diff --git a/app/sockets/types.py b/app/sockets/types.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a1f2d49
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/sockets/types.py
@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+from typing import Any, Literal, NotRequired, Optional, TypedDict, get_args, get_origin
+
+class CreateCodeGame(TypedDict): # Client
+    play_as: Literal["b", "w", "r"]
+    time_mode: str
+
+class JoinCodeGame(TypedDict): # Client
+    code: str
+
+class CodeGameCreated(TypedDict): # Server
+    code: str
+
+class JoinCodeGameSuccess(TypedDict): # Server
+    p1_name: str
+    play_as: NotRequired[Literal["b", "w", "r"]]
+
+class JoinCodeGameFailure(TypedDict): # Server
+    reason: str
+
+class P2Connected(TypedDict): # Server
+    p2_name: str
+    ready: bool
+
+class UserReady(TypedDict): # Client or Server
+    ready: bool
+
+class GameStart(TypedDict): # Server
+    play_as: Literal["b", "w", "r"]
+    time_left_ms: int
+
+class Move_Request(TypedDict): # Client
+    from_square: str
+    to_square: str
+    promotion: NotRequired[str]
+
+class Move_Accepted(TypedDict): # Server
+    from_square: str
+    to_square: str
+    promotion: NotRequired[str]
+    time_left_ms: int
+
+class Move_Refused(TypedDict): # Server
+    reason: str
+
+class RequestResign(TypedDict): # Client
+    accepted: NotRequired[bool] # missing = offer, true = accept, false = refuse
+
+class RequestDraw(TypedDict): # Client
+    accepted: NotRequired[bool] # missing = offer, true = accept, false = refuse
+
+class GameEnd(TypedDict): # Server
+    result: Literal["win", "loss", "draw"]
+    reason: str
+
+
+#todo: implement later
+class _RematchRequest(TypedDict): # Client
+    accepted: NotRequired[bool] # missing = offer, true = accept, false = refuse
+
+
+ClientEventSchema = {
+    "create_code_game": CreateCodeGame,
+    "join_code_game": JoinCodeGame,
+    "user_ready": UserReady,
+    "move_request": Move_Request,
+    "request_resign": RequestResign,
+    "request_draw": RequestDraw,
+}
+
+
+def _matches_annotation(value: Any, annotation: Any) -> bool:
+    """Minimal runtime checker for the annotations used in WS payloads."""
+    origin = get_origin(annotation)
+    args = get_args(annotation)
+
+    if annotation is Any:
+        return True
+    if origin is None:
+        return isinstance(value, annotation)
+    if origin is Literal:
+        return value in args
+    if origin is Optional:
+        inner_type = args[0]
+        return value is None or _matches_annotation(value, inner_type)
+    if origin is list:
+        return isinstance(value, list) and all(_matches_annotation(v, args[0]) for v in value)
+    if origin is dict:
+        key_type, val_type = args
+        return isinstance(value, dict) and all(
+            _matches_annotation(k, key_type) and _matches_annotation(v, val_type)
+            for k, v in value.items()
+        )
+    if origin is tuple:
+        if not isinstance(value, tuple):
+            return False
+        if len(args) == 2 and args[1] is Ellipsis:
+            return all(_matches_annotation(v, args[0]) for v in value)
+        return len(value) == len(args) and all(_matches_annotation(v, t) for v, t in zip(value, args))
+    if origin is set:
+        return isinstance(value, set) and all(_matches_annotation(v, args[0]) for v in value)
+
+    # covers Union and "|" types
+    if args:
+        return any(_matches_annotation(value, arg) for arg in args)
+
+    return False
+
+
+def validate_typed_dict_payload(payload: Any, schema: type[Any]) -> tuple[bool, str | None]:
+    if not isinstance(payload, dict):
+        return False, "payload must be an object"
+
+    required_keys = getattr(schema, "__required_keys__", set())
+    optional_keys = getattr(schema, "__optional_keys__", set())
+    allowed_keys = required_keys | optional_keys
+
+    missing = required_keys - payload.keys()
+    if missing:
+        return False, f"missing required keys: {', '.join(sorted(missing))}"
+
+    unexpected = payload.keys() - allowed_keys
+    if unexpected:
+        return False, f"unexpected keys: {', '.join(sorted(unexpected))}"
+
+    annotations = schema.__annotations__
+    for key, expected_type in annotations.items():
+        if key in payload and not _matches_annotation(payload[key], expected_type):
+            return False, f"invalid type for '{key}'"
+
+    return True, None
+
+
+def validate_client_event(event: str, payload: Any) -> tuple[bool, str | None]:
+    schema = ClientEventSchema.get(event)
+    if schema is None:
+        return False, f"unknown event '{event}'"
+    return validate_typed_dict_payload(payload, schema)