb-skills-tune/SKILL.md
@@ -81,8 +81,8 @@ Ask in this order, at most four questions per call:
 2. **Target** - which finding becomes a skill, or which existing skill gets
    optimized. One option per candidate, each with its measured cost in the
    description.
-3. **Shape** - for a new skill: `Standalone skill`, `Row in the
-   kvb-skills-shortcuts skill`, `Extend an existing skill`, `Memory entry instead of a skill`.
+3. **Shape** - for a new skill: `Standalone skill`, `Extend an existing
+   skill`, `Memory entry instead of a skill`.
    For an optimization: `Tighten wording only`, `Change the trigger`, `Add
    rules`, `Split into two skills`, `Merge into another skill`.
 4. **Placement** - `Operator skills repository (portable)` or
diff --git a/tests/test_shortcuts.py b/tests/test_shortcuts.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 0c2295a..0000000
--- a/tests/test_shortcuts.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,59 +0,0 @@
-"""Validate the kvb-skills-shortcuts skill table: rows present, sorted, ``soc``-prefixed,
-no two adjacent consonants."""
-
-from __future__ import annotations
-
-import re
-import unittest
-from pathlib import Path
-
-REPO_ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
-SKILL = REPO_ROOT / "skills" / "kvb-skills-shortcuts" / "SKILL.md"
-
-ROW_RE = re.compile(r"^\|\s*`(?P<shortcut>[^`]+)`\s*\|")
-VOWELS = frozenset("aeiou")
-
-
-def _has_consonant_cluster(name: str) -> bool:
-    prev_consonant = False
-    for char in name:
-        if not char.isalpha():
-            prev_consonant = False
-            continue
-        is_consonant = char.lower() not in VOWELS
-        if is_consonant and prev_consonant:
-            return True
-        prev_consonant = is_consonant
-    return False
-
-
-class TestShortcuts(unittest.TestCase):
-    def setUp(self):
-        self.assertTrue(SKILL.is_file(), f"missing {SKILL}")
-        self.shortcuts = [
-            match.group("shortcut")
-            for line in SKILL.read_text(encoding="utf-8").splitlines()
-            if (match := ROW_RE.match(line))
-        ]
-
-    def test_shortcuts_present(self):
-        self.assertTrue(self.shortcuts, "no shortcut rows found in kvb-skills-shortcuts skill")
-
-    def test_shortcuts_sorted_ascending(self):
-        self.assertEqual(
-            self.shortcuts,
-            sorted(self.shortcuts),
-            f"shortcuts table not sorted; expected {sorted(self.shortcuts)}",
-        )
-
-    def test_shortcuts_start_with_so(self):
-        bad = [s for s in self.shortcuts if not s.startswith("so")]
-        self.assertFalse(bad, f"shortcuts not starting with 'so': {bad}")
-
-    def test_no_consecutive_consonants(self):
-        bad = [s for s in self.shortcuts if _has_consonant_cluster(s)]
-        self.assertFalse(bad, f"shortcuts with two adjacent consonants: {bad}")
-
-
-if __name__ == "__main__":
-    unittest.main()