Aug 1
Is playing poker with no real money (just as a skill challenge) considered haram?
I'm mainly into chess, but I've heard poker requires a serious mix of skills — probability, memory, reading opponents, decision-making under pressure — and I'm curious to try it purely as an intellectual challenge, similar to how I approach chess. I'm talking about free mobile apps (like how "Дурак" works on Google Play) where you just play online against random people for fun — no real money, no deposits, no winnings, just casual matchmaking for the game itself.
I know gambling (maysir) is clearly forbidden in Islam, but I'm unsure whether removing the money element entirely makes it permissible, or if the format itself (betting mechanics, bluffing) still raises concerns regardless of stakes. Separately, I've also been reading a bit about facial expressions and body language (Paul Ekman, Joe Navarro) out of general curiosity — wondering if that's fine too, or if there's any concern there.
Would appreciate any insight, ideally with sources (Quran/hadith or scholarly opinions) if available. Just trying to make sure I approach this the right way.
Pending