[Quads]

I've never seen a card room or casino that will allow you to rat-hole or go south with chips when moving from one table to anther (like) table.

Moving from the $1/2NL game to the $2/5 game, you can do what you like, but from a $1/2 game to another $1/2 game, you need to keep all your chips in play. Even in a case where there is a cap on the buy in for the game. I've never seen someone move from one table (be it a side table or a feeder table) to the main game and have to cash out some of their chips. All of your chips stay in play.

If you choose not to, you can cash out, get back on the list or wait the (typical) 60 minutes before coming back in the game (whichever is longer).

YMMV-

(apparently this isn't the case at Foxwoods! I base this on Las Vegas and California card rooms)