diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index 943eba4..e4de346 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -122,6 +122,7 @@
 
       let snake, direction, inputQueue, food, score, speed, timer;
       let state = "start"; // "start" | "playing" | "paused" | "over"
+      let beatBest = false; // did this game set a new best score?
 
       let best = 0;
       try { best = parseInt(localStorage.getItem("snakeBest"), 10) || 0; } catch (e) {}
@@ -144,6 +145,7 @@
         direction = { x: 1, y: 0 };
         inputQueue = [];
         score = 0;
+        beatBest = false;
         speed = START_SPEED;
         scoreEl.textContent = score;
         placeFood();
@@ -200,6 +202,7 @@
         if (eating) {
           score++;
           scoreEl.textContent = score;
+          updateBest();
           speed = Math.max(MIN_SPEED, speed - 3);
           placeFood();
           if (!food) { draw(); gameOver(true); return; } // board full: you win!
@@ -217,10 +220,8 @@
         draw(true);
         finalScoreEl.textContent = score;
         gameOverScreen.querySelector("h2").textContent = won ? "You Win!" : "Game Over";
-        if (score > best) {
-          best = score;
-          bestEl.textContent = best;
-          try { localStorage.setItem("snakeBest", String(best)); } catch (e) {}
+        updateBest();
+        if (beatBest) {
           newBestEl.textContent = "New best score!";
           newBestEl.classList.remove("hidden");
         } else {
@@ -230,6 +231,17 @@
         document.getElementById("restartBtn").focus();
       }
 
+      // Update and save the best score as soon as it's beaten, so it's kept
+      // even if the page is closed in the middle of a game.
+      function updateBest() {
+        if (score > best) {
+          best = score;
+          beatBest = true;
+          bestEl.textContent = best;
+          try { localStorage.setItem("snakeBest", String(best)); } catch (e) {}
+        }
+      }
+
       function togglePause() {
         if (state === "playing") {
           state = "paused";