diff --git a/src/components/BulgarianSolitaire.tsx b/src/components/BulgarianSolitaire.tsx
index 36f3a88..27b6fc6 100644
--- a/src/components/BulgarianSolitaire.tsx
+++ b/src/components/BulgarianSolitaire.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
+import React, { useState, useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
 import { Slider } from '@/components/ui/slider';
 import SocialShare from '@/components/SocialShare';
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ const BulgarianSolitaire: React.FC<BulgarianSolitaireProps> = ({ showSocialShare
   const [boxes, setBoxes] = useState<Box[]>([]);
   const [columns, setColumns] = useState<number[][]>([]);
   const [isPlaying, setIsPlaying] = useState(false);
+  const [isPaused, setIsPaused] = useState(false);
   const [draggedBox, setDraggedBox] = useState<number | null>(null);
   const [step, setStep] = useState(0);
   const [isComplete, setIsComplete] = useState(false);
@@ -26,6 +27,8 @@ const BulgarianSolitaire: React.FC<BulgarianSolitaireProps> = ({ showSocialShare
   const [lastUsedColumn, setLastUsedColumn] = useState<number | null>(null);
   const [selectedBoxForMove, setSelectedBoxForMove] = useState<number | null>(null);
   const [showInstructions, setShowInstructions] = useState(false);
+  
+  const pauseRef = useRef(false);
 
   const totalBoxes = n;
 
@@ -173,6 +176,22 @@ const BulgarianSolitaire: React.FC<BulgarianSolitaireProps> = ({ showSocialShare
 
   const sleep = (ms: number) => new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, ms));
 
+  const waitForUnpause = async () => {
+    while (pauseRef.current) {
+      await sleep(100);
+    }
+  };
+
+  const handlePause = () => {
+    pauseRef.current = true;
+    setIsPaused(true);
+  };
+
+  const handleResume = () => {
+    pauseRef.current = false;
+    setIsPaused(false);
+  };
+
   const isTriangularConfiguration = (cols: number[][]) => {
     const nonEmptyCols = cols.filter(col => col.length > 0).sort((a, b) => a.length - b.length);
     
@@ -215,6 +234,7 @@ const BulgarianSolitaire: React.FC<BulgarianSolitaireProps> = ({ showSocialShare
       setHighlightedBoxes(topBoxes);
       setIsAnimating(true);
       await sleep(800); // Show highlighting
+      await waitForUnpause(); // Check for pause
 
       // Create new pile from non-empty columns
       const newPile: number[] = [];
@@ -265,6 +285,7 @@ const BulgarianSolitaire: React.FC<BulgarianSolitaireProps> = ({ showSocialShare
       }));
 
       await sleep(1200); // Wait to see the sorted result
+      await waitForUnpause(); // Check for pause again
     }
 
     setIsComplete(isTriangularConfiguration(currentColumns));
@@ -278,6 +299,10 @@ const BulgarianSolitaire: React.FC<BulgarianSolitaireProps> = ({ showSocialShare
   };
 
   const reset = () => {
+    pauseRef.current = false;
+    setIsPaused(false);
+    setIsPlaying(false);
+    
     const newBoxes: Box[] = [];
     for (let i = 0; i < totalBoxes; i++) {
       newBoxes.push({ id: i, columnIndex: null });
@@ -286,7 +311,6 @@ const BulgarianSolitaire: React.FC<BulgarianSolitaireProps> = ({ showSocialShare
     setColumns(Array.from({ length: totalBoxes }, () => []));
     setStep(0);
     setIsComplete(false);
-    setIsPlaying(false);
     setHighlightedBoxes(new Set());
     setIsAnimating(false);
   };
@@ -347,10 +371,10 @@ const BulgarianSolitaire: React.FC<BulgarianSolitaireProps> = ({ showSocialShare
             disabled={isPlaying}
           />
         </div>
-        <Button onClick={reset} variant="outline" disabled={isPlaying}>
+        <Button onClick={reset} variant="outline" disabled={isPlaying && !isPaused}>
           Reset
         </Button>
-        <Button onClick={randomStart} variant="default" disabled={isPlaying}>
+        <Button onClick={randomStart} variant="default" disabled={isPlaying && !isPaused}>
           Random Start
         </Button>
       </div>
@@ -428,12 +452,12 @@ const BulgarianSolitaire: React.FC<BulgarianSolitaireProps> = ({ showSocialShare
       {/* Play Button */}
       <div className="flex justify-center">
         <Button
-          onClick={simulateBulgarianSolitaire}
-          disabled={isPlaying || containerBoxes.length > 0}
+          onClick={isPlaying ? (isPaused ? handleResume : handlePause) : simulateBulgarianSolitaire}
+          disabled={!isPlaying && containerBoxes.length > 0}
           size="lg"
           className="px-12"
         >
-          {isPlaying ? 'Playing...' : 'Play'}
+          {isPlaying ? (isPaused ? 'Continue' : 'Pause') : 'Play'}
         </Button>
       </div>