Poker Night 268: Broken-Hearted

The talk was about friendship at our Lil Kim's Cove table -- but as one woman put it: "There are no friends at the poker table." Would you consider what happened in this hand a case of friendship, or something else?

BLINDS: 100/200

IN THE POCKET: 10-9 of hearts

We won a nice early pot with two pair and a top-kicking King, so we have about 9,800 chips. Now we have suited connectors, so we're afraid to try them. No one raises at our table of six.

ON THE FLOP: Ah-Jh-6h(?)

We're not exactly sure about the third card -- but we know we made a flush on the flop. One player ahead of us bets the minimum 200, and we're happy to raise 500 more. A man to our left calls. So does the first player.

ON THE TURN: Ad

That seems nice and harmless (possible full house notwithstanding), so we bet 700 more. The man to our left calls again; the man to our right folds.

ON THE RIVER: 4h

"Be careful now," our remaining opponent says as we ponder our chips. Yeah, he has a point. A fourth heart is not exactly what we wanted to see there -- especially if our opponent was chasing with a single heart. But if a flush is the issue, only two cards beat us.

"OK - 1,000," we respond. Our opponent calls it - then says something we didn't want to hear.

"I've got the Queen." Sure enough, he hit a higher flush on the river! We're thankful we took his advice.

That hand turned the momentum of the evening against us, as we lost a few other promising hands after that to players striking it rich on the turn or river. We finally felt compelled to push with 7-9 of hearts in the big blind -- but they didn't pair, and two players with matching A-J for two pairs combined to knock us out. Sixth place at this table is a disappointment again.

MINISTRY MOMENT: There were several tonight, but we noted the return of Elaine -- the weakened woman in a wheelchair, who's now out of the hospital. She told us she spent about three weeks there, and slipped into a coma for three days.

"I've been praying for you," we told Elaine.

She appreciated that. "It helped," she declared, "because I'm here!"

We asked you to join us in praying for Elaine, and we thank you if you did. But we'd prefer to give the real praise to God -- because we simply followed Biblical instructions.

And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. - James 5:15

No, we didn't ask Elaine about her sins. But we now hope she considers her experience carefully, and chooses to travel in a godly way. (She's already resisting the urge to resume a smoking habit, which is a good start.) This as well is a gift from God....

Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases. - Psalm 103:2-3

"But wait," you may be saying. "I know someone who lived for God for years, and they suddenly died." Indeed, all humans will die someday (Hebrews 9:27). But the Bible promises....

All these people were living by faith when they died.... they were longing for a better country - a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. - Hebrews 11:13-16

Without faith in God's coming "holy city" and kingdom, the future indeed is hopeless. With that faith, the present becomes much more meaningful. Will you accept God's promise, and look to Him for both physical and spiritual healing?

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 100 final tables in 268 nights (37.3%), 15 cashes. The slump has grown to no final tables in seven, and one in the last 13.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER TOTAL: Full tournaments - 161 point wins in 729 games (22.1%), 55 final tables, 7 cashes. Three-card UFC - 2 final tables in 12 games, one win.

POKER STARS.NET TOTAL: Pretend cash games - $56,563, down $174.