public String OutInitConfig() {
      StringBuilder str = new StringBuilder();
      str.append("(");
      int col = 0;
      int row = 0;
      for (; col < ColNum; ++col) {
         // for our board configuration
         // output all the pieces that is on our side
         // in student consensus syntax
         for (row = 0; row < OneSideRowNum; ++row) {
            Piece p = board.getPiece(row, col);
            if (p.getOurSide() && p.getRank() != Rank.Unknown 
                 && p.getRank() != Rank.Empty){
               str.append("(" + translatePos(row, col) + " ");
               str.append(translateRank(p.getRank()) + ") ");
            }
         }
      }
      str.delete(str.length() - 1, str.length());
      str.append(")");
      if (DEBUG) {
         System.out.println(str);
      }
      return str.toString();
   }