Poker Day 521: A-Plus?

Our current point in life requires us to report wages every week to a state agency. We count money made in poker as wages - and in tournaments like the one today at Kansas Star Casino, the rate per-hour can be impressive. The problem is that dozens of other people were trying to earn "wages" as well....

BLINDS: 75/150

IN THE POCKET: King-Queen of clubs

We won a big pot in the middle of the first hour with a King, which led to two pair. Then we lost a good bit to a man with three 9's. We start this hand a bit below the 3,500-chip starting point. These cards are good - and when someone raises to 300, we naturally call. As we remember it, three players are in.

ON THE FLOP: A-A-K

A high-powered flop in any game - and an uneasy one for us. We have two pair, but anyone who holds an Ace is in the lead. An older woman across the table bets 250. Call us stubborn, but we call. We're now heads-up.

ON THE TURN: 8

We doubt that helped anyone. Our opponent didn't jump on it, because she checked. So do we.

ON THE RIVER: A

Now we have the best possible full house - but still some uneasiness. The woman brings out another 250. If she has the missing Ace for quads, she isn't saying it very loudly - but maybe she's trying to test us.

We decide to test her back, with a raise to 500. If she has quads, now is the moment to scream. But instead, she calls.

"I hope you don't have quads," we say as we show. She turns over.... J-J! We're relieved that our full house is better, and our chip count grows to 5,000.

We reached the first break at 4,850. Then we hit a couple of big hands in Hour 2, including a big decision to call a 2,000 bet on the turn with Ad-4d and a flush draw. The river brought a diamond. The bettor went all-in, and we put him out of the game with the nuts. Our stack at the second break stood at 17,000.

Rising blinds caused some tense moments - but we reached the final table with 15,500 chips. Then while we folded with weak cards, other players dared to push with much more. One by one they were picked off, until we made the money for the top seven out of 68! Then more players conked out, until we were in the final four at the third break!

The other three players were in no mood to split the remaining prize money, so we pressed on. But an all-in bet with Kc-Qc proved to be our demise. A man called with A-J, and he won the race when the board paired with something lower.

We left satisfied, with our third cash in a tournament this year. And if breaks are not included, $170 comes to about $57.33 per hour.

MINISTRY MOMENT: "I wanted a spade there," a woman two seats to our left said to the dealer after losing a hand.

"You didn't ask for one," the dealer properly noted.

"You have not because you ask not," we responded.

"You ask and receive not, because you ask amiss," added a man sitting between that woman and us.

That man has become a friend of ours, because we can talk about faith matters with him. And in this case, he knew exactly what we meant:

You lust, and have not: you kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: you fight and war, yet you have not, because you ask not. You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts. - James 4:2-3 (KJV)

Poker tables can seem like war zones at times. TV commentators talk about players "firing a third barrel" to win a hand. We've played long enough to know games can have tense moments. Yet how many players ask for God's help in doing well when they play? We do....

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. - Philippians 4:6

You can request anything - but you should not assume God will always give you everything you want. After all, He turned down His own Son at one point:

"Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." - Mark 14:36

That should be our attitude as well, whether or not we're in a poker room. God the Father allowed Jesus Christ to endure an arrest, humiliating abuse and a death on the cross - all so our sins could be covered in His blood. His battle was to avoid sinning, and He succeeded. Whether or not you win in a tournament, trust God that His will for you ultimately is best.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 189 final tables in 521 games (36.3%) - 39 cashes. Experiment cost: Up $170 - a new high! Our schedule may allow for only one more tournament before 2017 concludes.