In poker tournaments, the term describes the removal of the lowest denomination chips from play. This process occurs when those chips become insignificant relative to the increasing blind levels. As the blinds escalate, smaller value chips become impractical for betting and calculating pot sizes. For example, if a tournament starts with chips valued at 25, 100, and 500, and the minimum blind reaches 1,000, the 25-value chips would typically be eliminated.
This action streamlines gameplay by reducing the number of chips in circulation, leading to faster decision-making and less clutter on the table. Historically, this practice evolved to improve the pace of tournaments and minimize confusion for players. Efficiency is increased and the focus shifts to meaningful bets and strategic play. Removing these smaller chips ensures that the majority of remaining chips are of higher value, simplifying calculations during hands.