diff --git a/python_pkg/keyboard_coop/main.py b/python_pkg/keyboard_coop/main.py
index 4a993b3..9aea578 100644
--- a/python_pkg/keyboard_coop/main.py
+++ b/python_pkg/keyboard_coop/main.py
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ SCREEN_HEIGHT = 768
 BACKGROUND_COLOR = (30, 30, 40)
 KEYBOARD_COLOR = (60, 60, 70)
 KEY_COLOR = (80, 80, 90)
-KEY_HOVER_COLOR = (100, 100, 110)
 KEY_SELECTED_COLOR = (150, 150, 200)
 KEY_AVAILABLE_COLOR = (100, 150, 100)
 TEXT_COLOR = (255, 255, 255)
@@ -346,10 +345,6 @@ class KeyboardCoopGame:
                 f"Player {self.state.current_player + 1}: Choose an adjacent letter!"
             )
 
-            # If no valid moves available, force word submission
-            if not self.keyboard.available_letters:
-                self._submit_word()
-
     def _submit_word(self) -> None:
         """Submit the current word and check if it's valid."""
         if len(self.state.current_word) >= MIN_WORD_LENGTH and self._is_valid_word(
@@ -387,19 +382,12 @@ class KeyboardCoopGame:
 
     def _draw_keyboard(self) -> None:
         """Draw the virtual keyboard."""
-        mouse_pos = pygame.mouse.get_pos()
-
         for letter, rect in self.keyboard.positions.items():
             # Determine key color
             if letter in self.state.selected_letters:
                 color = KEY_SELECTED_COLOR
             elif letter in self.keyboard.available_letters:
                 color = KEY_AVAILABLE_COLOR
-            elif (
-                rect.collidepoint(mouse_pos)
-                and letter in self.keyboard.available_letters
-            ):
-                color = KEY_HOVER_COLOR
             else:
                 color = KEY_COLOR
 
diff --git a/python_pkg/keyboard_coop/tests/test_main.py b/python_pkg/keyboard_coop/tests/test_main.py
index 8f3b840..24d78fb 100644
--- a/python_pkg/keyboard_coop/tests/test_main.py
+++ b/python_pkg/keyboard_coop/tests/test_main.py
@@ -760,15 +760,14 @@ class TestDrawKeyboard:
         colors_used = [call[0][1] for call in calls]
         assert KEY_SELECTED_COLOR in colors_used
 
-    def test_draw_keyboard_hover_color(self) -> None:
-        """Test hover color when mouse is over available key."""
+    def test_draw_keyboard_unavailable_key_color(self) -> None:
+        """Test unavailable keys get default key color."""
         mock_pg = MagicMock()
         mock_pg.draw = MagicMock()
-        # Mouse is at position that collides with the key
-        mock_pg.mouse.get_pos.return_value = (100, 100)
 
         with patch.dict("sys.modules", {"pygame": mock_pg}):
             from python_pkg.keyboard_coop.main import (
+                KEY_COLOR,
                 FontSet,
                 GameState,
                 KeyboardCoopGame,
@@ -785,18 +784,18 @@ class TestDrawKeyboard:
             )
 
             mock_rect_a = MagicMock()
-            # Mouse collides with this rect
-            mock_rect_a.collidepoint.return_value = True
             mock_rect_a.center = (100, 100)
 
             game.keyboard.positions = {"a": mock_rect_a}
-            # Key is available (required for hover color)
-            game.keyboard.available_letters = {"a"}
+            # Key is NOT available - should get KEY_COLOR
+            game.keyboard.available_letters = set()
 
             game._draw_keyboard()
 
-        # draw.rect should have been called
-        assert mock_pg.draw.rect.call_count >= 2
+        # Check that KEY_COLOR was used for unavailable key
+        calls = mock_pg.draw.rect.call_args_list
+        colors_used = [call[0][1] for call in calls]
+        assert KEY_COLOR in colors_used
 
 
 class TestDrawUI: