Interesting post... its always saddened me that something as mind-boosting as chess is sinful in some systems. Chess has always been a positive activity in my life that everyone should have a chance to try.
Islam and chess
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It's largely to do with certain people using chess to gamble but not the game itself.
playing on bet still makes you a lot more $ and it's a lot more enjoyable than flipping burgers, everyone probably know this full time american chess gambler on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjOudJeNWOQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTlXBKiCw7E&feature=related
Feb 28, 2011
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#4
The writers of the original advice appear to have had poor understanding of the difference between a game of pure skill (like chess) (a "game of perfect information" to a game theorist), and a game of pure chance (like dice).
I would say that today a more common mistake is failing to understand the difference between games of pure chance and games which combine skill and chance (like backgammon and poker). This is despite the fact that virtually every sport is best understood as such a game (a good example is golf, where the uncertainty in the influence of air movement during the flight of the ball has a significant effect on the result. Good players maximise the probability of a good result).
While I am not going to comment on any religion here, I am fundamentally opposed to dictatorship of ideas.
The video I saw does not involve gambling. He is charging a small fee for the opportunity to play chess with a master, thats NOT gambling. He is being paid for his services, which in this case is basically giving a chess lesson.
Reb wrote:
The video I saw does not involve gambling. He is charging a small fee for the opportunity to play chess with a master, thats NOT gambling. He is being paid for his services, which in this case is basically giving a chess lesson.
I thought the $2 per lesson meant $2 bet per game and the youtube comments seems to suggest it as well but I guess I could be wrong as I've never personally played against the guy
Feb 28, 2011
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#7
One could consider it a $2 fee, with a double refund in the unlikely event that you win. 
Most park hustlers/players do play for bets/wagers but he didnt seem to be.
Feb 28, 2011
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#9
See the terms of service. Religion is a personal matter, keep it away from the forums
GorillaCookies wrote:
This is an example of the hypocrisy ive wondered about on this site. Start a post with the word God or Jesus in it and instant warning. But i have seen many posts about "bongclouds" which is an obvious drug reference. I don't understand the double standard?
"Bongcloud" refers to player Lenny Bongcloud on this site. It is an opening where the king is moved out early as per the way Lenny plays. It's relevent to chess because it's talking about chess. Yes, Lenny does have a user name that's a drug reference but on his personal page he states that you shouldn't use drugs (probably due to personal experience).
As far as religions go, if someone were to come on here talking about Allah or Scientology, I'm sure they'd get warned as well. It's just that Christians seem to be more prevelant here, and are always eager to share their religious beliefs to everyone, whether anyone wants to hear them or not.
GorillaCookies wrote:
mistercheese wrote:
To each his own. Other religions already take a bashing here against erik's proscriptions; let's stay away from this one as well.
This is an example of the hypocrisy ive wondered about on this site. Start a post with the word God or Jesus in it and instant warning. But i have seen many posts about "bongclouds" which is an obvious drug reference. I don't understand the double standard?
CPawn?
Welcome back.
Feb 28, 2011
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#12
GorillaCookies wrote:
mistercheese wrote:
To each his own. Other religions already take a bashing here against erik's proscriptions; let's stay away from this one as well.
This is an example of the hypocrisy ive wondered about on this site. Start a post with the word God or Jesus in it and instant warning. But i have seen many posts about "bongclouds" which is an obvious drug reference. I don't understand the double standard?
How many wars have been fought over the Bongcloud ? And, with the possible exceptions of ivandh and conquistador, noone tries to forcibly make you use it. An opening with a rather obvious drug-based name is a piece of chess-related good humour.
As pointed out, it depends on the definition of gambling. Playing with stakes / bets placed might be gambling or close, which is not approved in Islam. (Nor, I believe, in Christianity.) This is likely the form of playing for money that the scholars cited were alluding to. Other forms of playing for financial compensation need not be considered gambling.
Feb 28, 2011
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#14
The answer seems clear: play chess, if you should win a little money then good on you (donate it to charity if it makes you feel uncomfortable). If any religious type tries to tell you this is wrong, tell them to [SELF-CENSORED]
Feb 28, 2011
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#15
Atos wrote:
As pointed out, it depends on the definition of gambling. Playing with stakes / bets placed might be gambling or close, which is not approved in Islam. (Nor, I believe, in Christianity.) This is likely the form of playing for money that the scholars cited were alluding to. Other forms of playing for financial compensation need not be considered gambling.
I believe you are incorrect in suggesting that Christians consider all competitive activities for money forbidden. This would preclude Christians entering most chess tournaments (where a fraction of entry fees make up the prizes), as well as most other competitions with an entry fee and money prizes.
Elroch wrote:
Atos wrote:
As pointed out, it depends on the definition of gambling. Playing with stakes / bets placed might be gambling or close, which is not approved in Islam. (Nor, I believe, in Christianity.) This is likely the form of playing for money that the scholars cited were alluding to. Other forms of playing for financial compensation need not be considered gambling.
I believe you are incorrect in suggesting that Christians consider all competitive activities for money forbidden. This would preclude Christians entering most chess tournaments (where a fraction of entry fees make up the prizes), as well as most other competitions with an entry fee and money prizes.
I believe that I said that gambling is not allowed, not that "all competitive activities for money" are.
Feb 28, 2011
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#17
You defined a two player competition with entry fees and a prize made up from the entry fees as gambling (a definition I cannot agree with). I (reasonably) generalised this to any competition with entry fees and prizes made up from the entry fees.
Hm... I didn't take entry fees into account. If the prize fund is made up of entry fees, this could be considered as placing bets, hence gambling.
I suspect that it's the nature of the way the payout is organized, (i.e. organized tournament with prizes versus a more transactional wager bewteen individuals or an individual and the house) then the nature of the game itself.
I would just like to share this. I couldn't help but chuckle.
Taken from http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/index.php?page=showfatwa&Option=FatwaId&Id=89002
Question
My son is very eager about playing the chess. He has been taken masters degree in chess from the university and now he teaches the chess in college to his students. He participates in the competitions of the chess in different cities and wins the prizes because it is his job. But he doesn't play on bet. Somebody told me that its a bad profession. So what is your opinion about playing and teaching the chess?
Answer
Chess game is of three kinds:
1) Chess that includes compensation: It is forbidden according to the agreement of scholars
. Imaam Ibn 'Abdul-Barr
said: 'The scholars agreed in a consensus that playing chess for compensation is gambling and it is forbidden.'
2) If playing chess leads to abandoning an obligation or committing a forbidden act, like not performing the prayer, or abandoning being dutiful to parents, telling a lie and false swearing. Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah
said: 'This form of chess is forbidden according to the consensus of all scholars
.'
3) If playing is free from all kinds of prohibitions: If it is without compensation and does not involve abandoning an obligation or committing a forbidden act, then the scholars
differed about it. Some are of the view that it is forbidden and some others are of the opinion that it is dislikeable. The Hanafi and Hanbali Schools are of the view that it is forbidden. However, it is confirmed that 'Ali 
passed by a people who were playing chess and asked them: 'What are these statues to which you are devoted?"
'Abdullaah Ibn 'Umar
was asked about chess and he replied: 'It is forbidden like the dice.' Ibn 'Abbaas 
was managing a property of an orphan and he found chess in it, so he burnt it. Abu Moosaa Al-Ash'aree
said: 'It is only a sinner who would play chess.'
The Shaafi'ee School are of the view that chess is dislikeable. However, Al-Balqeeni
who was from the Shaafi'ee School objected to the opinion of his school and said that it is permissible if it is free from all prohibitions. Moreover, it is reported thatSa'eed Ibn Jubayr and Sa'eed Ibn Al-Mussayyib, and some righteous predecessors
used to play chess.
The Maaliki School are of the view that if it is rarely played then it is dislikeable, but if one is addicted to it, then he could not be permitted to testify in court.
To conclude, playing chess is of three kinds: Two are exclusively forbidden, and the third is differed about among the scholars
but the majority of them are of the opinion that it is forbidden. This is enough of a deterrence for a sound Muslim against playing this game or teaching it, let alone taking it as a profession to earn his living.
Allaah knows best.