Container con = getContentPane();
System.out.println("default layout manager for JFrame = " +
getLayout().getClass().getName());
// Looks like you might want the buttons on "pane" to be in the center of your
// BorderLayout. Adding a component to this layouts container with no constraint
// places it in the center section, by default. This is peculiar to BorderLayout.
// So this next line is okay.
con.add(pane);
// Adding another component to a section/container which already contains a
// component will cause the first component to be removed and the second
// component to be added. This is the answer to your stated question.
// Looks like you might want the JLabel "players" in the south/last
// section of the BorderLayout. For this you must use a constraint — see
// BorderLayout api Field Summary section for options. To get started try:
con.add(pane2, BorderLayout.SOUTH);