BLINDS: 100/200
IN THE POCKET: Q-J offsuit
We started with 10,000 chips, thanks to a generous server at the bar who doubled our starting stack simply because we bought a soda. But we lost a couple of promising hands early, and enter this one with about 6,200. We limp in, and D.J. simply calls -- which is unusual, because he loves to raise pre-flop early in the game. As we recall, a couple of other players join in.
In the tradition of the dearly-departed Poker After Dark: Director's Cut, D.J. takes the mike to tell the story from there:
"Here's how it happened...."
ON THE FLOP: Q-3-7
"He bet five [500].... I called. The next card to come out...."
ON THE TURN: 10
"He checked. I bet 5,000. He called; he goes all-in [1,025 more] with absolutely nothing. [Nothing? Top pair is nothing??] I could have had two pair."
ON THE RIVER: 4 (as best we recall; D.J. didn't record it)
We'll take over again from here. "I have queens," we say showing our hand.
"I have two pair," D.J. answers; "Queens and 3's." He turns over a 3 -- then shows a King! "Oops, that's not a Queen." We get a nice double-up to more than 12,000 -- and humorously suggest D.J. see an eye doctor.
So why did we get so brash with top pair? Because we knew our opponent -- and we know D.J. likes to play "I dare you" a lot, betting big with almost anything. Our hunch was that he was bluffing by over-betting, and we were right.
A similar moment came later in the hour when we re-raised D.J. with A-Q. The flop brought an Ace, he called a modest bet of 500 we made -- then after checking the turn, he bet 10,000 on the river to lure us all-in. With only top pair again, we gave it a lot of thought. But then we folded, because D.J. was due to have a big hand and we were due to guess wrong.
It was a night when we played a little looser than usual in a live tournament, and that meant ups and downs. We reached the one-hour break with 3,750 chips -- but then doubled up again in the second hour with 10-10 when a 10 came on the turn. Another pot win moved us up to 12,000.
But rising blinds and failed chances led us to an all-in bet under the gun with A-9. We lost to a woman with pocket Queens when an Ace didn't hit the board. It was an 11th-place finish -- close to the final table, but not quite.
MINISTRY MOMENT: "What sort of toy did you bring?" a man asked as we plunked down our card protector of the evening. It really wasn't a toy. It's a small battery-powered red reflector which can flash when turned on. We've clipped it onto our clothing and worn it over the years for evening jogging."I brought this to remind me," we said, "that I should reflect the light of Jesus Christ." It's something all believers should do....
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. -- Matthew 5:16
These instructions come from Jesus Christ. But whose light really should be shining -- ours? We think there's a better Light than that:
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." -- John 8:12
A contemporary Christian song puts it very well: "Lord, let me shine; shine like the moon/ A reflection of you in all that I do." Is that light shining from you these days?
UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 105 final tables in 290 nights (36.2%) - 17 cashes.
NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER TOTAL: Full tournaments - 190 point wins in 815 games (23.3%), 66 final tables, 7 cashes.
We probably should count Tuesday night's 13th-place finish in the Senior Championship as a point win. But points aren't awarded in championships, so we're not going to presume any. However, we've made final tables two days in a row to qualify for a couple of February championships.
POKER STARS.NET TOTAL: Pretend cash games - $66,338, up $539.
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