diff --git a/scenes/game/gameplays/match3_gameplay.gd b/scenes/game/gameplays/match3_gameplay.gd
index ef11a2c..46fa341 100644
--- a/scenes/game/gameplays/match3_gameplay.gd
+++ b/scenes/game/gameplays/match3_gameplay.gd
@@ -623,6 +623,12 @@ func _input(event: InputEvent) -> void:
 	if current_state == GameState.SWAPPING or current_state == GameState.PROCESSING:
 		return
 
+	# Handle action_east (B button/ESC) to deselect selected tile
+	if event.is_action_pressed("action_east") and current_state == GameState.SELECTING:
+		DebugManager.log_debug("action_east pressed - deselecting current tile", "Match3")
+		_deselect_tile()
+		return
+
 	# Handle keyboard/gamepad navigation
 	if event.is_action_pressed("move_up"):
 		_move_cursor(Vector2i.UP)
@@ -825,7 +831,9 @@ func _are_adjacent(tile1: Node2D, tile2: Node2D) -> bool:
 
 func _attempt_swap(tile1: Node2D, tile2: Node2D) -> void:
 	if not _are_adjacent(tile1, tile2):
-		DebugManager.log_debug("Tiles are not adjacent, cannot swap", "Match3")
+		DebugManager.log_debug("Tiles are not adjacent, selecting new tile instead", "Match3")
+		_deselect_tile()
+		_select_tile(tile2)
 		return
 
 	DebugManager.log_debug(