Understanding the rules of the game

Card playing and other idle pastimes are generally frowned upon in the traditional Jewish community. They are viewed as a wasteful diversion of precious time that could be better spent in Torah study and the performance of good deeds. Nonetheless, exceptions are made for Hanukkah. The joyful spirit of the holiday allows for games of chance like that of spinning dreidels for nuts and coins. Even old men might temporarily set aside their books to join the fun. That notwithstanding, if a revered rabbi would catch them indulging themselves, even for just an instant, it could be quite awkward.
One Hanukkah evening, without any warning, Rabbi Nachum of Stefanesti walked straight into his study hall, known as the Beit Midrash. There he surprised a number of his students who were stealing a moment from their studies to play Chinese checkers. Needless to say, they were quite embarrassed.
Without skipping a beat, the sage asked, “Do you know the rules of the game?”
Stunned, his disciples remained silent. So the rabbi answered his own question about Chinese checkers, although characteristically enough, relating it to the challenges a person faces in his lifelong struggle for spiritual perfection.
“I will tell you the rules, he said. “You surrender one in order to gain two; you must never take two steps at once; you always move up, not down; and once you have reached the top, you can go wherever you like!”