diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8226b10
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+minmax-java/build
+minmax-java/.gradle
+.idea
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/minmax-java/src/main/java/ch/bbw/m411/connect4/Connect4ArenaMain.java b/minmax-java/src/main/java/ch/bbw/m411/connect4/Connect4ArenaMain.java
index 3101d8c..ee2f874 100644
--- a/minmax-java/src/main/java/ch/bbw/m411/connect4/Connect4ArenaMain.java
+++ b/minmax-java/src/main/java/ch/bbw/m411/connect4/Connect4ArenaMain.java
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ public class Connect4ArenaMain {
 		 * Givent the current {@link #board}, find a suitable position-index to play to.
 		 * @return the position to play to as defined by {@link Connect4Player#play(int)}.
 		 */
-		abstract int play();
+		protected abstract int play();
 
 	}
 
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ public class Connect4ArenaMain {
 			return sb.toString();
 		}
 		@Override
-		int play() {
+		protected int play() {
 			System.out.println("where to to put the next " + myColor + "?");
 			var scanner = new Scanner(System.in, StandardCharsets.UTF_8);
 			return Integer.parseInt(scanner.nextLine());
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ public class Connect4ArenaMain {
 	public static class GreedyPlayer extends DefaultPlayer {
 
 		@Override
-		int play() {
+		protected int play() {
 			for (int c = 0; c < WIDTH; c++) {
 				for (int r = 0; r < HEIGHT; r++) {
 					var index = r * WIDTH + c;
diff --git a/minmax-java/src/main/java/ch/bbw/m411/connect4/RustPlayer.java b/minmax-java/src/main/java/ch/bbw/m411/connect4/RustPlayer.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b96229d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/minmax-java/src/main/java/ch/bbw/m411/connect4/RustPlayer.java
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+package ch.bbw.m411.connect4;
+
+public class RustPlayer extends Connect4ArenaMain.DefaultPlayer {
+    private native int rustPlay(byte player, Connect4ArenaMain.Stone[] board);
+
+    @Override
+    protected int play() {
+        byte player = switch (this.myColor) {
+            case BLUE -> 0;
+            case RED -> 1;
+        };
+        return this.rustPlay(player, this.board);
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file