protected Piece FindOppPieceNearFlag(Board b) {
      Position flagpos = getFlagPos();
      int row = flagpos.getRow();
      int col = flagpos.getCol();

      oppRow = (row == 1) ? (row + 1): (row - 1);
      oppCol = 0;
      for(oppCol = col - 1; oppCol <= col + 1; oppCol++) {
         Piece piece = b.getPiece(oppRow, oppCol);
         if (piece.getOurSide() == false &&
             (piece.getRank() != Rank.Unknown || 
              piece.getRank() != Rank.Empty)) {
            return piece;
         }
      }
      return null;
   }