diff --git a/src/net/common/senderthread.cpp b/src/net/common/senderthread.cpp
index e064c3fc..49bd1628 100644
--- a/src/net/common/senderthread.cpp
+++ b/src/net/common/senderthread.cpp
@@ -92,9 +92,17 @@ SenderThread::Main()
 			int selectResult = select(m_curSocket + 1, NULL, &writeSet, NULL, &timeout);
 			if (!IS_VALID_SELECT(selectResult))
 			{
-				m_callback.SignalNetError(m_curSocket, ERR_SOCK_SELECT_FAILED, SOCKET_ERRNO());
-				// Assume that this is a fatal error, terminate thread.
-				return;
+				// Never assume that this is a fatal error.
+				int errCode = SOCKET_ERRNO();
+				if (errCode != SOCKET_ERR_WOULDBLOCK)
+				{
+					// Skip this packet - this is bad, and is therefore reported.
+					// Ignore invalid or not connected sockets.
+					if (errCode != SOCKET_ERR_NOTCONN && errCode != SOCKET_ERR_NOTSOCK)
+						m_callback.SignalNetError(m_curSocket, ERR_SOCK_SELECT_FAILED, errCode);
+					m_tmpOutBufSize = 0;
+				}
+				Msleep(SEND_TIMEOUT_MSEC);
 			}
 			if (selectResult > 0) // send is possible
 			{
@@ -103,9 +111,17 @@ SenderThread::Main()
 
 				if (!IS_VALID_SEND(bytesSent))
 				{
-					m_callback.SignalNetError(m_curSocket, ERR_SOCK_SEND_FAILED, SOCKET_ERRNO());
-					// Assume that this is a fatal error, terminate thread.
-					return;
+					// Never assume that this is a fatal error.
+					int errCode = SOCKET_ERRNO();
+					if (errCode != SOCKET_ERR_WOULDBLOCK)
+					{
+						// Skip this packet - this is bad, and is therefore reported.
+						// Ignore invalid or not connected sockets.
+						if (errCode != SOCKET_ERR_NOTCONN && errCode != SOCKET_ERR_NOTSOCK)
+							m_callback.SignalNetError(m_curSocket, ERR_SOCK_SEND_FAILED, errCode);
+						m_tmpOutBufSize = 0;
+					}
+					Msleep(SEND_TIMEOUT_MSEC);
 				}
 				else if ((unsigned)bytesSent < m_tmpOutBufSize)
 				{
diff --git a/src/net/common/serverrecvstate.cpp b/src/net/common/serverrecvstate.cpp
index 613d1b56..91e912fb 100644
--- a/src/net/common/serverrecvstate.cpp
+++ b/src/net/common/serverrecvstate.cpp
@@ -426,17 +426,19 @@ ServerRecvStateStartHand::Process(ServerRecvThread &server)
 	// Send cards to all players.
 	for (int i = 0; i < curGame.getStartQuantityPlayers(); i++)
 	{
-		assert(playerArray[i]->getNetSessionData().get()); // TODO throw exception
+		// also send to inactive players, but not to disconnected players.
+		if (playerArray[i]->getNetSessionData().get())
+		{
+			int cards[2];
+			playerArray[i]->getMyCards(cards);
+			boost::shared_ptr<NetPacket> notifyCards(new NetPacketHandStart);
+			NetPacketHandStart::Data handStartData;
+			handStartData.yourCards[0] = static_cast<unsigned>(cards[0]);
+			handStartData.yourCards[1] = static_cast<unsigned>(cards[1]);
+			static_cast<NetPacketHandStart *>(notifyCards.get())->SetData(handStartData);
 
-		int cards[2];
-		playerArray[i]->getMyCards(cards);
-		boost::shared_ptr<NetPacket> notifyCards(new NetPacketHandStart);
-		NetPacketHandStart::Data handStartData;
-		handStartData.yourCards[0] = static_cast<unsigned>(cards[0]);
-		handStartData.yourCards[1] = static_cast<unsigned>(cards[1]);
-		static_cast<NetPacketHandStart *>(notifyCards.get())->SetData(handStartData);
-
-		server.GetSender().Send(playerArray[i]->getNetSessionData()->GetSocket(), notifyCards);
+			server.GetSender().Send(playerArray[i]->getNetSessionData()->GetSocket(), notifyCards);
+		}
 	}
 
 	// Start hand.
diff --git a/src/net/common/serverrecvthread.cpp b/src/net/common/serverrecvthread.cpp
index 6331014b..d7e83a55 100644
--- a/src/net/common/serverrecvthread.cpp
+++ b/src/net/common/serverrecvthread.cpp
@@ -476,13 +476,11 @@ ServerRecvThread::RemoveDisconnectedPlayers()
 		for (int i = 0; i < m_game->getStartQuantityPlayers(); i++)
 		{
 			PlayerInterface *tmpPlayer = m_game->getPlayerArray()[i];
-			if (tmpPlayer->getMyActiveStatus())
+			if (!IsPlayerConnected(tmpPlayer->getMyUniqueID()))
 			{
-				if (!IsPlayerConnected(tmpPlayer->getMyUniqueID()))
-				{
-					tmpPlayer->setMyCash(0);
-					tmpPlayer->setMyActiveStatus(false);
-				}
+				tmpPlayer->setMyCash(0);
+				tmpPlayer->setMyActiveStatus(false);
+				tmpPlayer->setNetSessionData(boost::shared_ptr<SessionData>());
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/src/net/senderthread.h b/src/net/senderthread.h
index ed09a030..bd74c7af 100644
--- a/src/net/senderthread.h
+++ b/src/net/senderthread.h
@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@
 #include <boost/shared_ptr.hpp>
 
 #define SENDER_THREAD_TERMINATE_TIMEOUT		200
-#define SEND_TIMEOUT_MSEC					50
-#define SEND_QUEUE_SIZE						200
+#define SEND_TIMEOUT_MSEC					10
+#define SEND_QUEUE_SIZE						500
 
 class SenderThread : public Thread
 {
diff --git a/src/net/socket_helper.h b/src/net/socket_helper.h
index a05b390a..aef409c0 100644
--- a/src/net/socket_helper.h
+++ b/src/net/socket_helper.h
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@
 #define IOCTLSOCKET				ioctlsocket
 #define SOCKET_ERRNO()			WSAGetLastError()
 #define SOCKET_ERR_WOULDBLOCK	WSAEWOULDBLOCK
+#define SOCKET_ERR_NOTCONN		WSAENOTCONN
+#define SOCKET_ERR_NOTSOCK		WSAENOTSOCK
 
 typedef unsigned __int16		u_int16_t;
 typedef unsigned __int32		u_int32_t;
@@ -47,6 +49,8 @@ typedef unsigned char			u_char;
 #define SOCKET_ERRNO()			errno
 #define IOCTLSOCKET				ioctl
 #define SOCKET_ERR_WOULDBLOCK	EINPROGRESS
+#define SOCKET_ERR_NOTCONN		ENOTCONN
+#define SOCKET_ERR_NOTSOCK		ENOTSOCK
 
 #endif