diff --git a/src/tests/util.py b/src/tests/util.py
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/tests/util.py
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+import re
+
+from go.core import Go
+from statebag import BoardState
+
+
+def simpleLoadSgf(filename):
+	with open(filename) as f:
+		contents=f.read()
+	g=lambda m: tuple(ord(c)-ord('a') for c in reversed(m.group(1)))
+	return [g(m) for m in re.finditer(r"\b[BW]\[([a-z]{2})\]",contents)]
+
+
+def listStates(moves):
+	g=Go()
+	res=[BoardState(g.board)]
+	for m in moves:
+		g.doMove(g.toMove,*m)
+		res.append(BoardState(g.board))
+	return res