diff --git a/game.go b/game.go
index 0ba5439..1e58e24 100644
--- a/game.go
+++ b/game.go
@@ -98,7 +98,6 @@ func gameActor(ctx context.Context, g *game.Match, dealer, chall person, join <-
 				broadcast(ctx, g, dealer, chall, obs, dl)
 				if g.MatchWinner() != nil {
 					gameOver(ctx, dealer, chall, obs)
-					// TODO(zeph): server needs to know the players are gone
 					return
 				}
 				g.NextRound()
@@ -161,14 +160,12 @@ func playerActor(ctx context.Context, p person, actions chan<- action) {
 }
 
 func broadcast(ctx context.Context, g *game.Match, dealer, chall person, obs []observer, deadline time.Time) {
-	// TODO(zeph): this probably should return an error or some other signal
-	// if a player drops so that the actor knows to quit
+	// NOTE(zeph): If our sends to players fail, then the socket will close,
+	// causing the readers to fail and send concede messages. No leak.
 	if err := wsjson.Write(ctx, dealer.conn, g.DTO(dealer.id, deadline)); err != nil {
-		// TODO(zeph): concede, but we need to be careful not to recurse
 		slog.WarnContext(ctx, "lost dealer", "player", dealer.id, "err", err.Error())
 	}
 	if err := wsjson.Write(ctx, chall.conn, g.DTO(chall.id, deadline)); err != nil {
-		// TODO(zeph): concede, but we need to be careful not to recurse
 		slog.WarnContext(ctx, "lost challenger", "player", chall.id, "err", err.Error())
 	}
 	if len(obs) == 0 {
@@ -183,7 +180,6 @@ func broadcast(ctx context.Context, g *game.Match, dealer, chall person, obs []o
 }
 
 func gameOver(ctx context.Context, dealer, chall person, obs []observer) {
-	// TODO(zeph): need to communicate to the server that these have gone away
 	go dealer.conn.Close(websocket.StatusNormalClosure, "match ended")
 	go chall.conn.Close(websocket.StatusNormalClosure, "match ended")
 	for _, p := range obs {
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 58aa96c..0e982a6 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/go-chi/chi/v5/middleware"
 	"github.com/google/uuid"
 	"gitlab.com/zephyrtronium/sq"
-	"nhooyr.io/websocket"
 
 	"git.sunturtle.xyz/studio/shotgun/lobby"
 	"git.sunturtle.xyz/studio/shotgun/player"
@@ -43,11 +42,9 @@ func main() {
 		return
 	}
 	s := Server{
-		l:        lobby.New[uuid.UUID, player.ID](),
+		l:        lobby.New[uuid.UUID, matchingPerson](),
 		creds:    db,
 		sessions: db,
-		pp:       map[player.ID]*websocket.Conn{},
-		j:        map[uuid.UUID]chan person{},
 	}
 
 	r := chi.NewRouter()
diff --git a/server.go b/server.go
index 8045ad9..37037e0 100644
--- a/server.go
+++ b/server.go
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"log/slog"
 	"net/http"
-	"sync"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/google/uuid"
@@ -20,14 +19,10 @@ import (
 )
 
 type Server struct {
-	l *lobby.Lobby[uuid.UUID, player.ID]
+	l *lobby.Lobby[uuid.UUID, matchingPerson]
 
 	creds    db
 	sessions db
-
-	mu sync.Mutex
-	pp map[player.ID]*websocket.Conn
-	j  map[uuid.UUID]chan person
 }
 
 type db interface {
@@ -40,10 +35,9 @@ type person struct {
 	id   player.ID
 }
 
-func (s *Server) person(p player.ID) person {
-	s.mu.Lock()
-	defer s.mu.Unlock()
-	return person{conn: s.pp[p], id: p}
+type matchingPerson struct {
+	sync chan struct{}
+	person
 }
 
 func (s *Server) accept(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, p player.ID) (person, error) {
@@ -52,27 +46,9 @@ func (s *Server) accept(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, p player.ID) (pe
 		return person{}, err
 	}
 	slog.Debug("upgraded", "player", p)
-	s.mu.Lock()
-	defer s.mu.Unlock()
-	s.pp[p] = conn
 	return person{conn: conn, id: p}, nil
 }
 
-func (s *Server) left(p player.ID) {
-	s.mu.Lock()
-	// NOTE(zeph): neither map index nor map delete can panic, so this critical
-	// section does not need a defer
-	c := s.pp[p]
-	delete(s.pp, p)
-	s.mu.Unlock()
-	if c != nil {
-		// We don't care about the error here since the connection is leaving.
-		// It's probably already closed anyway.
-		slog.Debug("leaving", "player", p)
-		c.Close(websocket.StatusNormalClosure, "bye")
-	}
-}
-
 func (s *Server) Register(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	ctx := r.Context()
 	slog := slog.With(
@@ -208,8 +184,10 @@ func (s *Server) joinAndServe(p person) {
 			stop()
 		}
 	}()
-	id, chall, deal := s.l.Queue(ctx, uuid.New, p.id)
+	mp := matchingPerson{sync: make(chan struct{}), person: p}
+	id, chall, deal := s.l.Queue(ctx, uuid.New, mp)
 	<-ch
+	close(mp.sync)
 	stop()
 	if id == uuid.Nil {
 		// Context canceled.
@@ -218,24 +196,10 @@ func (s *Server) joinAndServe(p person) {
 	}
 	if deal {
 		ch := make(chan person, 2)
-		s.mu.Lock()
-		s.j[id] = ch
-		s.mu.Unlock()
-		g := game.New(p.id, chall)
-		other := s.person(chall)
-		go gameActor(context.TODO(), g, p, other, ch)
+		g := game.New(p.id, chall.id)
+		<-chall.sync
+		go gameActor(context.TODO(), g, p, chall.person, ch)
 		ch <- p
-	} else {
-		// very gross, but i just want this to exist
-		for {
-			s.mu.Lock()
-			ch := s.j[id]
-			s.mu.Unlock()
-			if ch != nil {
-				ch <- p
-				break
-			}
-		}
 	}
 	// Reply with the game ID so they can share.
 	r := serve.GameStart{
@@ -244,7 +208,7 @@ func (s *Server) joinAndServe(p person) {
 	}
 	if err := wsjson.Write(context.TODO(), p.conn, r); err != nil {
 		slog.WarnContext(ctx, "got a game but player dropped", "game", id, "player", p.id)
-		s.left(p.id)
+		p.conn.Close(websocket.StatusNormalClosure, "looks like you dropped")
 		return
 	}
 }