Thursday, March 12, 2009

Poker Night #62: Survivor Series

Not in Brazil, and not in the WWE -- but at the poker table. Thanks to some timely pots and back-to-back all-in escapes, tonight was our best finish at Lil Kim's Cove since we won it all in mid-December. We finished fourth, out of more than 30 players.

They say good poker players are always learning something new. Tonight we learned how to stop an aggressive player who's right behind you in the order. We called him "Carmelo" since he wore a Denver Nuggets T-shirt, and several times early in the match he made large raises immediately after we called. He scared us away often, even though he sometimes had very little. But when we started raising before his bet -- well, let's say a conservative reputation scared him away a few times.

A big gain with pocket Aces (which led to a third Ace on the board) put our chip count above 23,000 at one point. But a few misfires and missed chances drained it all away, until we were down to one little gold chip at the final table....

BLINDS: 5,000/10,000

IN THE POCKET: A-6 of spades

After folding several bad or iffy hands, we can't wait any longer. We push our one chip all in, and a woman quickly calls. She has Q-Q. We need help.

ON THE FLOP: 10-5-3

That's not it. We openly (but quietly) root for an Ace.

ON THE TURN: Another 10.

That's still not it -- and a flush now is out of the question.

ON THE RIVER: Ace!

Thank you, Sir -- that's it. And that was the first of three all-in double-ups we accomplished at the final table, before conking out with 9-10 to a woman with 3 Queens.

MINISTRY MOMENT: There were several tonight. We'll note one which started when a player to our immediate right faced an all-in decision.

"Good Lord," he said.

"All the time," we answer.

This man knew the standard response to that in many churches. "And all the time...."

"God is good."

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 25 final tables in 62 nights (40.3%) - 7 cashes.

YAHOO POKER TOTAL: $11,854 - Down $129.

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