Poker Night 208: Threes to Please

"That's not a raise," a man across the table from us said tonight during an early hand at Lil Kim's Cove. With the blinds at 25/50, we raised 100. He eventually made big bets, and ran us off two pair which probably would have won. So if you can't beat 'em, join 'em -- right?

BLINDS: 25/50

IN THE POCKET: 3-3

The hand we surrendered cost us a lot of chips. But we won most of it back in the hand prior to this one, when we followed the man's example and shoved all-in with four diamonds on the board. (Yes, we had the nuts.) Now we're first in the order, and we limp in. Several players do.

ON THE FLOP: 5-3-5

Jackpot! A woman ahead of us checks, and we know what to do with a full house.

"Fifteen-hundred," we announce. "It worked for him" -- referring to a bet that man across the table made against us earlier. That man appears stunned that we bet so much now. But he calls, as does the dealer.

ON THE TURN: 8

Why slow down? We bet 2,000. Our opponents decide we mean business, and fold. Then following that man's example, we don't show our cards -- and we repeat his words: "I don't want to give away my strategy for the next hand."

(By the way: did you notice our last post occurred at 3:33 p.m. U.S. ET? Then 3-3 paid big dividends? Naah -- we think it's coincidence.)

We won a couple more nice pots as well, then chose to play tight defense in the second hour after a big loss to a well-hidden three of a kind. We survived to the final table with one minimal 500-dollar chip -- then won the draw for dealer, and endured past the two-hour break.

When we finally had to go all-in with J-4, we were outgunned by a woman whose K-Q both paired. But we went home relieved and satisfied. A seventh-place finish broke that looooong streak of missing final tables!

MINISTRY MOMENT: "You going to cut?" a woman to our left asked at the semifinal table. We admittedly were distracted by the TV on the wall behind our seat, and what channel was on.

"They're showing TBN -- Trinity Broadcasting," we pointed out. You certainly don't expect that at a bar like Lil Kim's Cove. And the captioning was on, so we could read everything ministers such as Dr. David Jeremiah said.

"Some people here probably could use that," we said -- and the woman next to us agreed. Admittedly, no one else seemed to pay much attention to the screen or the message. But if it's on, someone could -- and who knows where God might get someone's attention.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 84 final tables in 208 nights (40.4%) - 15 cashes. Live heads-up record: 2-3.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER TOTAL: Full tournaments - 90 point wins in 488 games (18.4%), 37 final tables, two cashes.

POKER STARS.NET TOTAL: Pretend cash games - $23,599, up $1,395. The next Million-Dollar Challenge freeroll is this Sunday, but schedule commitments may prevent us from playing.