diff --git a/server/src/game/changeGameState.go b/server/src/game/changeGameState.go
index 264ad90..4fb4341 100644
--- a/server/src/game/changeGameState.go
+++ b/server/src/game/changeGameState.go
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ func (gm *Game) changeGameState(expectedState, newState, newPhase string) error
 	}
 	gm.state = newState
 	gm.phase = newPhase
-	gm.eng.Update()
 
 	return nil
 }
@@ -29,7 +28,6 @@ func (gm *Game) changeGamePhase(expectedState, expectedPhase, newPhase string) e
 		return fmt.Errorf("game phase \"%s\" != expected phase \"%s\"", gm.phase, expectedPhase)
 	}
 	gm.phase = newPhase
-	gm.eng.Update()
 
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/server/src/game/game.go b/server/src/game/game.go
index 932f5f2..d2fdc5a 100644
--- a/server/src/game/game.go
+++ b/server/src/game/game.go
@@ -40,6 +40,13 @@ func (gm *Game) GetId() string {
 	return gm.id
 }
 
+func (gm *Game) GetState() string {
+	gm.mu.Lock()
+	defer gm.mu.Unlock()
+
+	return gm.state
+}
+
 func (gm *Game) GetName() string {
 	gm.mu.Lock()
 	defer gm.mu.Unlock()
diff --git a/server/src/game/notifyClients.go b/server/src/game/notifyClients.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dac2db1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/src/game/notifyClients.go
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+package game
+
+func (gm *Game) notifyClients() {
+	gm.mu.Lock()
+	defer gm.mu.Unlock()
+
+	gm.eng.Update()
+}
diff --git a/server/src/game/runCountdown.go b/server/src/game/runCountdown.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0857ca2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/src/game/runCountdown.go
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+package game
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"time"
+)
+
+func (gm *Game) runCountdown() {
+	phases := []string{
+		"Ready?",
+		"3",
+		"2",
+		"1",
+		"Go!",
+		"",
+	}
+
+	err := gm.changeGameState(STATE_IDLE, STATE_READY_SET, phases[0])
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		return
+	}
+	gm.notifyClients()
+	time.Sleep(2000 * time.Millisecond)
+
+	for i := 1; i < len(phases); i++ {
+		err = gm.changeGamePhase(STATE_READY_SET, phases[i-1], phases[i])
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Println(err)
+			return
+		}
+		gm.notifyClients()
+		time.Sleep(1500 * time.Millisecond)
+	}
+
+	err = gm.changeGameState(STATE_READY_SET, STATE_PLAY, PHASE_NONE)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	gm.runRound()
+}
diff --git a/server/src/game/startGame.go b/server/src/game/startGame.go
index 2ba8e0a..04f8d02 100644
--- a/server/src/game/startGame.go
+++ b/server/src/game/startGame.go
@@ -2,43 +2,27 @@ package game
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"time"
 )
 
 func (gm *Game) StartGame() {
-	go gm.startGameSub()
+	// go gm.runCountdown()
+	go gm.runRound()
 }
 
-func (gm *Game) startGameSub() {
-	phases := []string{
-		"5",
-		"4",
-		"3",
-		"2",
-		"1",
-		"Go!",
+func (gm *Game) runRound() {
+	state := gm.GetState()
+	if state != STATE_IDLE && state != STATE_PLAY {
+		fmt.Println(fmt.Errorf("expected state \"IDLE\" | \"PLAY\" != \"%s\"", state))
+		return
 	}
 
-	err := gm.changeGameState(STATE_IDLE, STATE_READY_SET, phases[0])
+	err := gm.changeGameState(STATE_ANY, STATE_PLAY, PHASE_NONE)
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Println(err)
 		return
 	}
 
-	for i := 1; i < len(phases); i++ {
-		time.Sleep(1500 * time.Millisecond)
-		err = gm.changeGamePhase(STATE_READY_SET, phases[i-1], phases[i])
-		if err != nil {
-			fmt.Println(err)
-			return
-		}
-	}
-	time.Sleep(3 * time.Second)
-	err = gm.changeGameState(STATE_READY_SET, STATE_PLAY, PHASE_NONE)
-	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Println(err)
-		return
-	}
+	gm.notifyClients()
 }
 
 func (gm *Game) ResetGame() {