Inventor Robert Valentine was introduced to the game of chess as a child and soon became an avid player, even winning the grade three champion at his school tournament. Always having a chess board around, he often played with his uncles and grandfathers, furthering his experience and knowledge.In the early 1980's, Valentine also became interested in medieval history. While doing research on Medieval battles, he was intrigued with how chance played such a vital role in the outcome of many medieval battles, such as Crecy and Agincourt, where weather and terrain made such a drastic influence on the outcome of the battles. Valentine realized that even the best laid plans and tactical advantages can be completely disrupted.Valentine pondered that a master at the game of chess, if never interfered with, will always win. "But", he thought, "...what if the chess board was thought of as a battleground? And what if it was raining out, and a bridge you planned to cross, collapsed?" Valentine figured you would have to adapt your strategy to newly unfolding events. Valentine wanted to introduce variables to the game of chess, where normally nothing interferes with it's logic and planning. To make the game more exciting, he thought, "What if you wanted to move a pawn but that soldier froze up and was afraid to move ...or you wanted to move your knight but his horse got spooked?"Just like a General leading his army into battle, moving his soldiers into position could be slowed down by a cannon wheel breaking, or a or a slow supply line, and even running out of ammunition. Valentine wanted to add the element of chance to this classic game, so that even the best laid plans can be foiled: "You have to adapt to the cards you are dealt."