Chip in some chips (4)
I believe the answer is:
ante
'chip in some chips' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for ante that I've seen before include "early payment" , "Initial contribution to the common pot" , "A neat sort of prefix" , "Stake put up by a poker-player before receiving cards" , "Advance stake" .)