public boolean l_play( int i, int j, int val ){
        int nval = -val;
        int j1=j-1;
        while( j1>=0 && values[i][j1] == nval ){
            j1--;
        }
        if( j1>=0 && j1+1 < j && values[i][j1] == val ){
            // Valid play
            for( int k=j1+1; k<j; k++ ){
                values[i][k] = val;
            }
            return true;
        }
        return false;        
    }