diff --git a/game.js b/game.js
index 421a6a6..35c538a 100644
--- a/game.js
+++ b/game.js
@@ -247,9 +247,15 @@ class Connect5Game {
   }
 }
 
-// Initialize game when DOM is loaded
 // Initialize game when DOM is loaded
 window.game = null;
 document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => {
   window.game = new Connect5Game();
+  
+  // Enable multiplayer button now that game is ready
+  const multiplayerBtn = document.getElementById('multiplayerModeBtn');
+  if (multiplayerBtn) {
+    multiplayerBtn.disabled = false;
+    console.log('✅ Game initialized, multiplayer button enabled');
+  }
 });
diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index 9fb7b7a..b0b01fa 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@
           <button class="mode-btn active" id="localModeBtn" onclick="toggleGameMode('local')">
             🎮 Local Play
           </button>
-          <button class="mode-btn" id="multiplayerModeBtn" onclick="toggleGameMode('multiplayer')">
+          <button class="mode-btn" id="multiplayerModeBtn" onclick="toggleGameMode('multiplayer')" disabled>
             🌐 Multiplayer
           </button>
         </div>
@@ -217,7 +217,16 @@
           // Initialize multiplayer if not already
           if (!window.multiplayerClient) {
             if (!window.game) {
-                console.error("Game instance not found!");
+                console.log('⏳ Waiting for game to initialize...');
+                // Poll for game to be ready
+                const checkGame = setInterval(() => {
+                    if (window.game) {
+                        clearInterval(checkGame);
+                        console.log('✅ Game ready, initializing multiplayer...');
+                        window.multiplayerClient = new MultiplayerClient(window.game);
+                        window.multiplayerClient.connect();
+                    }
+                }, 100); // Check every 100ms
                 return;
             }
             window.multiplayerClient = new MultiplayerClient(window.game);