Poker Night 558: Sing the Queen City

Not many women show up for the poker tournaments we attend. But that doesn't mean "ladies" can't have an impact at the table. Take this example from tonight's game at Jack Casino, in the "Queen City" of Cincinnati....

BLINDS: 150/300

IN THE POCKET: Q-Q

We won one early pot, but otherwise have struggled. A-Q and 8-8 both missed the flop and got us chased away. Now we have a nice pocket pair in the Small Blind, holding about 9,000 chips. But a player to our right raises to 1,000. Sorry, these cards are too nice. We call, and we're heads-up.

ON THE FLOP: 2-4-10 (suits are not an issue)

These cards mean we have an overpair - and now we're first to act. We follow our opponent's lead and bet 1,000. He calls.

ON THE TURN: 3

The lower, the better - or at least that's what it seems. In the spirit of a "turbo" tournament, we quickly offer 1,000 again. He quickly calls.

ON THE RIVER: 2

This pairs the board - but we can't imagine our opponent is holding a 2. We quickly try another 1,000. He quickly calls again. What does he have?

"I have Queens," we say as we show.

He shows.... well, no, he doesn't! He folds, never saying a word. We're left to guess. Maybe A-K?! Whatever it is, we'll happily take a pot of more than 8,000 chips.

On another slow Sunday night with only 16 entries, we reached the final table with 10,050 chips. After winning a hand there, we tried to limp in with 9-9 and the button. When no one bet a flop of J-8-7, we went big and bet 4,000. That led the leadoff player to push, and we called.... except he had J-8. His well-played trap held up, and we were eliminated in ninth place.

MINISTRY MOMENT: A man we've met before remembered our "Lord's Supper" card protector, and felt led to talk quietly about his church life. He attended church with his family from roughly ages 14-24, then apparently stopped for awhile.

"I've been attending the Church of Christ down on Third Street," he told us - but admitted he hasn't gone there in more than a month.

"I think it's good to go to church on a regular basis," we responded, "so we can be reminded of what God is doing for us, and what we need to do for Him."

Let's take those two things in order. The apostle Paul gave a young evangelist this advice:

Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction. - II Timothy 4:2

We think a good church will emphasize "the Word" - and that means more than simply the Bible:

In the beginning was the Word.... The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. - John 1:1, 14

This only could be talking about Jesus Christ. His example and the Bible in general corrects us of our misunderstandings, rebukes us of sins and errors, then encourages us to walk in step with God.

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. - II John 6

Can you "walk in love", even in a poker room? We think it's possible. We'll explain how in an upcoming post.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 210 final tables in 558 games (37.6%) - 44 cashes. Tonight marked our seventh final table in a row, going back to Labor Day!

Right or Wrong? Part 4

We continue our meditations from a radio ministry's sermon on gambling.

5. Gambling transgresses love. Hoping to win money by causing pain or loss to others is NOT love, the preacher said - because you wind up "victimizing" your neighbor.

The pastor quoted the "two great commands" of Jesus to back this statement (Matthew 22:37-40) - but we thought of a scripture he never quoted, which might apply to his point better:

Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. - Romans 13:10

Perhaps we should learn a lesson from other poker players here. If they have a huge hand (or at least want to pretend they do), they warn their opponents. They might say, "Don't waste your money! You're asking for trouble!" or similar phrases, before the showdown comes. They might be offering a "loving warning" so their opponent doesn't take a big loss.

But wait, you might be saying - doesn't a "loving God" sometimes allow hurt and harm to come to His children?  The answer is yes. And there's a purpose behind it:

...My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son. - Hebrews 12:5-6

Yet we think the Bible makes a distinction. God might use other poker players to carry out discipline - but that does NOT mean we should intentionally try to carry it out FOR Him. That can be presumptive.

Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. - Romans 12:19

That chapter goes on to recommend treating "enemies" with a good and giving spirit (verses 20-21) - waiting for God to do whatever He wants to do, in His good timing.

(NOTE: This is a series of posts; keep checking here for the next part.)

Learning Right From Wrong

Today marks our tenth anniversary of blogging!  This poker blog started in 2008, after we wrote another one  about events in the city where we live.

Blogging and poker-playing have a few things in common.  You can make mistakes -- and discover people are ready to tell you so.  Take an online hand the other day, where we made a minimum bet of 200 on the river holding Ace high with a pair on the board.  Two players called, and we didn't win....


janitor3:  really
Dealer:  mommykim wins Main Pot ($3,480) with Two pair, fives and fours
janitor3:  why would u bet at
Me:  Trying to run people off
Me:  Clearly it failed. :-(

There are times when a strong well-timed bet can scare people out of pots and allow you to win.  In this case. Mommykim had a second pair.  But the chat goes on:

janitor3:  200 no 1 going any where

Me:  Well, one of three folded

janitor3:  so

Me:  So it still failed. 

janitor3:  horrible bet

Me:  Thank you.

How would you have responded to that sort of instant criticism?

We could have pointed out Janitor3 called our bet, also holding an Ace high (nearly the same hand we had) -- so he lost as well.  We could have told him to "shut up" and called him names.  Instead we decided to take our lumps, along with our loss.  By doing it, we applied Biblical advice.

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. - Proverbs 12:1

Talk about blunt words!  But they're true -- because if we're honest with ourselves, no one is perfect.  We've yet to see a player win a poker tournament with a "clean sweep," capturing every hand.  So when mistakes happen, it's important to learn lessons from them.

Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult.... Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning. - Proverbs 9:7, 9

Which title applies to you when someone corrects your approach to a hand - the mocker or the wise man?  We think if you take the correction like a wise man, you're more likely to gain in the long run -- and that's true beyond the poker room.

Because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.  Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons.  For what son is not disciplined by his father? - Hebrews 12:6-7

Does it feel like God is correcting you in some aspect of your life?  Pay attention to clues you may be getting from other people or life's circumstances.  Review God's Bible with an open mind and heart, to see if the correction is justified.  Then make changes where they're necessary, to turn failures into success.