diff --git a/benches/reversals.rs b/benches/reversals.rs
index 4739682..30c9bd2 100644
--- a/benches/reversals.rs
+++ b/benches/reversals.rs
@@ -1,24 +1,46 @@
 use std::hint::black_box;
 
-use criterion::{Criterion, criterion_group, criterion_main};
+use criterion::{BenchmarkId, Criterion, criterion_group, criterion_main};
 use othello::{
     board::{Board, squares::*},
     game::Game,
 };
 
-const PLAYS: [Board; 15] = [F5, F4, E3, F3, G4, G5, H4, H5, E6, D3, C4, C5, D6, C6, B5];
+const PLAYS: [(&str, [Board; 10]); 4] = [
+    ("game1", [F5, F6, E6, F4, E3, D6, G4, D3, C3, H3]),
+    ("game2", [F5, D6, C3, D3, C4, F4, F6, F3, E6, E7]),
+    ("game3", [F5, D6, C4, D3, C3, F4, C5, B3, C2, E3]),
+    ("game4", [F5, F6, E6, F4, E3, C5, C4, D6, B6, D3]),
+];
 
-fn bench_available_all_positions_sequential(c: &mut Criterion) {
-    c.bench_function("play_four_move_opening", |b| {
-        b.iter(|| {
-            let mut game = Game::default();
-            for play in PLAYS {
-                black_box(game.play(play));
-            }
+fn bench_perfect_games(c: &mut Criterion) {
+    let mut group = c.benchmark_group("perfect games");
+    for (id, play) in PLAYS {
+        group.bench_with_input(BenchmarkId::new("perfect game", id), &play, |b, p| {
+            b.iter(|| {
+                let mut game = Game::default();
+                for m in p {
+                    black_box(game.play(*m));
+                }
+            });
         });
-    });
+    }
 }
 
-criterion_group!(benches, bench_available_all_positions_sequential,);
+fn bench_perfect_games_safe_play(c: &mut Criterion) {
+    let mut group = c.benchmark_group("perfect games with safe play");
+    for (id, play) in PLAYS {
+        group.bench_with_input(BenchmarkId::new("perfect game", id), &play, |b, p| {
+            b.iter(|| {
+                let mut game = Game::default();
+                for m in p {
+                    black_box(game.safe_play(*m).unwrap());
+                }
+            });
+        });
+    }
+}
+
+criterion_group!(benches, bench_perfect_games, bench_perfect_games_safe_play);
 
 criterion_main!(benches);
diff --git a/src/board/mod.rs b/src/board/mod.rs
index 630d9d5..92917c3 100644
--- a/src/board/mod.rs
+++ b/src/board/mod.rs
@@ -685,7 +685,7 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     #[allow(dead_code)]
-    fn render_dbg(board: BitBoard) -> BitBoard {
+    pub fn render_dbg(board: BitBoard) -> BitBoard {
         println!("dbg:\n{}", board.render(View::RankAsc, vec![]));
         board
     }
diff --git a/src/game.rs b/src/game.rs
index 7f537a9..7d4e8a3 100644
--- a/src/game.rs
+++ b/src/game.rs
@@ -34,9 +34,12 @@ impl Game {
 
     /// Play a move but first verify that the move is legal.
     /// Automatically transitions state to next player.
-    pub fn safe_play(&mut self, player_move: Board) {
-        // TODO: validate that move is legal
+    pub fn safe_play(&mut self, player_move: Board) -> Result<(), &'static str> {
+        if self.board.available(self.current_team) & player_move != player_move {
+            return Err("Illegal move");
+        }
         self.play(player_move);
+        Ok(())
     }
 
     pub fn board(&self) -> BitBoard {
@@ -47,7 +50,7 @@ impl Game {
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
-    use crate::board::squares::*;
+    use crate::board::{squares::*, view::View};
     #[test]
     fn play_switches_team() {
         let mut game = Game::default();
@@ -64,4 +67,25 @@ mod tests {
         assert_ne!(og_b, game.board().boards[0]);
         assert_ne!(og_w, game.board().boards[1]);
     }
+
+    pub fn render_dbg(board: BitBoard) -> BitBoard {
+        println!("dbg:\n{}", board.render(View::RankAsc, vec![]));
+        board
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn ten_move_opening() {
+        let plays: Vec<Vec<Board>> = vec![
+            vec![F5, F6, E6, F4, E3, D6, G4, D3, C3, H3],
+            vec![F5, D6, C3, D3, C4, F4, F6, F3, E6, E7],
+            vec![F5, D6, C4, D3, C3, F4, C5, B3, C2, E3],
+            vec![F5, F6, E6, F4, E3, C5, C4, D6, B6, D3],
+        ];
+        for play in plays {
+            let mut game = Game::default();
+            for m in play {
+                game.safe_play(m).expect("Move should be valid");
+            }
+        }
+    }
 }