- Frasier buys an elaborate antique chess set, but becomes obsessed by his inability to win against Martin.
- After acquiring a valuable chess set, Frasier can't wait to play, but the only opponent available to him is Martin. After reluctantly agreeing to play, Martin easily wins - thus beginning many father-son matches. Meanwhile, Daphne encourages Niles to take his mind off of Maris by adopting a dog. Niles does so, however the dog he chooses is white, skinny, demanding and shows him no affection.
- Frasier has acquired a 19th-century Parisian chess set, designed by a student of l'École des Beaux-Arts. Niles is in complete awe, but Frasier cannot persuade him to play, so he asks his father. Martin professes not to know much about the game (he prefers checkers), but agrees nonetheless, and proceeds to win conclusively. Frasier is astonished, believing himself to be the superior player, and the following day requests a re-match, but Martin defeats him again, several times. Unfortunately, each defeat makes Frasier crosser, and even more determined to win the next time. When Martin finds out after he intentionally set off the fire alarm to wake him up to play, he calls him out on his superiority complex and to just accept his defeats, even throwing the umpteenth rematch just to end it. Meanwhile, Daphne suggests to Niles that if he needs companionship, he should get a dog. The animal he brings back from the pet shop is remarkably thin, highly strung, and refuses to heed a single command. Niles says he felt mysteriously drawn to her, but cannot work out why.
- After Frasier's purchase of an elaborate Chess board arrives, he grows despondent when it seems he has noone to play with.
Martin finally complies, but surprises Frasier when he beats him in a game. Frasier tries to brush this off, but he continues to play more games against Martin in hopes to beat him...but is Checkmated each time!
While at Cafe Nervosa, Niles thinks he has figured out the root of Frasier's problem. It could be that Frasier is suffering from an Oedipal complex, by which he is afraid of beating his Father at something.
Later that night, Frasier plays Martin again, but still loses. Frasier is unable to go to bed, and sets off the smoke alarm, waking everyone up. When Frasier then suggests they play chess again, Martin grows upset that his son would raise a false fire alarm over being upset at being beat by him.
Martin refuses Frasier's pleas for a late-night rematch...until Frasier promises to pay his Father $5000 if he beats Frasier again.
As the game wears on, both of them keep trying to get on each other's nerves, before Martin makes a faulty move, allowing Frasier to win. Martin then goes to sleep, claiming he doesn't want to hear about chess again.
However, Frasier is unable to sleep, and goes to his Father's room, asking if Martin let him (Frasier) win. Exasperated at his son, Martin swears that Frasier won fair and square.
Frasier feels better...but as the Son has eclipsed the Father in something, tells Martin he's sorry he beat him at chess.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content