The Nagus (OB 21 March, 1993) score: 6

In seven seasons and 150 episodes, a soft story will sometimes make it to the soundstage, where the cast and crew must sell it.  "The Nagus" lacks dramatic tension, but earns distinction by introducing Grand Nagus Zek (Wallace Shawn), perhaps Trek's most amusing recurring character, along with The Rules of Acquisition and Zek's catchphrase, "You've failed miserably!"  Note the Godfather homage, with a satiric twist: acting-Nagus Quark forgets about respect at the mere mention of profit.

"When in doubt, be ruthless." - Zek 

TNG's Ferengi were cartoonish villains (they'd have twisted their  mustaches, if they'd had mustaches); DS9 surrendered to common sense, making the lobed ones comic.  Rom lags, still fretfully malicious here.  He almost spaces Quark, and seems (nearly) capable of doing so.

A parallel subplot, trouble in the Jake/Nog friendship, includes a scene that's bittersweet in retrospect: Ben Sisko reminding his son human-Ferengi relations are problematic.  Despite the knowing parody of capitalism, these Ferengi are alien in having a culture and ethos based on selfishness.  (It's the job of the "Nagus" to "negate 'us.'")
Alas, cultural cobblestones were paved by Hollywood P.C., as DS9's Ferengi became more courageous while accepting gender equality.  Admittedly, "Zek" might imply a cultural dead-end, thus the need for reform.
** The problem with a Ferengi conference is keeping the characters straight: P.C. or no, they all look alike. ** 

Move Along Home (OB 14 March 1993) score: 7

There goes my credibility.

chula!

I've always liked this widely-panned episode.  Yes, the riddles could've been more involved, but maybe they're softened for first-time players ("only children enter on the first shap").  Everything's relative: "Move Along Home" surpasses "Journey to Oasis," the 1981 episode of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, riddles dispensed by Felix Silla as a blue gnome.
 
Despite nods to cheesy sci-fi (Irwin Allen), there's meaning here: the crew are punished for disrespecting the Wadi during first contact.  The obvious offender is Quark, who cheats at dabo after refusing credit for alien artifacts (without even learning their uses).  Bashir lost his dress uniform; Sisko rejects "childish games," a key character moment aligning the commander with today's career officers.
Speaking of character, Quark's groveling seems unlike him, but may be histrionic: he's decided begging's his best move.
The names emphasize DS9's medieval quality.  Their imposing visitor is Falow (Joel Brooks), a homonym with "fallow."  "Wadi" may recall the Mahdi, the messiah figure of Islam.  The repeated "Allamaraine" evokes Allemagne, the French word for "Germany."  Indeed, the writers took inspiration from old European and Egyptian games (as well as Dungeons and Dragons, and Chutes and Ladders, thus the name of the game, "chula").
** Precluded by its poor reception, sequels to "Move Along Home" would've been preferable to DS9's overrated mirror-universe arc. **  The episode looks ahead to Star Trek: Voyager's fascination with nested narratives. **