public int numTouching(int piece, int column) {
	int counter = 0;
	int row = findRow( column );

	for (int x = -1; x <= 1; x+=2) {
	    for (int y = -1; y <= 1; y++ ) {
		if ( (row + x) < 6 && (row + x) > -1 && (column + y) < 7 && (column + y) > -1) {
		    if (_board[row+x][column+y] == piece){
			counter++;
		    }
		}
	    }
	}

	if ((row + 1) < 6) {
	    if (_board[row + 1][column] == piece) {
		counter++;
	    }
	}
	return counter;
    }