diff --git a/main.cpp b/main.cpp
index 5d0e9e1..4e5162a 100644
--- a/main.cpp
+++ b/main.cpp
@@ -38,15 +38,26 @@ int main() {
     // Read player 2 details
     cin >> player2Name >> player2Type;
 
+    // Validate player types
+    if (!equalsIgnoreCase(player1Type, "Random") && !equalsIgnoreCase(player1Type, "Strategic")) {
+        cerr << "Error: Invalid player 1 type. Must be 'Random' or 'Strategic'." << endl;
+        return 1;
+    }
+
+    if (!equalsIgnoreCase(player2Type, "Random") && !equalsIgnoreCase(player2Type, "Strategic")) {
+        cerr << "Error: Invalid player 2 type. Must be 'Random' or 'Strategic'." << endl;
+        return 1;
+    }
+
     // Determine player types and initialize gameplay
     Player *randomPlayerName, *strategicPlayerName;
-    if (toLowerCase(player1Type[0]) == 'r' && toLowerCase(player2Type[0]) == 's') {
+    if (equalsIgnoreCase(player1Type, "Random") && equalsIgnoreCase(player2Type, "Strategic")) {
         randomPlayerName = new RandomPlayer(player1Name);
         strategicPlayerName = new StrategicPlayer(player2Name);
-    } else if (toLowerCase(player1Type[0]) == 's' && toLowerCase(player2Type[0]) == 'r') {
+    } else if (equalsIgnoreCase(player1Type, "Strategic") && equalsIgnoreCase(player2Type, "Random")) {
         randomPlayerName = new RandomPlayer(player2Name);
         strategicPlayerName = new StrategicPlayer(player1Name);
-    } else if (toLowerCase(player1Type[0]) == 'r' && toLowerCase(player2Type[0]) == 'r') {
+    } else if (equalsIgnoreCase(player1Type, "Random") && equalsIgnoreCase(player2Type, "Random")) {
         randomPlayerName = new RandomPlayer(player2Name);
         strategicPlayerName = new RandomPlayer(player1Name);
     } else {
diff --git a/utils.cpp b/utils.cpp
index 845e686..96056e5 100644
--- a/utils.cpp
+++ b/utils.cpp
@@ -1,3 +1,13 @@
+#include <string>
+
 char toLowerCase(const char c) {
     return c | 32;
 }
+
+bool equalsIgnoreCase(const std::string &a, const std::string &b) {
+    if (a.size() != b.size()) return false;
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < a.size(); ++i) {
+        if (tolower(a[i]) != tolower(b[i])) return false;
+    }
+    return true;
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/utils.h b/utils.h
index bf64564..5156bc2 100644
--- a/utils.h
+++ b/utils.h
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
 #ifndef UTILS_H
 #define UTILS_H
+#include <string>
+
 char toLowerCase(char c);
+bool equalsIgnoreCase(const std::string &a, const std::string &b);
 #endif //UTILS_H