diff --git a/src/repr/board.rs b/src/repr/board.rs
index f0c2f5b..7d06eb0 100644
--- a/src/repr/board.rs
+++ b/src/repr/board.rs
@@ -225,11 +225,6 @@ impl Board {
         get_board!(self, Piece::Black).set(coord, !is_white);
     }
 
-    const fn delete(&mut self, coord: CoordPair) {
-        get_board!(self, Piece::White).set(coord, false);
-        get_board!(self, Piece::Black).set(coord, false);
-    }
-
     /// Return a modified [`Board`] with the piece placed at a position
     /// Returns None if the move was invalid
     pub fn what_if(&self, coord: CoordPair, piece: Piece) -> Result<Self, &'static str> {
@@ -252,22 +247,17 @@ impl Board {
             return Err("position is occupied");
         }
 
-        self.place_unchecked(coord, piece);
-        if !self.propegate_from(coord) {
-            self.delete(coord);
-            Err("move would not propegate")
-        } else {
+        if self.propegate_from(coord, piece) {
+            self.place_unchecked(coord, piece);
             Ok(())
+        } else {
+            Err("move would not propegate")
         }
     }
 
     /// Propegate the board and captures starting from a specific position
     /// returns true if flips occurred
-    fn propegate_from(&mut self, coord: CoordPair) -> bool {
-        let Some(starting_color) = self.get(coord) else {
-            return false;
-        };
-
+    fn propegate_from(&mut self, coord: CoordPair, starting_color: Piece) -> bool {
         let flip_mask = self.propegate_from_dry(coord, starting_color);
         let did_flip = !flip_mask.is_empty();