The playing of chess is Haram in Islam.

Many people argue that, why it is

prohibited when it has many good sides and Allah (swt) likes good? It is right
that, chess has many good sides but we need to accept that it has many evil
influences on us too and that’s why Allah has made it prohibited. Surely Allah
knows the best what is good for us and what is not.

The playing of chess accompanied by gambling or without, both is

prohibited. Allah (swt) declared alcohol and gambling as forbidden, He
explained the reason for this prohibition. From the light of Al-Quran we know
that, Shaytan desires to create an ill feeling amongst us. He desires to create
hatred among us, and to direct out attention from salah and Allah (swt)’s
remembrance.

Reasons for Prohibition of Chess:

1. Absorption in this game (chess) is so much, that we seek the
protection of Allah (swt). The truth of the matter is that when someone
becomes rooted in some practice and this practice penetrates his very
blood and veins, then until death it remains overpowering, and in this
very practice a man finally dies.

2. The player of chess becomes so absorbed in this game that he has no

care or concern for anything else.
3. This game has no relationship with the strategies of battle or war. E.g.
the knight moves so and the elephant moves so. In true and real
battles these are not the moves to be found.

Evidence of Prohibition of Chess:

Hadhrat Ali also said:

“Chess is gambling of the Ajam people (non Arabs)”

Abu Dawood (4938) narrated from Abu Moosa al-Ash’ari that the Messenger of Allah
(saw) said: “Whoever plays dice has disobeyed Allah and His Messenger.”
(Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 4129)

Muslim (2260) narrated that the Prophet (saw) said:

“Whoever plays dice is like one who has dipped his hand in the flesh
and blood of a pig.”

Abd-Allaah ibn Umar (ra) was asked about chess and he said:
“It is worse than dice.”
It was narrated that, Ali ibn Abi Taalib (ra) passed by some people who were playing
chess. He said,
“What are these images, to which you are devoted?”
[cf. al-Anbiya’ 21:52]

Allah (saw) knows the Best