Poker Night #77: Escape Artists

We know from our search results that many people visit this blog to see about poker locations in Columbus, Georgia, which is where we're based. Wednesday nights are now filled with options: Club H2O on the north side, Soho Bar and Grill in the northeast, and Lil Kim's Cove near South Commons.

Lil Kim's added a Wednesday night game for the first time tonight -- and since it's walking distance from where we live, that's where we played. It was a good choice, as only about 20 players showed up and we finished fifth. We might have finished higher, as we had a big stack of chips for awhile -- but opponents who went all-in against us beat us twice. Eventually it was our turn....

BLINDS: 1,000/2,000

IN THE POCKET: As-Kh

At one point we had more than 22,000 chips. (Yes, we keep track as the game goes along.) But at this point, we're down to 6,500. We can't assume anything better is coming, so we go all-in. Four different players wind up calling, including a second player all-in for a higher amount.

No one else has an Ace; one man has a small pair (we think it was 9-9).

ON THE FLOP: Q-5-? (don't recall third card)

One man had a Queen, so he's smiling.

ON THE TURN: 10.

No help to anyone.

ON THE RIVER: K.

Saved by the river! Our chip stack jumps to about 18,000.

But the blinds kept rising -- and after the two-hour color-up we were left with 10,000 chips and blinds at 5,000/10,000. In the big blind, our J-7 was no match for higher cards.

MINISTRY MOMENT: A woman to our immediate left works in a bar by day, and plays poker by night. We showed her our "Jesus as your Savior" card protector coin, and she said she really agreed with the message. Trouble is, her language at the table would leave you thinking otherwise. That's a topic for another day.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 33 final tables in 77 nights (42.9%) - 8 cashes. See you there tomorrow night?