diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 05cb662a..41bf154f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ Enable AWS connection by pasting the .env file into the repo.
 
 Start the server backend by running
 ```
-uvicorn src.api/.backend:app --reload
+uvicorn src.api.backend:app --reload
 ```
 
 Open a new bash terminal and start the frontend by running
diff --git a/src/state.py b/src/state.py
index a642e384..ae7b051c 100644
--- a/src/state.py
+++ b/src/state.py
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ def __init__(self, xmin: int, ymin: int, xmax: int, ymax: int) -> None:
     def check(self) -> bool:
         "verifies if well-defined"
         try:
-            assert self.box.check() is True
+            assert self.box.check() == True
             assert self.playerid is not None and self.type is not None
         except:
             return False
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ def __init__(self, xmin: int, ymin: int, xmax: int, ymax: int) -> None:
     def check(self) -> bool:
         "verifies if well-defined"
         try:
-            assert self.box.check() is True
+            assert self.box.check() == True
             assert self.type is not None
             if self.type is ActionType.NOTHING:
                 assert self.ballid == -1
@@ -459,7 +459,7 @@ def join_poss(self, lst: list, threshold: int = 20):  # possiblility of mapreduc
             p1: Interval = lst[i]
             p2: Interval = lst[i + 1]
 
-            if p1.playerid is p2.playerid and p2.start - p1.end <= threshold:
+            if p1.playerid == p2.playerid and p2.start - p1.end <= threshold:
                 lst.pop(i)
                 lst.pop(i)
                 p = Interval(p1.playerid, p1.start, p2.end)