[alxv]

The method is called "Power of Two Random Choices" (http://www.eecs.harvard.edu/~michaelm/postscripts/handbook20...). And the two-choices paradigm is widely applicable beyond load balancing. In particular, it applies to hash table design (e.g. cuckoo hashing) and cache eviction schemes (https://danluu.com/2choices-eviction/).

[mrkurt]

You're right, I updated the title. Got a little too clever with the whole "power" thing.

[naiveattack]

"while each additional choice beyond two decreases the maximum load by only a constant factor"

Mathemagical!

[adrianN]

It also works for solving SAT. Try two literals and recurse on the one that can be made to satisfy more clauses.