diff --git a/core/engine.py b/core/engine.py
index efeee83..5fb6915 100644
--- a/core/engine.py
+++ b/core/engine.py
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ class KataGoEngine:
                 query["id"] = f"QUERY:{str(self.query_counter)}"
             self.queries[query["id"]] = (callback, error_callback, time.time(), next_move)
         if self.katago_process:
-            self.katrain.log(f"Sending query {query['id']}: {str(query)}", OUTPUT_DEBUG)
+            self.katrain.log(f"Sending query {query['id']}: {json.dumps(query)}", OUTPUT_DEBUG)
             try:
                 self.katago_process.stdin.write((json.dumps(query) + "\n").encode())
                 self.katago_process.stdin.flush()
diff --git a/core/sgf_parser.py b/core/sgf_parser.py
index cf39d03..c3e59b9 100644
--- a/core/sgf_parser.py
+++ b/core/sgf_parser.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ class ParseError(Exception):
 
 
 class Move:
-    GTP_COORD = list("ABCDEFGHJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ") + ["A" + c for c in "ABCDEFGHJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ"]  # kata board size 29 support
+    GTP_COORD = list("ABCDEFGHJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ") + [xa + c for xa in "AB" for c in "ABCDEFGHJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ"]  # kata board size 29 support
     PLAYERS = "BW"
     SGF_COORD = list("ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ".lower()) + list("ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ")
 
@@ -212,15 +212,17 @@ class SGFNode:
 
     @property
     def next_player(self):
-        if "B" in self.properties or "AB" in self.properties:
+        if "B" in self.properties or "AB" in self.properties: # root or black moved
             return "W"
-        return "B"
+        else:
+            return "B"
 
     @property
     def player(self):
-        if "W" in self.properties:
-            return "W"
-        return "B"
+        if "B" in self.properties or "AB" in self.properties:
+            return "B"
+        else:
+            return "W" # nb root is considered white played if no handicap stones are placed
 
 
 class SGF:
diff --git a/gui/popups.py b/gui/popups.py
index bb9e8dd..888d5d3 100644
--- a/gui/popups.py
+++ b/gui/popups.py
@@ -173,13 +173,12 @@ class ConfigPopup(QuickConfigGui):
                 old_proc = old_engine.katago_process
                 if old_proc:
                     old_engine.shutdown(finish=True)
-
                 new_engine = KataGoEngine(self.katrain, self.config["engine"])
                 self.katrain.engine = new_engine
                 self.katrain.game.engines = {"B": new_engine, "W": new_engine}
                 if not old_proc:
                     self.katrain.game.analyze_all_nodes()  # old engine was broken, so make sure we redo any failures
-
+                self.katrain.update_state()
             Clock.schedule_once(restart_engine, 0)
 
         self.katrain.debug_level = self.config["debug"]["level"]