diff --git a/src/components/NorthcottsGame.tsx b/src/components/NorthcottsGame.tsx
index a9c859d..00e3616 100644
--- a/src/components/NorthcottsGame.tsx
+++ b/src/components/NorthcottsGame.tsx
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ interface GameState {
   rows: number;
   cols: number;
   misereMode: boolean;
+  cleanStart: boolean;
+  forwardOnly: boolean;
+  gameStarted: boolean;
   selectedPiece: { row: number; col: number } | null;
 }
 
@@ -24,21 +27,38 @@ interface NorthcottsGameProps {
 }
 
 const NorthcottsGame: React.FC<NorthcottsGameProps> = ({ showSocialShare = false }) => {
-  const [gameState, setGameState] = useState<GameState>(() => 
-    initializeGame(3, 6, false)
-  );
+  const [gameState, setGameState] = useState<GameState>(() => ({
+    board: Array(3).fill(null).map(() => Array(6).fill(null)),
+    currentPlayer: 'L',
+    gameOver: false,
+    winner: null,
+    rows: 3,
+    cols: 6,
+    misereMode: false,
+    cleanStart: false,
+    forwardOnly: true,
+    gameStarted: false,
+    selectedPiece: null
+  }));
 
-  function initializeGame(rows: number, cols: number, misereMode: boolean): GameState {
+  function initializeGame(rows: number, cols: number, misereMode: boolean, cleanStart: boolean, forwardOnly: boolean): GameState {
     const board: ('L' | 'R' | null)[][] = Array(rows).fill(null).map(() => Array(cols).fill(null));
     
-    // Place L and R pieces in each row ensuring L is to the left of R
-    for (let row = 0; row < rows; row++) {
-      // Random positions ensuring L < R
-      const lPos = Math.floor(Math.random() * (cols - 1));
-      const rPos = lPos + 1 + Math.floor(Math.random() * (cols - lPos - 1));
-      
-      board[row][lPos] = 'L';
-      board[row][rPos] = 'R';
+    if (cleanStart) {
+      // Clean start: all L on left, all R on right
+      for (let row = 0; row < rows; row++) {
+        board[row][0] = 'L';
+        board[row][cols - 1] = 'R';
+      }
+    } else {
+      // Random positions ensuring L is to the left of R
+      for (let row = 0; row < rows; row++) {
+        const lPos = Math.floor(Math.random() * (cols - 1));
+        const rPos = lPos + 1 + Math.floor(Math.random() * (cols - lPos - 1));
+        
+        board[row][lPos] = 'L';
+        board[row][rPos] = 'R';
+      }
     }
 
     return {
@@ -49,13 +69,16 @@ const NorthcottsGame: React.FC<NorthcottsGameProps> = ({ showSocialShare = false
       rows,
       cols,
       misereMode,
+      cleanStart,
+      forwardOnly,
+      gameStarted: true,
       selectedPiece: null
     };
   }
 
   const getValidMoves = (row: number, col: number, player: 'L' | 'R'): number[] => {
     const moves: number[] = [];
-    const { board } = gameState;
+    const { board, forwardOnly } = gameState;
     
     if (player === 'L') {
       // L can move right (forward towards R)
@@ -63,12 +86,28 @@ const NorthcottsGame: React.FC<NorthcottsGameProps> = ({ showSocialShare = false
         if (board[row][newCol] === 'R') break; // Can't jump over R
         if (board[row][newCol] === null) moves.push(newCol);
       }
+      
+      // L can also move left (backward) if forwardOnly is false
+      if (!forwardOnly) {
+        for (let newCol = col - 1; newCol >= 0; newCol--) {
+          if (board[row][newCol] === 'R') break; // Can't jump over R
+          if (board[row][newCol] === null) moves.push(newCol);
+        }
+      }
     } else {
       // R can move left (forward towards L)
       for (let newCol = col - 1; newCol >= 0; newCol--) {
         if (board[row][newCol] === 'L') break; // Can't jump over L
         if (board[row][newCol] === null) moves.push(newCol);
       }
+      
+      // R can also move right (backward) if forwardOnly is false
+      if (!forwardOnly) {
+        for (let newCol = col + 1; newCol < gameState.cols; newCol++) {
+          if (board[row][newCol] === 'L') break; // Can't jump over L
+          if (board[row][newCol] === null) moves.push(newCol);
+        }
+      }
     }
     
     return moves;
@@ -89,7 +128,7 @@ const NorthcottsGame: React.FC<NorthcottsGameProps> = ({ showSocialShare = false
   };
 
   const handleCellClick = (row: number, col: number) => {
-    if (gameState.gameOver) return;
+    if (gameState.gameOver || !gameState.gameStarted) return;
 
     const { board, currentPlayer, selectedPiece } = gameState;
     
@@ -144,30 +183,61 @@ const NorthcottsGame: React.FC<NorthcottsGameProps> = ({ showSocialShare = false
 
   const getValidMovesForBoard = (board: ('L' | 'R' | null)[][], row: number, col: number, player: 'L' | 'R'): number[] => {
     const moves: number[] = [];
+    const { forwardOnly } = gameState;
     
     if (player === 'L') {
+      // L can move right (forward towards R)
       for (let newCol = col + 1; newCol < gameState.cols; newCol++) {
         if (board[row][newCol] === 'R') break;
         if (board[row][newCol] === null) moves.push(newCol);
       }
+      
+      // L can also move left (backward) if forwardOnly is false
+      if (!forwardOnly) {
+        for (let newCol = col - 1; newCol >= 0; newCol--) {
+          if (board[row][newCol] === 'R') break;
+          if (board[row][newCol] === null) moves.push(newCol);
+        }
+      }
     } else {
+      // R can move left (forward towards L)
       for (let newCol = col - 1; newCol >= 0; newCol--) {
         if (board[row][newCol] === 'L') break;
         if (board[row][newCol] === null) moves.push(newCol);
       }
+      
+      // R can also move right (backward) if forwardOnly is false
+      if (!forwardOnly) {
+        for (let newCol = col + 1; newCol < gameState.cols; newCol++) {
+          if (board[row][newCol] === 'L') break;
+          if (board[row][newCol] === null) moves.push(newCol);
+        }
+      }
     }
     
     return moves;
   };
 
   const resetGame = () => {
-    setGameState(initializeGame(gameState.rows, gameState.cols, gameState.misereMode));
+    setGameState(prev => ({
+      ...prev,
+      board: Array(prev.rows).fill(null).map(() => Array(prev.cols).fill(null)),
+      currentPlayer: 'L',
+      gameOver: false,
+      winner: null,
+      gameStarted: false,
+      selectedPiece: null
+    }));
+  };
+
+  const startGame = () => {
+    setGameState(initializeGame(gameState.rows, gameState.cols, gameState.misereMode, gameState.cleanStart, gameState.forwardOnly));
   };
 
   const randomGame = () => {
     const rows = 3 + Math.floor(Math.random() * 8); // 3-10
     const cols = 3 + Math.floor(Math.random() * 8); // 3-10
-    setGameState(initializeGame(rows, cols, gameState.misereMode));
+    setGameState(initializeGame(rows, cols, gameState.misereMode, false, gameState.forwardOnly));
   };
 
   const toggleMisereMode = () => {
@@ -177,8 +247,31 @@ const NorthcottsGame: React.FC<NorthcottsGameProps> = ({ showSocialShare = false
     }));
   };
 
+  const toggleCleanStart = () => {
+    setGameState(prev => ({
+      ...prev,
+      cleanStart: !prev.cleanStart
+    }));
+  };
+
+  const toggleForwardOnly = () => {
+    setGameState(prev => ({
+      ...prev,
+      forwardOnly: !prev.forwardOnly
+    }));
+  };
+
   const changeBoardSize = (rows: number, cols: number) => {
-    setGameState(initializeGame(rows, cols, gameState.misereMode));
+    setGameState(prev => ({
+      ...prev,
+      rows,
+      cols,
+      board: Array(rows).fill(null).map(() => Array(cols).fill(null)),
+      gameStarted: false,
+      gameOver: false,
+      winner: null,
+      selectedPiece: null
+    }));
   };
 
   const getCellClass = (row: number, col: number) => {
@@ -222,6 +315,8 @@ const NorthcottsGame: React.FC<NorthcottsGameProps> = ({ showSocialShare = false
       <Card className={`${bgClass} ${borderClass} border-2`}>
         <CardHeader>
           <CardTitle className="text-2xl font-bold text-center">Northcott's Game</CardTitle>
+          
+          {/* Mode Options Row */}
           <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center justify-center">
             <div className="flex items-center space-x-2">
               <Label htmlFor="misere-mode">Misère Mode:</Label>
@@ -232,6 +327,27 @@ const NorthcottsGame: React.FC<NorthcottsGameProps> = ({ showSocialShare = false
               />
             </div>
             
+            <div className="flex items-center space-x-2">
+              <Label htmlFor="clean-start">Clean Start:</Label>
+              <Switch 
+                id="clean-start"
+                checked={gameState.cleanStart}
+                onCheckedChange={toggleCleanStart}
+              />
+            </div>
+            
+            <div className="flex items-center space-x-2">
+              <Label htmlFor="forward-only">Forward Only:</Label>
+              <Switch 
+                id="forward-only"
+                checked={gameState.forwardOnly}
+                onCheckedChange={toggleForwardOnly}
+              />
+            </div>
+          </div>
+          
+          {/* Board Size and Game Control Row */}
+          <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-center justify-center">
             <div className="flex items-center space-x-2">
               <Label>Rows:</Label>
               <Select value={gameState.rows.toString()} onValueChange={(v) => changeBoardSize(parseInt(v), gameState.cols)}>
@@ -260,14 +376,13 @@ const NorthcottsGame: React.FC<NorthcottsGameProps> = ({ showSocialShare = false
               </Select>
             </div>
             
-            <Button onClick={resetGame} variant="outline" size="sm">
-              <RotateCcw className="w-4 h-4 mr-2" />
-              Reset
+            <Button onClick={startGame} variant="outline" size="sm" disabled={gameState.gameStarted}>
+              Start Game
             </Button>
             
             <Button onClick={randomGame} variant="outline" size="sm">
               <Shuffle className="w-4 h-4 mr-2" />
-              Random
+              Start A Random Game
             </Button>
           </div>
         </CardHeader>
@@ -311,11 +426,20 @@ const NorthcottsGame: React.FC<NorthcottsGameProps> = ({ showSocialShare = false
             </div>
           </div>
 
-          <div className="text-xs text-muted-foreground space-y-1">
+          <div className="text-xs text-muted-foreground space-y-1 text-center">
             <p><strong>Rules:</strong> Players alternate turns. L (blue) moves right, R (red) moves left.</p>
             <p>Pieces cannot jump over the opponent and must stay in their row.</p>
             <p>Click a piece to select it, then click a valid destination to move.</p>
           </div>
+
+          {gameState.gameStarted && (
+            <div className="flex justify-center pt-4">
+              <Button onClick={resetGame} variant="outline" size="sm">
+                <RotateCcw className="w-4 h-4 mr-2" />
+                Reset
+              </Button>
+            </div>
+          )}
         </CardContent>
       </Card>