+9

As is the case with all perfect information games.

@ TheGrobe: There isn't complete information in chess.  I'm not just talking about moves and positions you don't see.  You don't know what your opponent does or does not see, which is very critical information in many cases.  That said, there is a real distinction between this sort of thing and the imperfect information inherent in a card game.

So you're saying a skillful opponent never makes a mistake?  Or if they do it is deliberate?

Definition of LUCK

Well, I would say, yes...to the extent that if you were born in a family that could afford a chess coach and would support your training, in a place where chess is culturally planted, and in a set of circumstances that would allow you to leisurely have access to all the resources you need to make progress is chess, then, yes, there has to be some element of luck in chess.

wrong! the GAME itself has no inherent luck. OUTSIDE factors are seperate set of varitables  from the game itself. ALL Competitions have luck YES but the game of chess is 100% a complete information type game. Nothing is hidden from the players so decisions are based on complete and open information. In a card game on any given situation the information is incomplete information. If the cards were all face up then it wouldnt be gambiling since the winner could easily be determined each hand (all the cards are not seen so a decision  has to  be made on incomplete data based on statisical evaluation and willingness to take a risk) 

Does a chess competition have luck factors sure, but so does walking down the street. We dont consider a person having a medical emergency, a momentary lapse in judgement, or a natural disaster inherent parts of the GAME of chess but an outside factors that influences a particular competion.

keep the concepts of competition and game seperate and its easy to grasp that chess has no luck. 

the two factors are seperate. 

Oh boy, posting definitions...  I'm going to skip this thread.

I consider it unlucky if I work out a good tactic, also the bad move that seems good, but I forget my plan for some reason. Sometimes my opponent will miss a chance that I see 3 moves away because, I made a positionally weak move, I consider that good luck. The draw you get in a tourney can be good or bad luck.

"Is there such thing as "luck" in chess?"

Yes, whenever I am paired with a hot phoxy lady.

That's always good.

I think luck is if people post intelligent responses to a thread

It's good that Proletariate posted the definition for those who don't know.  I doubt that one person who believes that there is a factor of luck in chess is stating the luck is somehow inherent in the game itself (this is a reason it's one of my favorite games).  Maybe I'm the only person who ever had a (seemingly harmless) pawn in a crucial position for the end-game; and after said, "I got lucky."  And maybe I'm the only person who thought I was lucky to have the first move for my first game against a specific opponent.

I remember walking into a casino and putting one USA dollar into a slot machine and winning $275.00, my sister looked at me and said of all the machines how did you know to   pick that machine. and I said pure skill!

@TonyH:

I understand that, and thought about that even before posting. I suppose I just consider chess to be beyond just the game, since chess for me has become a way of life of some sort, hence it extends to the circumstances that would be either contributory or detrimental to your games.

of cuz there is luck! 

Some people will not accept an idea that is contrary to their own regardless of the evidence or number of arguments opposed to their idea.  These individuals often will not be persuaded by traditional methods; in most cases I won't even waste my time trying because they are usually prepared to object to any appeals to logic or reason. 

No comment.

well as I heard once:

you don't win games by playing good moves

you lose them by playing bad ones

translated

you don't win games by playing good moves

you win games when your opponent plays bad moves

a perfectly played game ends in a draw

so it "seems" you can only win when your opponent blunders:D