BLINDS: 500/1000
IN THE POCKET: 2-2
We're at the final table, on a night when only 14 people entered. A first hour with only a couple of pots left us at 9,300 chips from a starting 12,000. But we regained some strength in Hour 2 when we went all-in with 10-10 and beat A-Q with a third 10 on the flop.
Now we're in the Small Blind, starting with 10,200 chips and eight players left. No one ahead of us raises. This "ugly duckling" of pocket pairs has us thinking about folding - but we choose to call. Four players are in.
ON THE FLOP: A-A-2
Hip, hip, hoo-A-A! We hit the full house jackpot, and see no reason to wait. We go all-in for 9,200 - since someone else may have a third Ace and be gunning for his own superior full house.
The Big Blind and another man fold, but a young man that some people think looks like Dale Earnhardt Jr. calls. Does he have that Ace? He turns over.... K-J! We're in excellent shape.
ON THE TURN: 3
"Drawing dead," says the man sitting as Big Blind. Indeed....
ON THE RIVER: 9
The Small Blind risk has a huge payoff. We put our opponent out of the tournament in eighth place, and jump to an evening-high 24,300!
We faced another big opportunity minutes later with Q-Q. But while others around us were pushing to get home for the night, we tried to finesse things with a raise to 8,000. A monster stack called, and an Ace on the flop followed by a King on the turn led to a bet we simply couldn't call in confidence.
We hung around after that, reaching the second break at 12,400. But our hopes ran out when we pushed in Hour 3 with A-7. A caller with K-Q (we think) hit a full house, and left us drawing dead on the river. We finished in sixth place; only the top two made money.
MINISTRY MOMENT: When we pushed in that big hand, we said we had 8,200 chips. We were off by 1,000.
"Can't even get it right, and he's the Small Blind," the Big Blind said with his tongue in his cheek. "Who can you trust anymore?"
We knew the answer to that one. "I trust in God," we told him.
In fact, the license plate on our car says that. We live in one of several states that offer "In God we trust" tags. Supporters of such things argue it's the national motto. That's true - but we think we can see through their agenda. They're trying to spread a Christian message by any means necessary. In this case, it's a good one....
In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? - Psalm 56:4
Back to the Big Blind's question. Where do you put your trust? In government? The Bible warns:
Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. - Psalm 146:3
Oops - that also rules out everyone on Earth, alive or dead. That's because we're all doomed to die (verse 4). The only place where you can put any trust at all beyond this life is in God. As Jesus put it....
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.... And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may also be where I am. - John 14:1, 3
By trusting in God, we can join with Jesus in the establishment of God's perfect kingdom on Earth when He returns. Then all can declare....
O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you. - Psalm 84:12
UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 223 final tables in 581 games (38.4%) - 48 cashes. We also came close to a final table in a Poker Stars online tournament Monday night. We finished ninth out of 436 entries, in a six-per-table event.
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