diff --git a/src/board.rs b/src/board.rs
index 635377e..be64167 100644
--- a/src/board.rs
+++ b/src/board.rs
@@ -202,6 +202,11 @@ impl Board {
         self.board_mut(!piece).set(i, j, false);
     }
 
+    fn delete(&mut self, i: usize, j: usize) {
+        self.board_mut(Piece::White).set(i, j, false);
+        self.board_mut(Piece::Black).set(i, j, false);
+    }
+
     /// Return a modified [`Board`] with the piece placed at a position
     /// Returns None if the move was invalid
     pub fn what_if(&self, i: usize, j: usize, piece: Piece) -> Option<Self> {
@@ -225,12 +230,17 @@ impl Board {
     }
 
     pub fn place(&mut self, i: usize, j: usize, piece: Piece) -> Result<(), &'static str> {
-        let what_if_result = self
-            .what_if(i, j, piece)
-            .ok_or("move would not propegate")?;
-
-        *self = what_if_result;
-        return Ok(());
+        if self.get(i, j).is_some() {
+            return Err("position is occupied");
+        }
+        self.place_unchecked(i, j, piece);
+        let captured = self.propegate_from(i, j);
+        if captured > 0 {
+            return Ok(());
+        } else {
+            self.delete(i, j);
+            return Err("move would not propegate");
+        }
     }
 
     /// Propegate the board and captures starting from a specific position
@@ -378,8 +388,7 @@ mod test {
             board.place_unchecked(i, 0, Piece::White);
         }
 
-        board.place_unchecked(7, 0, Piece::Black);
-        board.propegate_from(7, 0);
+        assert_eq!(board.place(7, 0, Piece::Black), Ok(()));
 
         for i in 2..=6 {
             assert_eq!(
@@ -397,12 +406,10 @@ mod test {
     fn corner_capture_top_left() {
         let mut board = Board::new();
 
-        // Black pieces at (0, 0) and (2, 2)
-        board.place_unchecked(0, 0, Piece::Black);
+        // Black pieces at (2, 2) and (0, 0)
         board.place_unchecked(1, 1, Piece::White); // to be captured
         board.place_unchecked(2, 2, Piece::Black);
-
-        board.propegate_from(0, 0);
+        assert_eq!(board.place(0, 0, Piece::Black), Ok(()));
 
         // Capture white piece at (1,1)
         assert_eq!(board.get(1, 1), Some(Piece::Black), "\n{}", board);
@@ -416,9 +423,7 @@ mod test {
         // Black pieces at (0, 7) and (2, 5)
         board.place_unchecked(0, 7, Piece::Black);
         board.place_unchecked(1, 6, Piece::White); // to be captured
-        board.place_unchecked(2, 5, Piece::Black);
-
-        board.propegate_from(2, 5);
+        assert_eq!(board.place(2, 5, Piece::Black), Ok(()));
 
         // Capture white piece at (1, 6)
         assert_eq!(board.get(1, 6), Some(Piece::Black), "\n{}", board);
@@ -432,9 +437,7 @@ mod test {
         // Black pieces at (7, 0) and (5, 2)
         board.place_unchecked(7, 0, Piece::Black);
         board.place_unchecked(6, 1, Piece::White); // to be captured
-        board.place_unchecked(5, 2, Piece::Black);
-
-        board.propegate_from(5, 2);
+        assert_eq!(board.place(5, 2, Piece::Black), Ok(()));
 
         // Capture white piece at (6, 1)
         assert_eq!(board.get(6, 1), Some(Piece::Black), "\n{}", board);
@@ -448,9 +451,7 @@ mod test {
         // Black pieces at (7, 7) and (5, 5)
         board.place_unchecked(7, 7, Piece::Black);
         board.place_unchecked(6, 6, Piece::White); // to be captured
-        board.place_unchecked(5, 5, Piece::Black);
-
-        board.propegate_from(5, 5);
+        assert_eq!(board.place(5, 5, Piece::Black), Ok(()));
 
         // Capture white piece at (6, 6)
         assert_eq!(board.get(6, 6), Some(Piece::Black), "\n{}", board);
@@ -464,9 +465,7 @@ mod test {
         // Create a scenario where a capture should happen horizontally from (0, 0)
         board.place_unchecked(0, 0, Piece::Black);
         board.place_unchecked(0, 1, Piece::White); // to be captured
-        board.place_unchecked(0, 2, Piece::Black);
-
-        board.propegate_from(0, 2);
+        assert_eq!(board.place(0, 2, Piece::Black), Ok(()));
 
         assert_eq!(board.get(0, 1), Some(Piece::Black), "\n{}", board);
     }
@@ -479,9 +478,7 @@ mod test {
         // Create a scenario where a capture should happen horizontally from (0, 7)
         board.place_unchecked(0, 7, Piece::Black);
         board.place_unchecked(0, 6, Piece::White); // to be captured
-        board.place_unchecked(0, 5, Piece::Black);
-
-        board.propegate_from(0, 5);
+        assert_eq!(board.place(0, 5, Piece::Black), Ok(()));
 
         assert_eq!(board.get(0, 6), Some(Piece::Black), "\n{}", board);
     }
@@ -494,9 +491,7 @@ mod test {
         // Create a scenario where a capture should happen vertically from (0, 0)
         board.place_unchecked(0, 0, Piece::Black);
         board.place_unchecked(1, 0, Piece::White); // to be captured
-        board.place_unchecked(2, 0, Piece::Black);
-
-        board.propegate_from(2, 0);
+        assert_eq!(board.place(2, 0, Piece::Black), Ok(()));
 
         assert_eq!(board.get(1, 0), Some(Piece::Black), "\n{}", board);
     }
@@ -509,9 +504,7 @@ mod test {
         // Create a scenario where a capture should happen vertically from (7, 0)
         board.place_unchecked(7, 0, Piece::Black);
         board.place_unchecked(6, 0, Piece::White); // to be captured
-        board.place_unchecked(5, 0, Piece::Black);
-
-        board.propegate_from(5, 0);
+        assert_eq!(board.place(5, 0, Piece::Black), Ok(()));
 
         assert_eq!(board.get(6, 0), Some(Piece::Black), "\n{}", board);
     }