|Title=Chess Pains

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1996|3|26}}

|WrittenBy=Rob Greenberg

|ShortSummary=Frasier has acquired a 19th-century [[Paris]]ian [[chess]] set, designed by a student of [[École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts|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 [[English draughts|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. 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.