Fabula
Object
Object

Data's Poker Chips

A neat assembly of palm-sized molded betting tokens in varying colors, flat faces, ridged edges, and visible denomination bands. Players arrange them into personal stacks and push piles toward a modest central pot on Data's quarters table. Fingers clack chips as wagers escalate; Pulaski shoves her last chips after Worf's cold fifty-raise, and Worf silently sweeps the consolidated pile into his possession.
5 appearances

Purpose

Serve as denominated wagering tokens for the senior officers' poker game, enabling players to place bets, consolidate stakes into a pot, and exchange winnings.

Significance

Operate as the concrete stakes that convert friendly banter into interpersonal contest: the movement of chips indexes Worf's austere dominance (his cold raise and subsequent collection of the pot), dramatizes Pulaski's risk, and anchors the scene's tonal shift from domestic friction to urgent duty.

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

5 moments
S2E9 · The Measure of a Man
Poker: Logic Meets Instinct

The poker chips function as the scene's stakes: pushed into the pot during betting, scooped up when Riker wins, and audibly clack to underscore victory. They transform abstract risk into immediate, physical gain and loss among crewmates.

Before: Arranged in small piles on the table in front of players, ready for betting.
After: Partially consolidated into the pot, then swept toward Riker when he rakes in the winnings.
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S2E9 · The Measure of a Man
Bluff: Probability vs. Instinct

Poker chips represent the tangible stakes: players push bets, Riker raises and later rakes the combined stacks toward himself when Data folds, giving physical consequence to his social gamble and making his victory material.

Before: Arranged in individual stacks in front of players and a growing communal pot at table center.
After: Transferred into Riker's possession as he rakes in the pot; chip piles redistributed according to the win.
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S2E20 · The Emissary
Worf's Cold Raise — Quiet Assertion at the Table

Individual stacks of palm‑sized chips circulate as betting currency; Worf counts and adds large stacks, Pulaski pushes her final chips into the pot, and Worf sweeps the consolidated pile at the reveal — the chips physically manifest stakes, loss, and social power.

Before: Distributed among players with Worf visibly holding the largest stack at the table.
After: Consolidated into Worf's possession, stacked neatly after he collects the pot; Pulaski is left without chips.
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S2E20 · The Emissary
Poker Night Interrupted — From Raise to Red Alert

The chips serve as both literal currency for wagers and a visual indicator of power: Worf's larger stacks intimidate, Pulaski pushes her last chips to stay in, and Worf ultimately gathers the consolidated pot to demonstrate dominance and end the hand.

Before: Several neat personal stacks on the table; Worf possessed the largest aggregate pile visibly staking psychological advantage.
After: Chips swept together into Worf's control and neatly restacked on his side of the table, representing his victory and leaving Pulaski temporarily chipless.
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S2E20 · The Emissary
Worf's Fifty — Klingons Never Bluff

Stacks of palm‑sized betting chips function as the tangible stakes: Worf starts with the largest pile, Pulaski pushes her last chips to call his raise, and Worf ultimately scoops the consolidated pot toward himself — the chips narratively measure social dominance and reward.

Before: Distributed into personal stacks in front of each player, forming a modest communal pot in the table's center.
After: The chips have been swept into Worf's possession and rest re‑stacked in front of him as he prepares for the next hand.
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