Poker Night 401: The Man Who Wouldn't Leave

It's a short two-minute walk from our home -- and the place where we first played live poker in June 2007.  But tonight, we played our final scheduled Thursday night tournament at Lil Kim's Cove.  Not because of the club's recent legal problems -- but because a life-changing event is approaching for us (details coming soon).

We didn't tell anyone at the table that this was our finale.  In fact, we didn't have a lot to say -- as we still feel sickly, and the hands didn't always thrill us.  For instance....

BLINDS: 200/400

IN THE POCKET: 10-3 offsuit

The one-hour break is almost here, and our cards have been almost as lethargic as our body.  A hopeful A-9 led to an Ace on the flop -- but a man with a big stack bet 3,000, and we misread his intentions by folding.  (He only had A-2.)

Now we're in the Big Blind with about 4,200 chips.  Thankfully, no one raises to make us fold.  We check with hope.

ON THE FLOP: 10s-6c-8s

At this point, any top pair will do for making a move.  We set out 600.  A couple of players fold; about three others call.

ON THE TURN: 8h (suit may not be precise)

The board pairs, but we decide we can't afford to back down.  Our bet increases to 1,000.  The response is split again, as two other players call.

ON THE RIVER: 9s

"That 9 just f***ed somebody up," a player out of the hand declares.  Sure enough -- both straight and flush doors are open.  We respect that fact and check.  But Mr. Big Stack flings out 4,000.

"I think you're right," we tell the observer as we fold.

"You shouldn't have done that," he tells us.  He's skeptical of "bullying" tactics.

"Straight," the big stack announces seconds later.  No, we were absolutely right.  He has K-7 for a straight.

We wanted to maximize our profits in this hand, so tried the "turn up the heat" approach.  But players with big stacks aren't likely to be scared away by that approach; they can afford to chase something big.  Perhaps we should have pushed on the flop?!

A final push came for us in the second hour with K-Q.  The board didn't pair for us, while that wealthy man had pocket 5's to top us.  We finished 14th in our final night at the Cove -- and rewarded the winner with a coupon for a free local car wash which we've never used, and won't be able to use after next week.

MINISTRY MOMENT: We had J-J under the gun in an early hand, and tried limping in.  The Big Blind to our right checked -- and we held up his cards so loosely we could tell he had 9-9.  The flop was 7-A-9, so the man with three of a kind bet 1,000.

"I'm going to make a confession," we told him.  "I saw what you had, so I'll fold."  We said nothing more until the hand ended, and the Big Blind revealed his 9's.

"I didn't mean to show them," he told us. Certainly not.  But it was only fair for us to admit we had a sneak peek.  Of course, to us it's a matter of Biblical ethics....

You must have accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.  For the Lord your God detests anyone who does these things, any one who deals dishonestly. - Deuteronomy 25:15-16

The phrase "honesty is the best policy" is not in the Bible.  But it's clearly the approach God prefers -- even if He sometimes seems to pull a "fast one" on people.  For instance....

The God said, "Take your son, your only son,  Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah.  Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." - Genesis 22:2

Isaac was the promised son of Abraham's old age (21:2-3) -- and now God wanted him killed for a sacrifice?!  Surely this made no sense.  But Chapter 22 shows Abraham obeyed God, anyway.  An angel stopped the offering in the nick of time:

"Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything on him.. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." - Genesis 22:12

In modern broadcasting talk, this was "only a test" for Abraham.  And perhaps God's doing some kind of test in your life right now, to see if you'll stay faithful and loyal to Him.  Abraham obeyed, and everything worked out fine.  Put God first in all your activities, and the same thing can happen for you.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 138 final tables in 401 nights (34.4%) - 21 cashes.  One more tournament remains before we update the detailed statistics of our play.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER TOTAL: Full tournaments - 283 point wins in 1,409 games (20.1%), 93 final tables, 10 wins, 13 cashes.  No-River Hold 'em - 31 point wins in 119 games (26.1%), 25 final tables, 1 win, 2 cashes.

We're only playing full tournaments where no points are awarded -- but last Friday, we made it all the way to paydirt!  A sixth-place finish out of 804 players earned us all of five dollars.  But it beats zero dollars -- and we hit quad Kings along the way.

POKER STARS.NET TOTAL: Pretend cash games - $84,500, down $660.