diff --git a/Board.cpp b/Board.cpp
index 5b145b3..f5901e2 100644
--- a/Board.cpp
+++ b/Board.cpp
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
 // defined by the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.
 
 #include "inc/Board.hpp"
-#include "inc/Piece.hpp"
 #include "inc/strFuncs.hpp"
 
 /*
@@ -242,8 +241,8 @@ int Board::setupFromFEN(std::string strFEN) {
     // ====== START OF FIELD 3 ======
     std::string k = "k", K = "K", q = "q", Q = "Q";
     // yeah this is hacky af but it works... blame SO
-    Piece *baseBKing = getPieceAt(blackKing);
-    Piece *baseWKing = getPieceAt(whiteKing);
+    Piece *baseBKing = getPieceAt(blackKing).get();
+    Piece *baseWKing = getPieceAt(whiteKing).get();
     King *bKing = dynamic_cast<King *>(baseBKing);
     King *wKing = dynamic_cast<King *>(baseWKing);
     if(splitFEN[2] == "-") {
@@ -311,4 +310,8 @@ void Board::deserializeBoard(uint64_t incomingBoard) {
         serialBoard.boardRows[i] = static_cast<uint8_t>((incomingBoard >> (8 * i)) & 0xFF);
     // how do we then figure out what has moved?
     return;
+}
+
+std::unique_ptr<Piece> &Board::getPieceAt(Square square) {
+    return boardGrid[static_cast<int>(square.rank)][static_cast<int>(square.file)];
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Piece.cpp b/Piece.cpp
index 00e787e..61f85bb 100644
--- a/Piece.cpp
+++ b/Piece.cpp
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
 // defined by the Mozilla Public License, v. 2.0.
 
 #include "inc/Piece.hpp"
-#include "inc/Board.hpp"
 
 Piece::~Piece() {
     return;
@@ -86,10 +85,12 @@ std::vector<Move> King::getLegalMoves(const Square &from, Board &board) const {
         // establish r/f for square to check
         int r = from.rank + dir[0];
         int f = from.file + dir[1];
-        Square targetSquare{static_cast<Rank>(r), static_cast<File>(f)};
+        auto ra = static_cast<Rank>(r);
+        auto fi = static_cast<File>(f);
+        Square targetSquare = {ra, fi};
         if(targetSquare.isValid()) {
-            const Piece *target = board.getPieceAt(targetSquare); // examine the target square
-            if(!target) { // if square is empty (nullptr)
+            const auto &target = board.boardGrid[r][f]; // examine the target square
+            if(!target) { // if square is empty (NULL)
                 moveList.push_back({from, targetSquare}); // then it's potentially a legal move
             } else if(target && target->getColour() != this->getColour()) { // if it's occupied with a piece of opposite colour
                 moveList.push_back({from, targetSquare}); // then again it's potentially legal
@@ -134,8 +135,7 @@ std::vector<Move> King::getLegalMoves(const Square &from, Board &board) const {
             bool diagonal = (abs(dir[0]) + abs(dir[1]) == 2) ? 1 : 0; // check if diagonal
             bool knight = (abs(dir[0]) + abs(dir[1]) == 3) ? 1 : 0; // check if knight attack
             while(r >= 0 && r < 8 && f >= 0 && f < 8) {
-                Square targetSquare{static_cast<Rank>(r), static_cast<File>(f)};
-                const Piece *target = board.getPieceAt(targetSquare); // access the square we're examining
+                auto &target = board.boardGrid[r][f]; // access the square we're examining
                 if(!target) {
                     // empty square, continue
                     continue;
@@ -204,8 +204,10 @@ std::vector<Move> Rook::getLegalMoves(const Square &from, Board &board) const {
         int r = from.rank + dir[0];
         int f = from.file + dir[1];
         while(r >= 0 && r < 8 && f >= 0 && f < 8) {
-            Square targetSquare{static_cast<Rank>(r), static_cast<File>(f)};
-            const Piece *target = board.getPieceAt(targetSquare);
+            const auto& target = board.boardGrid[r][f];
+            auto ra = static_cast<Rank>(r);
+            auto fi = static_cast<File>(f);
+            Square targetSquare = {ra, fi};
             if(!target) {
                 moveList.push_back({from, targetSquare});
             } else if(target && target->getColour() != this->getColour()) {
@@ -246,9 +248,11 @@ std::vector<Move> Queen::getLegalMoves(const Square &from, Board &board) const {
         // establish r/f for square to check
         int r = from.rank + dir[0];
         int f = from.file + dir[1];
+        auto ra = static_cast<Rank>(r);
+        auto fi = static_cast<File>(f);
+        Square targetSquare = {ra, fi};
         while(r >= 0 && r < 8 && f >= 0 && f < 8) {
-            Square targetSquare{static_cast<Rank>(r), static_cast<File>(f)};
-            const Piece *target = board.getPieceAt(targetSquare);// examine the target square
+            const auto &target = board.boardGrid[r][f]; // examine the target square
             if(!target) { // if square is empty (NULL)
                 moveList.push_back({from, targetSquare}); // then it's potentially a legal move
             } else if(target && target->getColour() != this->getColour()) { // if it's occupied with a piece of opposite colour
@@ -350,11 +354,13 @@ std::vector<Move> Pawn::getLegalMoves(const Square &from, Board &board) const {
             int r = from.rank + dir[0];
             int f = from.file + dir[1];
             if(r >= 0 && r < 8 && f >= 0 && f < 8) { // no need for a while loop as we only have finite moves in limited directions
-                Square targetSquare{static_cast<Rank>(r), static_cast<File>(f)};
-                const Piece *target = board.getPieceAt(targetSquare);
+                const auto& target = board.boardGrid[r][f];
+                auto ra = static_cast<Rank>(r);
+                auto fi = static_cast<File>(f);
+                Square targetSquare = {ra, fi};
                 if(dir[0] == -2 && !this->checkIfMoved()) {
                     // then 2 is potentially legal
-                    if(!target && board.isSquareEmpty(Square{static_cast<Rank>(r + 1), static_cast<File>(f)})) // check both squares for pieces of any colour
+                    if(!target && !(board.boardGrid[r + 1][f])) // check both squares for pieces of any colour
                         moveList.push_back({from, targetSquare});
                     else
                         continue;
@@ -377,11 +383,13 @@ std::vector<Move> Pawn::getLegalMoves(const Square &from, Board &board) const {
             int r = from.rank + dir[0];
             int f = from.file + dir[1];
             if(r >= 0 && r < 8 && f >= 0 && f < 8) { // no need for a while loop as we only have finite moves in limited directions
-                Square targetSquare{static_cast<Rank>(r), static_cast<File>(f)};
-                const Piece *target = board.getPieceAt(targetSquare);
+                const auto& target = board.boardGrid[r][f];
+                auto ra = static_cast<Rank>(r);
+                auto fi = static_cast<File>(f);
+                Square targetSquare = {ra, fi};
                 if(dir[0] == 2 && !this->checkIfMoved()) {
                     // then 2 is potentially legal
-                    if(!target && board.isSquareEmpty(Square{static_cast<Rank>(r + 1), static_cast<File>(f)}))
+                    if(!target && !(board.boardGrid[r - 1][f]))
                         moveList.push_back({from, targetSquare});
                     else
                         continue;
diff --git a/inc/Board.hpp b/inc/Board.hpp
index abf53ae..c0dbaac 100644
--- a/inc/Board.hpp
+++ b/inc/Board.hpp
@@ -13,8 +13,10 @@
 #include <memory>
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
+
 #include "Piece.hpp"
-// suggested to forward declare here, and put include in the .cpp
+
+// why do I have to forward declare all these?!
 class Piece;
 
 enum Players { PL_WHITE, PL_BLACK };
@@ -23,56 +25,23 @@ struct Square;
 class Board {
   private:
     friend class Piece; // this doesn't seem to do anything
-    std::vector<std::vector<std::unique_ptr<Piece>>> boardGrid;
     Players playerTurn;
-    // let's get super object-oriented, baby
-    // these help the getters and setters access the boardGrid
-    // and also make them shorter and less duplicative
-    std::unique_ptr<Piece>& at(int r, int f) {
-        return boardGrid[r][f];
-    }
-
-    const std::unique_ptr<Piece>& at(int r, int f) const {
-        return boardGrid[r][f];
-    }
-
-    std::unique_ptr<Piece>& at(const Square& sq) {
-        return boardGrid[static_cast<int>(sq.rank)][static_cast<int>(sq.file)];
-    }
-
-    const std::unique_ptr<Piece>& at(const Square& sq) const {
-        return boardGrid[static_cast<int>(sq.rank)][static_cast<int>(sq.file)];
-    }
   public:
+    // this should be protected, but even when Piece is declared as a friend,
+    // accessing it in Piece.cpp threw an error
+    std::vector<std::vector<std::unique_ptr<Piece>>> boardGrid;
     Board();
     virtual ~Board();
 
-    // These are to allow Piece to access Board in a controlled way
-    // ----- Getters -----
-    Piece* getPieceAt(int r, int f) { return at(r, f).get(); }
-    const Piece* getPieceAt(int r, int f) const { return at(r, f).get(); }
-
-    Piece* getPieceAt(const Square& sq) { return at(sq).get(); }
-    const Piece* getPieceAt(const Square& sq) const { return at(sq).get(); }
-
-    // ----- Setters -----
-    void setPieceAt(int r, int f, std::unique_ptr<Piece> piece) { at(r, f) = std::move(piece); }
-    void setPieceAt(const Square& sq, std::unique_ptr<Piece> piece) { at(sq) = std::move(piece); }
-
-    void clearSquare(int r, int f) { at(r, f).reset(); }
-    void clearSquare(const Square& sq) { at(sq).reset(); }
-
-    // ----- Utility -----
-    bool isSquareEmpty(int r, int f) const { return at(r, f) == nullptr; }
-    bool isSquareEmpty(const Square& sq) const { return at(sq) == nullptr; }
-    
     void setupInitialPosition();
 
     void clearBoard();
+    std::unique_ptr<Piece> &getPieceAt(Square square);
     void movePiece(Square from, Square to);
     void nextTurn();
     int setupFromFEN(std::string strFEN);
     bool isInBounds(Square square) const;
+    bool isEmpty(Square square) const;
     // serial shift register stuff
     uint64_t serialBoard = 0xFFFF00000000FFFF; // opening position
     void deserializeBoard(uint64_t incomingBoard);
diff --git a/inc/Piece.hpp b/inc/Piece.hpp
index f7607ea..762c57d 100644
--- a/inc/Piece.hpp
+++ b/inc/Piece.hpp
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 #include <string>
 #include <memory>
 #include <vector>
-
+#include "Board.hpp"
 class Board;
 
 enum PieceType {