Is playing chess or checkers permissible or forbidden?

Playing chess falls into three categories: First, if it involves a wager, it is forbidden by the consensus of scholars. Second, if it leads to neglecting an obligation or committing a forbidden act, it is forbidden by the consensus of scholars. Third, if it is free from a wager, neglecting an obligation, or committing a forbidden act, scholars have differed on it: some say it is forbidden, which is the view of the Hanafis and Hanbalis; some say it is disliked (makrooh), which is transmitted from the Shafi'is; and the Malikis dislike it if it is rare and invalidate the testimony of anyone who habitually plays it. In summary, playing chess ranges between being forbidden and severely disliked according to most scholars. This also applies to the game of checkers (dama), though the matter might be slightly less strict for it in the third category.