When It's Going Bad....

As promised, here's an example of how things went the other day when we walked into a lunch hour cash game at a Florida poker room.

BLINDS: $3/$6 Limit Hold 'em

IN THE POCKET: 2-8

We're in the big blind ($3 until the turn card), and have taken a couple of bad losses on the river with promising hands.  After posting the blind, we have all of $5 left from a starting $50.  With no one raising at this table of five, we can check without penalty or shame.

ON THE FLOP: J-K-2

Bottom pair admittedly doesn't thrill us, especially with face cards showing.  We check; two other players in the hand do as well.

ON THE TURN: 4

Everyone checks again.  We still don't feel comfortable about having the sub-basement of pairs.

ON THE RIVER: 8

Ahhhh -- but this is better!  With two pair and no one betting so far, we sense a chance to make a comeback.

"All I have is five," we admit -- one short of the blind.  But we go all in.  A man to our left calls.

"Two pair," we say with hopeful optimism.

Too bad -- as our opponent has 2-2!  He had three of a kind all along, and we never had a chance.

MINISTRY MOMENT: Before that big bust, we showed that winner our "Jesus as your Savior" coin we use as a card protector.  He agreed with the message, saying Jesus was the only Savior.  We'll see if others agree the next time we play, which will be.... well, stay tuned.