diff -r b8588e318001 -r 8ddf4af937d7 src/de/uapcore/sudoku/Field.java
--- a/src/de/uapcore/sudoku/Field.java	Sat Jan 26 18:43:49 2013 +0100
+++ b/src/de/uapcore/sudoku/Field.java	Sat Jan 26 19:34:31 2013 +0100
@@ -62,7 +62,6 @@
 
     @Override
     public void paint(Graphics graphics) {
-        super.paint(graphics);
         final int w = getWidth();
         final int h = getHeight();
         final int cw = w / 9;
@@ -90,6 +89,7 @@
         }
         
         graphics.drawImage(img, 0, 0, this);
+        super.paintChildren(graphics);
     }
     
     public int getCellValue(int x, int y) {
@@ -126,4 +126,45 @@
             }
         }
     }
+    
+    public int[][] getSquare(int x, int y) {
+        if (x < 0 || x > 2 || y < 0 || y > 2) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid square coordinates");
+        }
+        int[][] square = new int[3][3];
+        
+        for (int u = 0 ; u < 3 ; u++) {
+            for (int v = 0 ; v < 3 ; v++) {
+                square[u][v] = getCellValue(3*x+u, 3*y+v);
+            }
+        }
+        
+        return square;
+    }
+    
+    public int[] getRow(int y) {
+        if (y < 0 || y > 8) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid row number");
+        }
+        int row[] = new int[9];
+        
+        for (int x = 0 ; x < 9 ; x++) {
+            row[x] = getCellValue(x, y);
+        }
+        
+        return row;
+    }
+    
+    public int[] getColumn(int x) {
+        if (x < 0 || x > 8) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid column number");
+        }
+        int column[] = new int[9];
+        
+        for (int y = 0 ; y < 9 ; y++) {
+            column[y] = getCellValue(x, y);
+        }
+        
+        return column;
+    }
 }