A Deal With the "Gods"

A recent post remembered a poker player we knew in the Southeast U.S. who went by the name "Buddha." Now in an unusual twist (we don't dare it "karma"), a real Buddhist has hit it big in a major poker tournament.

Canadian Scott Wellenbach finished in third place at a recent PokerStars event in the Bahamas. That earned him more than $670,000 - and he says he'll give it all to charity. In fact, he did it before. Wellenbach donated a $72,000 prize from a tournament in Spain to a Buddhist version of a convent.

Why is he doing this? Wellenbach says he made a deal with "the poker gods."

Uh-oh. That's where we feel compelled to come in. Not because he gave away all his prize money. Giving is a good thing....

...Freely you have received, freely give. - Matthew 10:8

No, it's the "poker gods" part that raised a red flag with us. You see, our quote about giving comes from Jesus Christ - and He's the "one God" who came to Earth in the flesh.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.... The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. - John 1:1, 14

Some Christian preachers explain this as "two gods." The Bible indicates that's misleading:

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. - Deuteronomy 6:4

Is this a Bible contradiction? No, because Jesus clarified it:

I and my Father are one. - John 10:30

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. - John 17:20-21

Jesus was God on Earth. He said He was One with God the Father. Would Scott Wellenbach say Jesus is God? We won't put words in his mouth, but traditional Buddhism doesn't have such a belief. And "the Lord" of the Bible warns:

You shall have no other gods before me. - Deuteronomy 5:7

In the end, each of us must choose which god we serve - or if we serve any at all. We choose the God of the Bible and Christianity because it provides us hope beyond this life. It's a hope of eternal life with no sin, because God can forgive our sins through the blood of Jesus.

What do you think of this? Your comments are always welcome, and we might reply to them.

Flowers in the Desert

If you've dreamed of making money at the World Series of Poker Main Event.... keep dreaming until next year. This year's Main Event passed the "bubble point" early today, with all remaining players guaranteed a cash prize.

Courtesy WSOP.com

One of the intriguing stories on WSOP.com today involves Frankie Flowers. He finished Day 3 in  second place on the leaderboard, and he's already sure of where his prize money is going. Flowers operates a non-profit foundation which helps low-income people north of New York City.

If you're playing poker simply to get rich, maybe you should learn a lesson from Flowers. Or better yet, learn it from Jesus....

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." - Matthew 19:21

The Lord said this to a man who thought he kept all of God's commandments perfectly (verses 16-20). But when Jesus recommended these extra points....

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. - Matthew 19:22

Let's focus on what Jesus recommended:

1. "Sell.... possessions and give to the poor." Does that mean every penny? We don't think so - because then Flowers would be in the same predicament as the people he's trying to help. (Only a couple of Bible translations add words like "all" or "everything" to verse 21.)

But God is looking for a heart that is giving, not hoarding. After all....

For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. - I Timothy 6:7

2. "Follow me." That's actually the tougher advice to accept - because it takes a lifetime of effort and study:

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and may enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. - Matthew 7:13-14

This goes beyond giving, to obeying God and His Word. Challenging though it is, that narrow road results in eternal life - joining Jesus forever in the Kingdom of God.

We'll keep following Flowers, and have more on him in an upcoming post.

Games Back On?

Did you hear about the recent charity poker tournament in Wichita?

If you didn't, that may have been by design. When we spent a Monday night at Yvie's a couple of weeks ago, the Tournament Director referred to an approaching weekend charity event with a buy-in.
We didn't ask about it further, to avoid the appearance of prying. But we thought that sort of thing had been stopped by the local police a year ago.

On top of that, the old Arrowhead Poker has reopened as a private club. Its Facebook page says:

Winners Game Room is a private social club where patrons can enjoy a variety of games, billiards, and entertainment in an alcohol-free setting. Memberships are $10 per day. You can also buy a 20-visit pass for just $100.

A video clip posted by the owner in February indicates the "games" include poker. It didn't show any billiard tables.

So what happened here? Is a private club format legal, while the old "chair rental" approach was not? We admittedly don't know the law on such things. But we found what the Bible may say about it - and in rather grotesque terms:

As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. - Proverbs 26:11

In other words, some habits can be hard to break. People who want to get drunk or smoke marijuana will find ways to feed their "needs." Some poker players can be the same way - except poker players have other options. They can go to a casino for tournaments and cash games. They can play online for free. Why do something that risks getting in trouble with the law all over again?

Rather than return to questionable practices, the Bible recommends a different "rate of return"....

Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God. Your sins have been your downfall! - Hosea  14:1

You may have wandered away from God and not even realized it. Maybe not by playing poker, but by doing other things that violate His laws.

The Lord was very angry with your forefathers. Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: "Return to me," declares the Lord Almighty, "and I will return to you," says the Lord Almighty. - Zechariah 1:2-3

Making that return isn't always easy. It can mean admitting you're wrong, and asking God for mercy. But the good news is....

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. - I John 1:9

That process starts by examining yourself and your life carefully. Are there areas where you've wandered off God's course? It's something we're personally doing right now, so you can do it as well. It could be the best move you've ever made - well, this side of going all-in with pocket Aces.

The Private Plan

Steps continue to unfold in our area's crackdown on gambling - which seems primarily to be a crackdown on poker rooms and tournaments.

We've now learned a big tournament was held earlier this month, outside the Wichita city limits - put on in the suburbs as a fundraiser for the football team. The school district and football team websites didn't seem to have anything about it when we checked today (including the fine print about whether there was a required buy-in). But one poker group's Twitter feed indicates it's gone on for several years.

Then there's the move by our primary Wichita poker room. Arrowhead Poker has cleansed its Facebook feed of dozens, perhaps hundreds, of posts about cash games in progress and upcoming tournaments. Now it says this:

Arrowhead Poker Cardroom is a private social club. We offer free texas holdem tournaments daily. Like this page to keep up with current events we are running. We are seeking Spades players as well for future tournament play details to come. 

The poker room's website still advertises daily tournaments - but the "Sunday Showdown" which once had a $75 buy-in now has no price showing.

"Private clubs" have a long history in our state. They go back to a time when "liquor by the drink" was not openly allowed, people would cross state lines to stock up on wine, and a minister with a lost voice box led an anti-alcohol "Life at Its Best" movement warning about "drug suffering."  That all changed in Kansas in the mid-1980s. But we wonder if what Arrowhead Poker is promoting is a first step toward bringing it back.

If you choose to play poker in private to get around local and state laws, keep one thing in mind. You might be able to hide your cash game from police - but you can't hide it from God:

..All who sin under the law will be judged by the law.... This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares. - Romans 2:12, 16

To borrow from a song co-written by the late Glenn Frey, "You can't hide your lyin' eyes." Not from God, you can't. He watches over "the wicked and the good" (Proverbs 15:3).  But that doesn't mean secret acts are bad.  In fact, the Bible also says....

..And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. - Matthew 6:18b

The King James Version says God will "reward you openly."  He wants others to know about the deeds you do for Him - but on the other hand, He doesn't want you to promote them:

So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men.... do not let your left hand know what you right hand is doing. - Matthew 6:2-3

We've heard ministers preach for decades about attempts by big government to encroach on your "right to privacy." But ultimately, that "right" does not exist. The idea is a farce, because God watches it all and will judge based on all. How are you spending your private time - and will it pass the final judgment test?

Shutdown #2

You can walk for a cure. Swim for a cure. Maybe even tap-dance for a cure. But you can't play poker for a cure. Not in our state.

The evening news tonight (on the station where, for purposes of full disclosure, we have a job) revealed the Kansas State Poker Tournament has been canceled - only 10 days before the event. It was a fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen Cancer Foundation.

Things changed so quickly that the event's website was only updated today to change the location. There was a plan to move it outside of Wichita, because the city attorney ruled the tournament violated state gambling rules. (It should be noted the venue would have been a hotel owned by the city.)  But the alternative site north of town apparently developed cold feet, too.

A "Cards for the Cure" VIP Party can go forward, because there's apparently no poker game. People buy tickets, then join in a silent auction.

After five years of a state tournament, apparently with the blessing of local prosecutors, police determined state gambling laws were violated with Cards for the Cure. We suspect it's probably for the same reason Nikki's Poker Room shut down last week: people had to pay to play. (An update on that is coming later tonight.)

We'll offer our thoughts on this in a future post - bur for now, please offer your comments. The Wichita poker crackdown seems to be real. What do you think of it?

The Giving Brat

He is to poker what LeBron James is to pro basketball, or perhaps Coach Bill Belichick in U.S. football.  People either admire Phil Hellmuth -- or can't stand him.

The "Poker Brat" made headlines again this week, by winning a World Series of Poker bracelet for the 14th time.  Hellmuth took the title in the "Razz Championship" -- which seems fitting, because critics have razzed Hellmuth over the years for self-centered antics which sometimes border on whining.

Yet Hellmuth made a gesture away from himself, after winning the tournament.  He announced he would give his WSOP bracelet to the family of Dave Goldberg, an executive and poker buddy in California's Silicon Valley who died several weeks ago.

Let's face it -- poker is better known for taking than giving.  The goal of the game is to take everyone else's chips.  Yet in real life, moments of giving are more likely to be praised and remembered:

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. - II Corinthians 9:7

The challenge with this comes when people expect you to give - and even put pressure on you to do it. It could be a telemarketer claiming to support a charity, or someone who walks up to you on the street seeking one dollar for "something to eat."  (We had a case this week where we bought such a man something to eat, and then his request for money jumped to five dollars.)

We think a key phrase in our verse is to "decide in his heart" to give - to think it over first, not rush into a decision.  Isn't that the best way for a gift to be cheerful?

...Freely you have received, freely give. - Matthew 10:8b

The poker community has helped its reputation in recent years by doing charitable events, such as tournaments to fight cancer.

He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses. - Proverbs 28:27

So deep-down, what sort of poker player are you?  Are you the "brat" image of a Hellmuth - or the new, improved, perhaps even mellower one?

Big Wins, Little Wins

We'd almost forgotten to check back on the World Series of Poker Main Event.  It's down to the "November Nine," including one man who made the final table for the second year in a row.  We should have plenty of time to talk about them in the weeks ahead.

But right now, we want to congratulate a smaller-scale champion in our old stomping ground.  Victor won the "Wednesday quarterly" title at Players, one of the bars in Georgia where we played from time to time.  But we wonder how many other people at Players know what he does for a living -- directing a faith-based charity which helps homeless families.

It's Victor's job to give and serve people who don't physically have much.  (He's even helped us a couple of times, when we had small needs.)  So we think it's only right that he was blessed with success in other things, such as poker.  He displays a Bible principle....

....For God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. - II Corinthians 9:7-8

Charities such as Victor's sometimes can have tight moments financially.  So can poker players.  But this section of the Bible has a promise for those who give:

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread or food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.  You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in Thanksgiving to God. - II Corinthians 9:10-11

We're tempted to say at this point: To Victor go the spoils.  But he'd probably tell you God has spoiled him -- and he's trying to pass on blessings to others.  May you realize how much God has given to you, and be ready to pass on gifts to those in need as you're able.

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! - II Corinthians 9:15

Poker Day 409: Big Risk, Big Reward

Even though it was a rainy Sunday and there was flooding down the street, we were ready to plunk down $20 for a Sunday game at Arrowhead Poker.  But lots of other people had the same idea -- and they showed up with more money.

We'd forgotten the first Sunday of the month is a "big game."  As in $50 to enter, longer blinds and a $1,000 first prize.  So we reluctantly pulled out money from an on-site ATM, and joined about 70 other players in a crowded room.

BLINDS: 500/1,000

IN THE POCKET: 3-3

We've won a few early pots, and advanced above our starting 20,000 chips.  But we've had a few setbacks as well, so we're not that far above 20,000.  Now we have this small pocket pair in the Small Blind, and decide to simply "lay low" by calling.  No one at the full table raises, and about half the table is in.

ON THE FLOP: 4-3-2

We don't need a "1" for blast-off here.  With three of a kind and a clear straight draw tempting other players, we try a "go away" bet sitting first in the order.  We bet 2,500.  That doesn't work.  A man across from us raises to 10,500.  A player to our right calls.

"I have to call," we say -- and do.  But then a man down the table who had simply called our 2,500 decides to go for it.  He pushes all in for an additional 24,500.

"Twenty-four thousand 500?!?" we ask in disbelief.  That's more than we have -- yet do we have much of a choice here?  If that man is playing 5-6 or A-5, we're clearly sunk.  But some players at this table have been making large bets with little more than speculation.

"I'm going to do it," we finally announce.  About 12,000 more is added by us.

"I have the best hand possible," the man down the table declares.  Except he shows 4-5.  So no, he doesn't.

"Three times three," we say as we show.  That's not what the two all-in players wanted to see.  One is hoping for an open-ended straight draw; the other needs a big miracle (although we forget what he had).

ON THE TURN: K

That's good.  Now one more....

ON THE RIVER: J

It's a massive payday for us, as we eliminate one player and jump up our stack to more than 60,000!

There was more drama as the afternoon unfolded.  We dropped to 28,000, went all-in with pocket Queens and outlasted A-K.  Then we won a couple more big pots.  At one point, our chip stack hit 280,000.  A speculative open-ended straight try failed at the second break, leaving us with 200,000 and two tables left.

The top nine players were paid money at this tournament -- but we didn't quite get that far.  We defended a Big Blind to stay alive at one point, but rising blinds and marginal cards proved too much.  We finally pushed again with 3-3, but other players paired 7's and 9's on the flop to eliminate us.  We missed the final table by finishing 12th.  But in a field with that many players, we felt good about our final result.

MINISTRY MOMENT: We struck up a discussion with a woman sitting to our right about faith matters.  She attends a United Methodist church, and told us about a weekly project her congregation does to feed homeless people in our city.  By doing this, the group seems to do what Jesus recommended....

Then the King will say to those on his right, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink...." - Matthew 25:34-35

But as we consider this parable, we can't stop there.  The people who received the King's blessing had a response to His comment:

Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?".... The King will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." - Matthew 25:37, 40

Think carefully about this.  Doesn't the church group which helps the homeless every week know it's helping "the least of these" -- especially if it's read this parable first?  Wouldn't the members be able to bring up those actions at Christ's judgment seat, to make an argument for entering God's Kingdom?

Don't misunderstand -- these "good works" projects are nice to do.  But we think there's a deeper message from Jesus here.  What would you guess it is?  Offer a comment, and we'll compare notes in a future post.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 142 final tables in 409 games (34.7%) - 23 cashes.

Poker Night 263: Perfect Position

It's not always what cards you're dealt in a poker tournament - it's when you're dealt them. Timing and position in the betting order can make a big difference. It did for us at Lil Kim's Cove tonight....

BLINDS: 50/100

IN THE POCKET: Q-Q

We dealt ourselves a nice hand, at what a few people have dubbed a "nice table" -- as in no one making big raises. So when the play calls around to us, we make things modest. We raise to 300. About half the table calls. "Thank you for your generosity," we say with a smile.

ON THE FLOP: 3-6-A

Uh-oh -- we didn't want to see that big a card show up. But because we're dealing, everyone else in the hand has to make a move first. When all of them check, we do not -- offering a continuation bet/position bet of 500. That chases every player except one away; he calls.

ON THE TURN: 9

There's no straight or flush threat here -- but we're concerned the man to our right might be sandbagging an Ace. He checks. So do we.

"You have a pocket pair," the man to our immediate left says at this point. No comment....

ON THE RIVER: 2

Our opponent checks again. If he had an Ace, we think he would have bet by now. So we offer 500 more, and he calls it.

"How did you know?" we ask the man to our left. "Yes, I have a pocket pair." We show it -- and our opponent shows no better than a 2. His bottom pair loses. Playing last pays off for us, and we jump to more than 8,000 chips.

We reached the one-hour break at 8,300 -- then had a big round in the blinds early in the second hour, including three Aces to move us up to 25,000. But we went virtually "card dead" after that, with little quality to play and a big bettor entering the game to our immediate left.

The stack drained away with rising blinds until we had to push with Q-J in the third hour -- but they didn't pair, and a woman across from us made one. We reached the semifinal table on a busy night, but finished 14th.

MINISTRY MOMENT: We usually settle for one purchase per night to gain extra poker chips -- but tonight was an exception.

"We're collecting money for Elaine," the tournament director said during the one-hour break. "For every dollar you give, you get a black chip" -- as in 1,000 chips more.

Elaine (shown at right) is arguably the best female poker player in our city. She plays a lot, and has won at least six local tournaments so far this year. But a medical condition has left her with weakening kidneys. She's shown up for games in a wheelchair for months, and has been in and out of the hospital lately.

The donations from other players were designed to help pay Elaine's bills beyond the hospital, such as rent and utilities. The players have responded by offering nearly $300. We joined in tonight -- but realized the "money for chips" approach isn't really the best:

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. - Luke 6:35

We certainly don't consider Elaine an enemy -- but we hope you see the point of this verse. Some preachers make it sound like a "seed offering" to their ministry will bring a financial payday. But Jesus taught real giving (or lending) should be done with an even purer motive -- even though such giving will be remembered in God's kingdom with eternal life as His sons.

There's another more private "gift" we plan to offer -- and you can join in this. Will you pray for Elaine's healing and full recovery, that God might receive the glory from it?

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 100 final table in 263 nights (38.0%) - 15 cashes.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER TOTAL: Full tournaments - 157 point wins in 712 games (22.1%), 54 final tables, seven cashes.

POKER STARS.NET TOTAL: Pretend cash games - $49,996, down $125.

Your Open Account

In a recent post, we mentioned the advice of Jesus to "store up for yourselves treasures in heaven...." (Matthew 6:20)

Store money with an online poker site for future tournaments, and you could get a big painful surprise. Events of recent months involving the U.S. Justice Department have proven that. But building an account in heaven with God is another matter.

Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, were no thief comes near and no moth destroys. - Luke 12:33

Sounds great. But how do we do that? One answer is in the first part of this verse, which we didn't quote. Jesus expands on it elsewhere....

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." - Matthew 19:21

What is the Lord saying here? Give away every penny you win at a poker tournament, then bum strangers for buy-in fees next week? We don't think it's quite that extreme an approach....

Commend them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. - I Timothy 6:18-19

Paul's speaking here of eternal life. God wants to share that with us - so we should be willing to follow His example, and share our blessings with others as the opportunity develops. The idea is to be generous, not stingy. We've seen players do that even at poker tournaments.

Ecclesiastes 3:6 says there's a "time to keep, and a time to cast away...." Winning in poker can be a taking time. Casting away riches to those in need should be the rest of your life. Do you have the right balance?

Sunday Rewind: Know It, Show It

We helped a woman at the Thursday night poker tournament with a Bible verse about rich men. Then she admitted how she'd already spent the "riches" she earned from finishing first -- on alcohol.

The Bible passage quoted Jesus as saying it's hard for a rich man to enter God's Kingdom. But we intentionally stopped before giving the rest of the story....

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." -- Matthew 19:25-26

How can a wealthy person enter God's Kingdom? For that matter, how can you? Jesus offers the answer moments before, while talking with a man commonly called a "rich young ruler."

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. -- 19:21-22

The young ruler told Jesus he was keeping the commandments (verses 17-20), but the Lord called for more. He called on the ruler to give to others -- a way based on love instead of hoarding, or give instead of get.

Some wealthy people in our society attempt to practice this; the Gates Foundation comes to mind. Even some professional poker players do that, by playing in tournaments for charity.

But here's the thing which might baffle some people. The woman was complaining about an opponent being greedy with the prize money -- when the object of a poker tournament is to "greedily" collect everyone else's chips!

We think the key is in drawing boundary lines -- knowing when the game ends and the reality of living begins. Professional athletes have to draw that line, yet we sometimes hear of players blurring the lines and getting in trouble with the law. Even poker players need to be careful.

But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. -- James 1:14-15

There's one more aspect of the woman's story we have yet to address. It also involves boundary lines. Stay tuned for another post about that.

The Spirit of Giving

No, this post has nothing to do with Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa -- or even Festivus. It's about an attitude which may seem strange to take to a poker tournament.

The object of the game in poker is to take everyone else's chips. Show up in a mood to give your chips away, and you may have plenty of fun at a free tournament (nothing wrong with that at all) -- but your success record won't be very high.

The other night a poker regular came up to us, short on real-life money. He asked us to buy a soda for him. We're assuming it's a one-time-only deal, so we did it -- and he let us keep the 1,000-chip bonus for buying a drink.

Giving shouldn't be merely a December thing. Big-time poker names and celebrities have joined for several years in the Ante Up for Africa charity tournament, helping needy people in the Darfur region of Sudan.

You might be able to find a worthy cause or group in your city which could benefit from a special poker fund-raiser. Or perhaps at least you can be on the lookout for a fellow player with needs, whether great or small.

"A gift opens the way for the giver, and ushers him into the presence of the great," says Proverbs 18:16. Who knows what your act of generosity might do?

Poker Night #83: Sharing the Wealth

The late Skip Caray said about baseball, "Sometimes all you can do is tip your hat to the better man." After playing poker at Soho Bar and Grill tonight, we're doing the same thing. We're tipping our hat to a better Christian example -- a long-haired, tattooed young man named Eddie.

It was "color-up time" at the one-hour break, where small chips are put in stacks of 500 and traded out for bigger ones. We had 350 chips, good for only one green 500 chip. But prompted by another man at our table, Eddie handed us 350 more chips to make us eligible for two.

"Those aren't my chips," we said.

The other man then explained Eddie was giving away some extras, on top of his stacks of 500. "It doesn't cost him anything," the man at our right said; he'd still get all the green chips he had earned.

We don't know if Eddie is a Christian or not, but he did something you seldom see so outwardly at the poker table. Paul described it this way in I Timothy 6:18: "....do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share."

Poker is about taking pots, building stacks and eliminating opponents. (In fact, it was "bounty night" at Soho -- with a 5,000-chip bonus for taking players out.) But to Eddie and the other man, poker night at Soho is simply fun and games. Any money on the line at the final table is secondary, so they're happy to help out other players in need -- even though we had 12,500 chips at the time.

So the MINISTRY MOMENT of the night goes to Eddie, probably without him knowing or realizing it. He taught us a trick to use at other tables on other nights. One hour earlier, though, we tricked Eddie in a more poker-like way....

BLINDS: 25/50.

IN THE POCKET: 6-6

It's the first hand of the night. We're the small blind. Most players call, and we join them.

ON THE FLOP: 6-7-9

We bet 600 in the leadoff position. Eddie is immediately to our left, and he's puzzled. "You limped, then bet 600....?!" It's amazing how one playing card can cure a limping man. Eddie calls, as do a couple of others.

ON THE TURN: K

We turn up the heat with a "demonic" 6-6-6 hand, and bet 700. Eddie folds. A man to his left calls; no one else does.

ON THE RIVER: 9

Now it's a well-rounded "boat." We bet 1,000, which actually is risky because the other man could be holding a 9-6 or 9-7 and made a better full house.

"I've got to see what you have," the man says as he calls. He never shows what he has, because it lost to our full hours.

A good start led to a somewhat defeatist finish, right after the one-hour break. We had A-10, and bet 2,000 when an Ace came on the turn. A different man to our left raised all-in, forcing an all-in decision on our part. What we feared became reality when we called -- he had A-5, hit two pair and we missed on the river.

Final result at Soho: about 27th place -- much worse than we did online during the afternoon at NBC Sports, when we finished 12th out of 128 players.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 36 final tables in 83 nights (43.4%) - 8 cashes.

Maybe This Is Working

Just went to the Yahoo Poker home page, and was greeted by this side banner ad:

"What would Jesus do? Help a child. WorldVision."

No endorsement implied here -- just a surprising observation. And interesting "product placement."

YAHOO POKER TOTAL: $12,080 -- up $27.