Dictionary encoding in a table of a database system is initiated using a single page chain. The database system includes a plurality of processor cores and each page chain includes a plurality of chained pages. Thereafter, n additional page chains are generated for use by the dictionary encoding when the count of pages used by the dictionary encoding reaches a pre-determined limit. Generation of additional page chains is later ceased once the number of additional page chains n is equivalent to a number of available processor cores. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.