public boolean changeOwner(String newOwner, Hexpos hp) {
		String oldOwner = (String) owner.get(hp);
		// check if newOwner is a valid string
		if (!(newOwner == null || newOwner.equals("red") || newOwner
				.equals("blue")))
			return false;

		// decrease the count of squares of the old owner,
		// and increase for new owner
		int oldN = ((Integer) nSquares.get(oldOwner)).intValue();
		nSquares.put(oldOwner, new Integer(--oldN));

		int newN = ((Integer) nSquares.get(newOwner)).intValue();
		nSquares.put(newOwner, new Integer(++newN));

		// now make the actual change in the hashmap
		owner.put(hp, newOwner);

		return true;



    }