public boolean ComboBad( int col, int row, int val ) {

	// check the row
	for (int n = 0; n < 9; n++ ) {
	    if ( _board[row][n] == val ) {
		System.out.println("Oops, there is already a " + val + " in row " + converter( row ) );
		System.out.println("Try again!");
		pause( 1 );
		return true;
	    }
	}
	
	// check the column
	for (int i = 0; i < 9; i++ ) {
	    if ( _board[i][col] == val ) {
		System.out.println("Oops, there is already a " + val + " in column " + (col + 1) );
		System.out.println("Try again!");
		pause( 1 );
		return true;
	    }
	}

	int firstRow = getFirst( row );
	int firstCol = getFirst( col );

	// check the square
	for (int i = firstRow; i < (firstRow + 3); i++) {
	    for (int n = firstCol; n < (firstCol + 3); n++) {
		if ( _board[i][n] == val ) {
		    System.out.println("Oops, there is already a " + val + " in that square");
		    System.out.println("Try again!");
		    pause( 1 );
		    return true;
		}
	    }
	}

	return false;
    }