Poker Day 410: He Shoots, He Scores

So where was the crowd today at Arrowhead Poker?  Were people saving their money for the "big game" of the month next Sunday?

Actually, that was part of our plan -- to show up on an "off Sunday" with fewer players, thus increasing our chances of making the final table and winning money.  But does it really count as a "final table" when there are only enough players for one?  Ten players gathered for action, with two winning money.  The play was leisurely - but still dramatic at times:

BLINDS: 1,000/2,000

IN THE POCKET: 9-9

After some early setbacks, we've won a couple of modest pots -- and with a couple of other players already out, at least we won't finish last.  We start this hand with 18,000 chips (from a starting 25,000), and sense it's time to make a move.  We raise to 5,000.  A couple of players ponder it for a moment, then decide to call.

ON THE FLOP: K-9-4

Perfecto!  The first man to act checks, but we certainly do not.

"All of it," we say -- offering our last 13,000 chips with three of a kind.  A talkative man down the table from us calls; the third player folds.

"I've got a big 4," our opponent says as he shows his cards.  Bottom pair?!  Well, a closer look shows he has two clubs -- and two clubs are showing on the flop (we forget which ones).

"I have Gretzkys," we say.  After a moment, the rest of the table seems to understand the hockey reference.  But can we dodge a flush?

ON THE TURN: 10h

We don't recall the exact suit, but it thankfully was not a club.

ON THE RIVER: 8s

Whew!  We escape the fatal club, and gain more than a "double-up" - advancing to more than 40,000.

Two pair with a 6 in our hand brought us another big pot later, and we hit a high of 77,000 chips with six players to go.  But we couldn't hold on from there, taking a sizable loss with K-10 to a man who ran us off his own K-10 with big bets.

With five players remaining and rising blinds, we went all-in again with A-10 of clubs and 45,000 chips left.  But the man we beat in that earlier hand turned over pocket Kings.  No Ace came to rescue us, and we finished fifth -- only mid-list in a ten-player game, but still competitive.

MINISTRY MOMENT: "That's the most original card protector I've ever seen," a man two seats down from us said.  We brought with us a worn-out battery (actually a AA, not the 9-volt in our photo).

"I brought it to remind me," we explained, "that I receive power from the Holy Spirit."

We asked the man if he believed in the Holy Spirit.  He quietly said yes.  "But I don't see what that has to do with your battery."

We told him batteries are used to power all sorts of devices.  But sadly, the conversation tailed off after that.  Here's the Spirit comparison....

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. - II Peter 1:3

Who calls?  Jesus said God the Father does (John 6:44).  Then we are chosen as disciples by Christ (John 15:16).  The Holy Spirit then enters believers, to help them do life-promoting and godly acts.

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. - Galatians 5:16

If you say you believe in God and Jesus, that's a good start.  But is the Holy Spirit guiding your life?  Are you letting the Spirit lead you in a godly path?

For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.  They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. - Galatians 5:17

To borrow from an old tale: the one you feed is the one that will grow and thrive.  Feed yourself with godly things (such as reading from the Bible every day), and hopefully a godly lifestyle will increase for you.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 143 final tables in 410 games (34.9%) - 23 cashes.  Yes, we're scoring it a "final table" finish -- especially since we finished in the top half.  In six tournaments at Arrowhead, we've finished in the top five three times.