Poker Night #55: If You're Posting Early....

Yup, you guessed it. We were sent packing early.

On a night when about 190 players showed up at Club H2O -- so many that police were called to tow some cars away -- the best thing we could do is surrender our legal parking space. We didn't really TRY to do that, but it happened when we finished ninth out of our starting table of 10.

It was a short and strange night for us. We won three pots in about 15 hands, yet never climbed above the starting chip stack of 100.

Perhaps we didn't play two of them well. One case was a K-3 of hearts, where a K came on the flop for top pair. We somehow didn't grasp that and failed to bet until the turn, minimizing our gains. The other case found up with pocket Aces one off the button. We raised 15 above a call of 2, and the rest of the table folded.

We dreamed of a big gain when a player to our right went all-in for 29 chips -- but another player called with us, and topped our pocket jacks by pairing an Ace on the river. That same player put us out for good a few hands later....

BLINDS: 2/4

IN THE POCKET: Q-10 of clubs

We're down to about 44 chips, and call early. The player to our right raises 10 to put the pressure on, and we decide to match it.

ON THE FLOP: J-J-3 (3 of clubs)

The player to our right plays first, and throws in a small bet. We feel committed to this pot, and call -- but we need help.

ON THE TURN: A second 3.

Two pair are showing. The opponent checks, and so do we. Could our Q kicker be good enough?

ON THE RIVER: A third 3.

A full house is on the board! "I think I'll say.... all-in?!" says the man to our right.

"I'll call," we say. We think we're both playing the table. But no -- our opponent has a third J for a higher full house.

MINISTRY MOMENT: Someone asked for a 5 to come up during a hand -- and then it did.

"Ask and ye shall receive," a woman at the table says.

Between hands I point out to other players, "That's a verse from the Bible." (John 16:24) "Along with 'Seek and ye shall find'" (Lk. 11:9) -- where the "ask" part admittedly is a bit different. No one really responds, but one man seemed to stare closely at our "Jesus Savior" coin.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 23 final tables in 55 nights (41.8%) -- 7 cashes.

UP NEXT: We did so poorly tonight that we'll come right back and play at Lil Kim's Cove at 7:00 p.m. ET Thursday night. We'll update the Yahoo count after that game.