public int nextBestColumn(int piece){
    	
	int best = 0;
	
	for (int i = 1; i < 7; i++) {
	    if ( numTouching( piece, i ) > numTouching( piece, best ) ) {
		best = i;
	    }
	}
	if ( numTouching( piece, best ) == 0 ) {
	    return ((int) (Math.random() * 7));
	}
	else {
	    return best;
	}	
    }