my @b = qw(X X X X X X X X X X 7 2); [rchiav@aps:/home/rchiav]$ score score is 286 my @b = qw(X X X X X X X X X X X X); [rchiav@aps:/home/rchiav]$ score score is 300 my @b = qw(X 9 / X 9 / X 9 / X 9 / X 9 / X); [rchiav@aps:/home/rchiav]$ score score is 200 and the actual example given in the description.. my @b = qw(5 / 6 3 X X 7 0 4 3 X 4 / 8 1 3 / 6); [rchiav@aps:/home/rchiav]$ score score is 146