diff --git a/src/Koogle.Application/Games/DeathBox/DeathBoxGameLogicService.cs b/src/Koogle.Application/Games/DeathBox/DeathBoxGameLogicService.cs
index 916fb1e..191fa45 100644
--- a/src/Koogle.Application/Games/DeathBox/DeathBoxGameLogicService.cs
+++ b/src/Koogle.Application/Games/DeathBox/DeathBoxGameLogicService.cs
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ public class DeathBoxGameLogicService : IGameLogicService
             id => id,
             _ => new DeathBoxPlayerState());
 
+        playerStates[playerOrder.First()].XCount += 1; // First player starts with an X
+
         return new DeathBoxGameModel
         {
             CoffinSize = options.CoffinSize,