created a simple plate

src/de/itsblue/ConnectFour/ConnectFour.java

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 package de.itsblue.ConnectFour;
 
 import java.awt.Dimension;
-
+import java.awt.GridBagLayout;
 import javax.swing.JFrame;
 
 public class ConnectFour extends JFrame {
@@ -17,12 +17,17 @@ public class ConnectFour extends JFrame {
 		this.setDefaultCloseOperation(EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
         this.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(600,600));
         
+        this.setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
+        this.add(new Plate(Plate.PlateType.X));
+
+        this.add(new Plate(Plate.PlateType.O));
+
         // finish up
         this.pack();
         this.setVisible(true);
     }
 
-    public static void main(String[] args) {
+    public static void main(final String[] args) {
         System.out.println(new ConnectFour());
     }
 }

src/de/itsblue/ConnectFour/Plate.java

@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@ package de.itsblue.ConnectFour;
 
 import javax.swing.JPanel;
 
+import java.awt.Color;
+import java.awt.Dimension;
+
 public class Plate extends JPanel {
 
     /**
@@ -9,8 +12,27 @@ public class Plate extends JPanel {
      */
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
-    Plate() {
-        
+    enum PlateType {
+        X, O
+    }
+
+    private PlateType type;
+
+    Plate(PlateType type) {
+        this.setType(type);
+
+        this.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(10, 10));
+
+        this.setBackground(this.type == PlateType.X ? Color.RED:Color.BLACK);
+
+    }
+
+    public PlateType getType() {
+        return type;
+    }
+
+    private void setType(PlateType type) {
+        this.type = type;
     }
 
 }