private boolean takeNeighbours(String player, Hexpos hp) {
		// return immediately if player is not a valid string
		if (!(player.equals("red") || player.equals("blue")))
			return false;

		// iterate over a list of all neighbours
		MyList neighbours = hp.neighbours();
		Iterator it = neighbours.iterator();
		while (it.hasNext()) {
			Hexpos neighbour = (Hexpos) it.next();
			// only 'change' ownership if the square was not empty
			if (owner(neighbour) != null){
				changeOwner(player, neighbour);
			}

		}
		
		return true;
	}