diff --git a/server/src/chat/commands/show.rs b/server/src/chat/commands/show.rs
index be22f484..881f9998 100644
--- a/server/src/chat/commands/show.rs
+++ b/server/src/chat/commands/show.rs
@@ -2,6 +2,62 @@
 
 use super::CommandContext;
 
+/// Strip YAML front matter and return a summary of useful fields + the remaining body.
+fn strip_front_matter(text: &str) -> (String, String) {
+    let trimmed = text.trim_start();
+    if !trimmed.starts_with("---") {
+        return (String::new(), text.to_string());
+    }
+
+    // Find the closing ---
+    if let Some(end) = trimmed[3..].find("\n---") {
+        let yaml_block = &trimmed[3..3 + end].trim();
+        let body = &trimmed[3 + end + 4..]; // skip past closing ---
+
+        // Extract useful fields from YAML (simple line-based parsing)
+        let mut parts = Vec::new();
+        for line in yaml_block.lines() {
+            let line = line.trim();
+            if line.starts_with("depends_on:") {
+                let val = line.trim_start_matches("depends_on:").trim();
+                if !val.is_empty() && val != "[]" {
+                    parts.push(format!("**Depends on:** {val}"));
+                }
+            } else if line.starts_with("agent:") {
+                let val = line.trim_start_matches("agent:").trim().trim_matches('"');
+                if !val.is_empty() {
+                    parts.push(format!("**Agent:** {val}"));
+                }
+            } else if line.starts_with("blocked:") {
+                let val = line.trim_start_matches("blocked:").trim();
+                if val == "true" {
+                    parts.push("**Blocked:** yes".to_string());
+                }
+            } else if line.starts_with("retry_count:") {
+                let val = line.trim_start_matches("retry_count:").trim();
+                if val != "0" && !val.is_empty() {
+                    parts.push(format!("**Retries:** {val}"));
+                }
+            } else if line.starts_with("qa:") {
+                let val = line.trim_start_matches("qa:").trim().trim_matches('"');
+                if val == "human" {
+                    parts.push("**QA:** human review required".to_string());
+                }
+            } else if line.starts_with("merge_failure:") {
+                let val = line.trim_start_matches("merge_failure:").trim().trim_matches('"');
+                if !val.is_empty() {
+                    parts.push(format!("**Merge failure:** {val}"));
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        (parts.join(" · "), body.to_string())
+    } else {
+        // No closing ---, return as-is
+        (String::new(), text.to_string())
+    }
+}
+
 /// Display the full markdown text of a work item identified by its numeric ID.
 ///
 /// Lookup priority: CRDT → content store → filesystem (Story 512).
@@ -38,10 +94,13 @@ pub(super) fn handle_show(ctx: &CommandContext) -> Option<String> {
         format!("Story {story_id} found in pipeline but its content is unavailable.")
     });
 
+    // Strip front matter block and extract useful metadata to show inline.
+    let (front_matter_summary, body) = strip_front_matter(&text);
+
     // Convert markdown headings to bold text for consistent rendering across
     // Matrix clients. Element X doesn't style <h2> tags distinctly, but bold
     // text renders consistently everywhere.
-    let formatted = text
+    let formatted = body
         .lines()
         .map(|line| {
             let trimmed = line.trim_start();
@@ -58,7 +117,11 @@ pub(super) fn handle_show(ctx: &CommandContext) -> Option<String> {
         .collect::<Vec<_>>()
         .join("\n");
 
-    Some(formatted)
+    if front_matter_summary.is_empty() {
+        Some(formatted.trim().to_string())
+    } else {
+        Some(format!("{front_matter_summary}\n{}", formatted.trim()))
+    }
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]