From “Empok Nor” (5x11)
Garak, frustrated by playing kotra with Nog, tries to get Chief O’Brien to play with him. Predictably, it doesn’t work.
Garak: Kotra is not about regrouping or hoarding assets, it’s about bold strategy and decisive action. Chief, would you like to take on the winner? I’d love to play kotra against the hero of Setlik III.
O’Brien: And what is that supposed to mean?
Garak: Oh, we all know your distinguished war record. How you led two dozen men against the Barrica encampment and took out an entire regiment of Cardassians. If you play kotra with half that brazenness, we’d have quite a match.
O’Brien: I’m not a soldier anymore. I’m an engineer.
Garak: I see. So when you and Dr. Bashir go into the holosuite for hours at time you’re just repairing them?
O’Brien: What’s your point, Garak?
Garak: I’m just curious. Why do you and Dr. Bashir spend hours in the holosuite dressed as fighter pilots reliving ancient battles?
O’Brien: We do it for fun. It’s a game.
Garak: And so is kotra. [Places a piece.] And I’d like nothing more than to play against a man like you.
O’Brien: Maybe some other time.
OK, can we talk about this? First off, Garak is on a shuttlecraft and he’s bored, so of course he’s going to start messing with someone. It’s what he does. He did it to Worf. Now he’s doing it to O’Brien, who he knows doesn’t like him either. Second, he brings up Bashir, whose relationship with O’Brien he’s gotta be jealous of. Third, Garak is loving getting in all these good lines. And last: FORESHADOWING.