BLINDS: 25/50
IN THE POCKET: K-10 of diamonds
We have about 6,600 chips early in the game. We're first in the betting order, and call this promising hand. Several players join in.
ON THE FLOP: Qd-6c-4d
We have a flush draw, and would have "the nuts" if an Ace of diamonds comes. We check, but a young woman across the table bets 300. We call; everyone else folds.
ON THE TURN: 10s
This gives us a pair, but we're not necessarily confident about it. So we check -- and so does she.
ON THE RIVER: Qs
We miss the flush, but have two pair -- and suddenly we feel better about betting. We offer 400.
"Raise to 1,000," our opponent says. Is she laying low with a third Queen? We've played enough poker with this woman to know she sometimes makes impulsive bets, whether she's "got the goods" or not.
"I'll call," we decide -- and the woman makes a noise as if she didn't want us to do that. "Do you have a Queen?"
She doesn't -- admitting she was on a flush draw, too. We hit two pair while she didn't, and use good reading to take a nice pot.
Several more pots came our way after that in the first hour, thanks to good cards and some moderately aggressive betting. We reached the break at 24,950 chips, then made a "nut flush" in the second hour.
That led us to the final table -- but then we probably lost a big opportunity, by going all-in pre-flop with pocket Aces. We had no takers, and merely gained blinds. Nothing big came after that, and we were forced to go all-in with A-5. The board didn't pair for us, and we lost to a man who made a pair of Kings. We walked away ninth -- but thinking about what might have been.
MINISTRY MOMENT: We showed our "Lord's supper" card protector to a man at our main table tonight. He recognized the scene without any explanation, and told us he believes in Jesus.
If you're one of those who say you believe, may we offer a challenge to you? Don't simply settle for belief. Here's what we mean....
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that - and shudder. -- James 2:19
The demons shudder because they seem to know about an upcoming punishment they'll face (see Matthew 8:28-29). How can you avoid the same sort of fate? James offers an answer....
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.... As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. -- James 2:18, 26
Put your faith (or belief) into action, by doing good deeds that please God. We think in the process, you'll also please other people.
UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 92 final tables in 226 nights (40.7%) - 15 cashes.
NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER TOTAL: Full tournaments - 110 point wins in 577 games (19.1%), 42 final tables, 2 cashes.
Lil Kim's Cove actually was our second final table of the day! We were fifth in an afternoon online game with 248 players (but only first place won money).
POKER STARS.NET TOTAL: Full tournaments - four "point wins" in 16 games (25%). Pretend cash games - $36,537, down $1,325.
Every night Poker Stars has a "$500 freeroll" with 10,000 players. Wednesday night our finish was #442 -- and had we held on for the top 380, we would have gained a ticket into a tournament for the big money.
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