There's a new place in our city for playing free poker -- a downtown club called Eighty-Five. It's located in the basement of a historic building, so you have to walk down a flight of stairs simply to enter. And it actually has the feel of walking into someone's basement -- wide open with comfy lounge chairs, and a modest bar on one side serving drinks in real glasses.
(But no, there is NO bonus for winning a hand if you're dealt 8-5.)
Our first night there had a promising start, as we gained a couple of mid-sized pots. But we should have known it was NOT our night when we folded 3-3, and a pair of 3's landed on the flop. Then came a hand where we faced a big decision:
BLINDS: 200/400
IN THE POCKET: K-Q offsuit
We're dealing, and hold about 8,000 chips. A man to our left raises to 1,200, and we call. Hardly anyone else does.
ON THE FLOP: Q-10-6
"I'm all-in," the man to our left says. We have him covered, but by only about 2,500. And this man had bluffed us off a pot before, by going all-in with less.
"You faked me out a couple of hands ago," we say.
Our opponent talks like he means business. "You might hit a draw and take the pot," he says. But he seems too confident.
"I have top pair -- but I'll fold." Then we show our K-Q. He never shows his cards, as he takes the chips.
"I sure wouldn't have folded that," a man to our right says.
"I can't believe you folded," the pot winner says later. Much later we find out he had A-Q, to top us. The hand played out with a 6 on the river, but no King. For once, our reading was correct.
K-Q bit us again after the one-hour break, when we called an all-in bet of 6,000. "You have me dominating," the pusher said showing Q-6. So of course, a 6 came on the flop. A 10 on the turn brought hope for us to hit a straight, but it didn't happen. We were left with 500 chips, which we gave up when A-4 paired only the 4.
Final score: a nice place for poker that's practically walking distance of our home. This Monday night tournament probably will replace a crosstown drive on Wednesday to Soho Bar and Grill. But a 19th-place finish means we're still in a big slump.
MINISTRY MOMENT: Six months ago we mentioned a man named Harry, who was delayed several times for elective surgery. He finally had it a couple of months ago, and the incision is almost healed now.
What did Harry do last Thursday night, when Lil Kim's Cove didn't have poker? "I said my prayers and went to bed," he told me tonight. What did he pray for? "Health. Strength. To be a better person."
Those are simple things to ask of God -- but they're also good things to request. Consider the three items Harry mentioned:
1) Health. "Pray for each other so that you may be healed," advises James 5:16.
2) Strength. "Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength," says Isaiah 40:31.
3) How can you be a better person? We suggest the advice at the end of II Peter. "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen." (3:18)
UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 48 final tables in 125 nights (38.4%) - 10 cashes.
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