diff --git a/play-node-go/src/components/GameUI/Board/Board.js b/play-node-go/src/components/GameUI/Board/Board.js
index 014316b..dade349 100644
--- a/play-node-go/src/components/GameUI/Board/Board.js
+++ b/play-node-go/src/components/GameUI/Board/Board.js
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ const Board = (props) => {
           posX={posX}
           posY={posY}
           // point={board[posX][posY]}
+          dispatch={dispatch}
           {...props}
         />
       ); i++;
diff --git a/play-node-go/src/components/GameUI/Point/Point.js b/play-node-go/src/components/GameUI/Point/Point.js
index b07359b..db8df00 100644
--- a/play-node-go/src/components/GameUI/Point/Point.js
+++ b/play-node-go/src/components/GameUI/Point/Point.js
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import React from 'react';
 import './Point.scss';
 
 const Point = (props) => {
-  const { posX, posY, user, game, record } = props;
+  const { posX, posY, user, game, record, dispatch } = props;
   const xFlag = () => {
     if ( posX === 1 ) return `board__point--top`
     if ( posX === game.boardSize ) return `board__point--bottom`
@@ -15,7 +15,10 @@ const Point = (props) => {
   }
 
   return (
-    <div className={`board__point ${xFlag()} ${yFlag()}`}>
+    <div 
+      className={`board__point ${xFlag()} ${yFlag()}`}
+      onClick={() => dispatch({type: 'SOCKET', message: 'MAKE_MOVE', body: {user: {}, game: {}, room: {}, board: {}, move: {}}})}
+    >
 
     </div>
   );
diff --git a/play-node-go/src/pages/Game/Game.js b/play-node-go/src/pages/Game/Game.js
index 6aeb29f..8ae4227 100644
--- a/play-node-go/src/pages/Game/Game.js
+++ b/play-node-go/src/pages/Game/Game.js
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ const Game = (props) => {
         <p>Player Area</p>
         <ul><li>Bowl</li><li>? Kifu</li><li>Captures</li></ul>
         <Board 
-          dispatch
+          dispatch={dispatch}
           game={state.active.game} 
           record={state.active.record}
           user={state.user} 
diff --git a/play-node-go/src/reducers/socket/reducer.socket.js b/play-node-go/src/reducers/socket/reducer.socket.js
index 74568b7..da2568c 100644
--- a/play-node-go/src/reducers/socket/reducer.socket.js
+++ b/play-node-go/src/reducers/socket/reducer.socket.js
@@ -34,6 +34,10 @@ export const socketReducer = (state: state, action: action):state => {
       return connectGame(state, action);
     }
 
+    case 'MAKE_MOVE': {
+      return makeMove(state, action);
+    }
+
     default:
       return state;
   }
@@ -56,4 +60,11 @@ function connectGame (state, action) {
   const socket = updatedState.socket;
   socket.emit('connect_game', {user, game});
   return {...updatedState};
+}
+
+function makeMove (state, action) {
+  const { user, game, room, board, move } = action.body;
+  const socket = state.socket;
+  socket.emit('make_move', {...action.body});
+  return state;
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/server/services/Game.js b/server/services/Game.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4b067b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/services/Game.js
@@ -0,0 +1,404 @@
+/*----- constants -----*/
+const STONES_DATA = {
+  '-1': 'white',
+  '0': 'none',
+  '1': 'black',
+  'k': 'ko'
+}
+
+const DOTS_DATA = {
+  '-1': 'white',
+  '0': 'none',
+  '1': 'black',
+  'd': 'dame',
+}
+
+// index corresponds to difference in player rank
+const KOMI_REC = {
+  '9': [
+    5.5, 2.5, -0.5, -3.5, -6.5, -9.5, 12.5, 15.5, 18.5, 21.5
+  ],
+  '13': [
+    5.5, 0.5, -5.5, 0.5, -5.5, 0.5, -5.5, 0.5, -5.5, 0.5
+  ],
+  '19': [
+    7.5, 0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 0.5
+  ]
+}
+
+const HANDI_REC = {
+  '9': [
+    0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
+  ],
+  '13': [
+    0, 0, 0, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5
+  ],
+  '19': [
+    0, 0, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
+  ]
+}
+
+class Game {
+  constructor(gameData, gameRecord) {
+    this.winner = gameData.winner || null,
+    this.turn = gameData.turn || 1, // turn logic depends on handicap stones
+    this.pass = gameData.pass || 0, // -1 represents state in which resignation has been submitted, not confirmed
+    this.komi = gameData.komi || 6.5, // komi depends on handicap stones + player rank
+    this.handicap = gameData.handicap || 0,
+    this.boardSize = gameData.boardSize || 19,
+    this.playerState = gameData.playerState || {
+      bCaptures: 0,
+      wCaptures: 0,
+      bScore: 0,
+      wScore: 0
+    },
+    this.gameRecord = gameRecord || [],
+    
+    this.groups = {},
+    this.boardState = []
+  }
+
+  initGame = () => {
+    this.winner = null;
+    this.pass = null;
+    this.turn = this.handicap ? -1 : 1;
+    return this.initBoard();
+  }
+
+  initBoard = () => {
+    let i = 0;
+    while (i < this.boardSize * this.boardSize) {
+      let point = new Point( Math.floor(i / this.boardSize) + 1, i % this.boardSize + 1, this)
+      this.boardState.push(point);
+      i++;
+    }
+    this.initHandi();
+  }
+  
+  initHandi = () => {
+    if (this.handicap < 2) return;
+    HANDI_PLACE[this.boardSize][this.handicap].forEach(pt => {
+      if (!pt) return;
+      let handi = findPointFromIdx(pt);
+      handi.stone = 1;
+      handi.joinGroup();
+    })
+  }
+
+  getBoardState = () => {
+    return this.boardState.reduce((boardState, point) => {
+      boardState[point.pos[0]][point.pos[1]] = point.legal || point.stone
+    }, {})
+  }
+
+}
+
+// index represents handicap placement for different board-sizes, eg handiPlace['9][1] = { (3, 3), (7, 7) }
+// last array in each property also used for hoshi rendering 
+const HANDI_PLACE = {
+  '9' : [
+    0, 0,
+    [[ 7, 3 ], [ 3, 7 ] ], 
+    [ [ 7, 7 ], [ 7, 3 ], [ 3, 7 ] ], 
+    [ [ 3, 3 ], [ 7, 7 ], [ 3, 7 ], [ 7, 3 ] ] 
+  ],
+  '13' : [
+    0, 0,
+    [ [ 4, 10 ], [ 10, 4 ] ],
+    [ [ 10, 10 ], [ 4, 10 ], [ 10, 4] ],
+    [ [ 4, 4 ], [ 10, 10 ], [ 4, 10 ], [ 10, 4] ],
+    [ [ 7, 7 ], [ 4, 4 ], [ 10, 10 ], [ 4, 10 ], [ 10, 4] ],
+    [ [ 7, 4 ], [ 4, 7 ], [ 4, 4 ], [ 10, 10 ], [ 4, 10 ], [ 10, 4] ],
+    [ [ 7, 7 ], [ 7, 4 ], [ 4, 7 ], [ 4, 4 ], [ 10, 10 ], [ 4, 10 ], [ 10, 4] ],
+    [ [ 10, 7 ], [ 7, 4 ], [ 7, 10 ], [ 4, 7 ], [ 4, 4 ], [ 10, 10 ], [ 4, 10 ], [ 10, 4] ],
+    [ [ 7, 7 ], [ 10, 7 ], [ 7, 4 ], [ 7, 10 ], [ 4, 7 ], [ 4, 4 ], [ 10, 10 ], [ 4, 10 ], [ 10, 4] ],
+  ],
+  '19' : [
+    0, 0,
+    [ [ 4, 16 ], [ 16, 4 ] ],
+    [ [ 16, 16 ], [ 4, 16 ], [ 16, 4] ],
+    [ [ 4, 4 ], [ 16, 16 ], [ 4, 16 ], [ 16, 4] ],
+    [ [ 10, 10 ], [ 4, 4 ], [ 16, 16 ], [ 4, 16 ], [ 16, 4] ],
+    [ [ 10, 4 ], [ 4, 10 ], [ 4, 4 ], [ 16, 16 ], [ 4, 16 ], [ 16, 4] ],
+    [ [ 10, 10 ], [ 10, 4 ], [ 4, 10 ], [ 4, 4 ], [ 16, 16 ], [ 4, 16 ], [ 16, 4] ],
+    [ [ 16, 10 ], [ 10, 4 ], [ 10, 16 ], [ 4, 10 ], [ 4, 4 ], [ 16, 16 ], [ 4, 16 ], [ 16, 4] ],
+    [ [ 10, 10 ], [ 16, 10 ], [ 10, 4 ], [ 10, 16 ], [ 4, 10 ], [ 4, 4 ], [ 16, 16 ], [ 4, 16 ], [ 16, 4] ],
+  ]
+};
+
+class Point {
+  constructor(x, y, Game) {
+    this.pos = [ x, y ]
+    this.stone = 0; // this is where move placement will go 0, 1, -1, also contains ko: 'k'
+    this.legal;
+    this.territory;
+    this.capturing = [];
+    this.groupMembers = [ this ];
+    this.neighbors = {
+      top: {},
+      btm: {},
+      lft: {},
+      rgt: {}
+    }
+    this.neighbors.top = x > 1 ? [ x - 1, y ] : null;
+    this.neighbors.btm = x < Game.boardSize ? [ x + 1, y ] : null;
+    this.neighbors.rgt = y < Game.boardSize ? [ x, y + 1 ] : null;
+    this.neighbors.lft = y > 1 ? [ x, y - 1 ] : null;
+  } 
+
+  checkNeighbors = () => {
+    let neighborsArr = [];
+    for (let neighbor in this.neighbors) {
+      let nbr = this.neighbors[neighbor];
+      // neighbor exists it's point is stored as { rPos, cPos}
+      if ( nbr !== null ) {
+      neighborsArr.push(boardState.find(pt =>  pt.pos[0] === nbr[0] && pt.pos[1] === nbr[1]))
+      }
+    };
+    // returns array of existing neighbors to calling function
+    return neighborsArr;
+  }
+
+  getLiberties = () => { 
+    let neighborsArr = this.checkNeighbors().filter(pt => pt.stone === 0);
+    return neighborsArr;
+  }
+
+  joinGroup = () => {
+    this.groupMembers = this.groupMembers.filter(grp => grp.stone === this.stone);
+    this.groupMembers.push(this);
+    let frns = this.checkNeighbors().filter(nbr => nbr.stone === this.stone);
+    for (let frn of frns) {
+      this.groupMembers.push(frn);
+    }
+    this.groupMembers = Array.from(new Set(this.groupMembers));
+    for (let grpMem in this.groupMembers) {
+      this.groupMembers = Array.from(new Set(this.groupMembers.concat(this.groupMembers[grpMem].groupMembers)));
+    }
+    for (let grpMem in this.groupMembers) {
+      this.groupMembers[grpMem].groupMembers = Array.from(new Set(this.groupMembers[grpMem].groupMembers.concat(this.groupMembers)));
+    }
+  }
+
+  checkCapture = () => {
+    let opps = this.checkNeighbors().filter(nbr => nbr.stone === gameState.turn * -1 
+      && nbr.getLiberties().every(liberty => liberty === this));
+    for (let opp of opps) {
+      if (opp.groupMembers.every(stone => stone.getLiberties().filter(liberty => liberty !== this).length === 0)) {
+        this.capturing = this.capturing.concat(opp.groupMembers);
+      };
+    }
+    this.capturing = Array.from(new Set(this.capturing));
+    return this.capturing;
+  }
+
+  checkGroup = () => { // liberty is true when called by move false when called by check Capture
+    let frns = this.checkNeighbors().filter(nbr => nbr.stone === gameState.turn);
+    for (let frn in frns) {
+      if (frns[frn].groupMembers.find(stone => stone.getLiberties().find(liberty => liberty !== this))) return true;
+      continue;
+      }
+    }
+
+  cycleTerritory = () => {
+    if (this.stone) {
+      this.groupMembers.forEach(pt => pt.territory = pt.territory * -1);
+    } else {
+      this.groupMembers.forEach(pt => {
+        switch (pt.territory) {
+        case 1:
+          pt.territory = -1;
+          break;
+        case -1:
+          pt.territory = 'd';
+          break;
+        case 'd':
+          pt.territory = 1;
+          break;
+        }
+      });
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+function findPointFromIdx(arr) {
+  return pointFromIdx = boardState.find( point => point.pos[0] === arr[0] && point.pos[1] === arr[1] );
+}
+
+function clickBoard(evt) {
+  evt.stopPropagation();
+  if (gameState.pass > 1 || gameState.winner) return editTerritory(evt);
+  // checks for placement and pushes to cell
+  let placement = [ parseInt(evt.target.closest('td').id.split('-')[0]), parseInt(evt.target.closest('td').id.split('-')[1]) ];
+  let point = findPointFromIdx(placement);
+  //checks that this placement was marked as legal
+  if ( !checkLegal(point) ) return;
+  clearKo();
+  clearPass();
+  resolveCaptures(point);
+  point.stone = gameState.turn;
+  point.joinGroup();
+  playSound(point);
+  clearCaptures();
+  gameState.gameRecord.push(`${STONES_DATA[gameState.turn]}: ${point.pos}`)
+  gameState.turn*= -1;
+}
+
+function clearKo() {
+  for (let point in boardState) {
+    point = boardState[point];
+    point.stone = point.stone === 'k' ? 0 : point.stone;
+  }
+}
+
+function clearPass() {
+  gameState.pass = 0;
+}
+
+function resolveCaptures(point) {
+  if(!point.capturing.length) {
+    point.checkCapture();
+  }
+  if(point.capturing.length) {
+    point.capturing.forEach(cap => {
+      gameState.playerState[gameState.turn > 0 ? 'bCaptures' : 'wCaptures']++;
+      cap.stone = checkKo(point) ? 'k' : 0;
+      cap.groupMembers = [];
+    })
+  }
+}
+
+function checkLegal(point) {
+  clearOverlay();
+  // first step in logic: is point occupied, or in ko
+  if (point.stone) return false;
+  // if point is not empty check if liberties
+  if (point.getLiberties().length < 1) {
+    //if no liberties check if enemy group has liberties
+    if ( point.checkCapture().length ) return true;
+    //if neighboring point is not empty check if friendly group is alive
+    if (point.checkGroup()) return true;
+    return false;
+  }
+  return true;
+}
+
+function clearOverlay() {
+  for (let point in boardState) {
+    point = boardState[point];
+    point.legal = false;
+  }
+}
+
+function checkKo(point) { // currently prevents snapback // capturing point has no liberties and is only capturing one stone and 
+  if (!point.getLiberties().length && point.capturing.length === 1 && !point.checkNeighbors().some(stone => stone.stone === gameState.turn)) return true;
+}
+
+
+function clearCaptures() {
+  for (let point in boardState) {
+    point = boardState[point];
+    point.capturing = [];
+  }
+}
+
+function playerPass() {
+  // display confirmation message
+  clearKo();
+  clearCaptures();
+  gameState.gameRecord.push(`${STONES_DATA[gameState.turn]}: pass`)
+  gameState.pass++;
+  if (gameState.pass === 2) return endGame();
+  gameState.turn*= -1;
+}
+
+
+/*----- endgame functions -----*/
+
+function playerResign() {
+  // display confirmation message
+  gameState.pass = -1;
+}
+
+function clickGameHud() {
+  if (gameState.pass > 1 && !gameState.winner) calculateWinner();
+  if (gameState.pass < 0) confirmResign();
+}
+
+function confirmResign() {
+  gameState.gameRecord.push(`${STONES_DATA[gameState.turn]}: resign`);
+  gameState.winner = STONES_DATA[gameState.turn * -1];
+  endGame();
+}
+
+function endGame() {
+  if (!gameState.winner) endGameSetTerritory()
+}
+
+function calculateWinner() {
+  let whiteTerritory = boardState.reduce((acc, pt) => {
+    if (pt.territory === -1 && pt.stone !== -1) {
+      return acc = acc + (pt.stone === 0 ? 1 : 2);
+    }
+    return acc;
+  }, 0);
+  let blackTerritory = boardState.reduce((acc, pt) => {
+    if (pt.territory === 1 && pt.stone !== 1) {
+      return acc + (pt.stone === 0 ? 1 : 2);
+    }
+    return acc;
+  }, 0);
+  gameState.playerState.wScore =
+    gameState.playerState.wCaptures
+    + (gameState.komi < 0 ? gameState.komi * -1 : 0)
+    + whiteTerritory;
+  gameState.playerState.bScore =
+    gameState.playerState.bCaptures
+    + (gameState.komi > 0 ? gameState.komi : 0)
+    + blackTerritory;
+  gameState.winner = gameState.playerState.wScore > gameState.playerState.bScore ? -1 : 1;
+  gameState.gameRecord.push(`${STONES_DATA[gameState.winner]}: +${Math.abs(gameState.playerState.wScore - gameState.playerState.bScore)}`)
+}
+
+function endGameSetTerritory() {
+  let emptyPoints = boardState.filter(pt => !pt.stone);
+  emptyPoints.forEach(pt => pt.joinGroup());
+  emptyPointSetTerritory(emptyPoints);
+  groupsMarkDeadLive();
+}
+
+function groupsMarkDeadLive() {
+  boardState.filter(pt => (!pt.territory ))
+    .forEach(pt => {
+      if (pt.groupMembers.some(grpMem => {
+        return grpMem.checkNeighbors().some(nbr => nbr.territory === pt.stone && nbr.stone === 0)
+      })) {
+        pt.groupMembers.forEach(grpMem => grpMem.territory = pt.stone);
+      }
+    });
+  boardState.filter(pt => (!pt.territory)).forEach(pt => {
+    pt.territory = pt.stone * -1;
+  });  
+}
+
+function emptyPointSetTerritory(emptyPoints) {
+  emptyPoints.filter(pt => !pt.territory && pt.checkNeighbors().filter(nbr => nbr.stone !== 0))
+    .forEach(pt => {
+      let b = pt.groupMembers.reduce((acc, grpMem) => {
+        let bNbr = grpMem.checkNeighbors().filter(nbr => nbr.stone === 1).length;
+        return acc + bNbr;
+      }, 0);
+      let w = pt.groupMembers.reduce((acc, grpMem) => {
+        let wNbr = grpMem.checkNeighbors().filter(nbr => nbr.stone === -1).length;
+        return acc + wNbr;
+      }, 0);
+      pt.groupMembers.forEach(grp => {
+        if (Math.abs(b - w) < 4 && b && w) grp.territory = 'd'
+        else grp.territory = b > w ? 1 : -1;
+      })
+    });
+}
+
+module.exports = {
+  Game
+}
diff --git a/server/services/gameServices.js b/server/services/gameServices.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6fc775a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/services/gameServices.js
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+const Game = require('./Game').Game;
+
+const gamesInProgress = { }
+
+const storeGame = (game) => {
+  gamesInProgress[game.id] = new Game(game);
+}
+
+const initGame = (game) => {
+  gamesInProgress[game.id] = new Game(game)
+  return gamesInProgress[game.id].initGame();
+}
+
+const placeMove = (game, move) => {
+  if (!gamesInProgress[game]) {
+    gamesInProgress[game] = storeGame(game)
+  }
+  // gamesInProgress[]
+  let meta = {};
+  // let newBoard = {...board};
+  let board = [];
+  return {board, meta}
+}
+
+const getBoard = (gameId) => {
+  return gamesInProgress[gameId].getBoardState();
+}
+
+const getAllGames = () => {
+  return gamesInProgress;
+}
+
+module.exports = {
+  placeMove,
+  getAllGames,
+  getBoard,
+  initGame
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/server/socket.js b/server/socket.js
index b218a4d..46ea33e 100644
--- a/server/socket.js
+++ b/server/socket.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ const socketIO = require('socket.io');
 const io = socketIO({ cookie: false });
 
 const gameQueries = require('./data/queries/game');
+const gameServices = require('./services/gameServices');
 
 io.on('connection', socket=> {
   socket.emit('connected', {message: 'socket connected'});
@@ -22,6 +23,11 @@ io.on('connection', socket=> {
           io.of(room).to(game).emit('game_connected', {})
         });
       });
+      socket.on('make_move', data => {
+        const { user, move, board, game, room } = data;
+        gameServices.placeMove(1, {player: 'black', move: '7,4'})
+        console.log(data)
+      })
     });
   })
 })
diff --git a/server/test/gameServices.spec.js b/server/test/gameServices.spec.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..38499e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/test/gameServices.spec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+const gameServices = require('../services/gameServices');
+
+describe('game services', () => {
+  it('games services persists game data', done => {
+    gameServices.placeMove({id: 1}, {player: 'black', move: '3,3'})
+    console.log(gameServices.getAllGames())
+    done();
+  });
+  
+  it('init game returns game board', done => {
+    gameServices.initGame({id: 1})
+    console.log(gameServices.getBoard(1))
+    done();
+  })
+})
\ No newline at end of file