Poker Day 431: Run, Hide or Fight?

Our vacation didn't have poker stops every day.  But it ended today practically where it began - with a Friday midday tournament at Arrowhead Poker offering $400 in guaranteed money.  Only two tables full of players showed up, which increased our chances of success.  But would that make the competition that much tougher?

BLINDS: 100/200

IN THE POCKET: A-8 of spades

We won an early pot by hitting a flush on the river.  Now we have the Dealer button at a full table, with two promising cars.  Another player raises to 1,200, and we're not afraid to call.  About four players are in.

ON THE FLOP: 6-7-8 (no spades)

We have top pair and top kicker.  But that combination of cards is loaded with trouble.  A man to our left bets 1,500.  A man across from us raises to 5,000.  Did he hit three of a kind?  Perhaps a straight already?  We think it over for a moment.  It's a big dare to call.

"I'll fold," we reluctantly decide.  Another player calls.

ON THE TURN: A

Ugh.  That would have been two pair.  Interestingly, both players in the hand slow down and check.

ON THE RIVER: A

Ouch!!!  Running Aces would have given us a full house -- but the odds of that happening are huge.

The remaining two players check again, and the man across from us showing 9-9.  He missed a straight draw, but his two pair wins the pot -- and leaves us stinging a bit.

We took a chance later with K-Q when both cards paired on the flop.  But no full house came while four clubs did.  A man to our right had clubs, while we did not -- and that combination cost us about 9,000 chips.

We went all-in at last with another K-Q combo -- but that didn't work, either.  Cards on the board were mid-range, and a 6-to-10 straight from another all-in player eliminated us in 16th place.  We wind up the week 0-for-3 in tournaments, and honestly not faring well in any of them.

MINISTRY MOMENT: "That's a God-fearing man, there," a man two seats to our right said to someone else.  He was gesturing in our direction.  And he's the man we talked with a couple of weeks ago about our towelette at the table.

There's one part of that discussion we haven't mentioned yet - how he responded to our question about Jesus as his Savior.  "I've been sober for a couple of years."  Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a medallion for Cocaine Anonymous.

That recovery program for drug addicts openly admits it follows the 12-step recovery method made famous by Alcoholics Anonymous.  Five of those 12 steps refer to "God" or a "Power greater than ourselves".  An ancient promise from the God of the Bible remains available today:

He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you." - Exodus 15:26

Pray for God to heal your difficulties -- whether gambling addiction, drug addiction or physical illnesses.  Look to Him in faith, as you walk in obedience to His commands each day.  You may find amazing change occurs, as it did with that man at the poker table.

So how did we answer the comment about being "God-fearing"?  We responded by saying, "Everyone should fear God."

That man seemed surprised by that statement.  "Why should I fear my Savior?" he asked.

How would you answer him?  Offer a comment if you'd like, and we'll reveal our answer in a future post.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 151 final tables in 431 games (35.0%) - 25 cashes.

Poker Day 405: Winning the Race

Our first trip inside a casino for poker occurred on a Memorial Day weekend five years ago.  This Memorial Day weekend, the World Poker Tour Amateur League Sunday stop was closed - so instead of staying home and watching car races, we went to our first poker room in Wichita.

Arrowhead Poker has weekday high-noon Texas Hold 'em games, which are advertised as free.  Sunday tournaments begin one hour later, and require a "chair rental" (which sounds suspiciously like a stunt to avoid the vice squad).  The rental is advertised online as $10, but we had to pay $20 because the prize pool increased a few weeks ago.

We were rewarded with 20,000 chips, and a cooler filled with complimentary drinks.  Would a small turnout on a holiday weekend lead to a big day in our favor?

BLINDS: 1,000/2,000

IN THE POCKET: 4 of spades-4 of clubs

The dealer has not been our friend so far.  Hopeful mid-range cards have missed the flop, and we haven't come close to winning a pot.  We would have started this hand with a lowly 7,000 chips, but we received a "gift" of 10,000 more moments before this hand (we're under orders not to explain).  With the dealer's button in front of us, we hopefully call.  No one at the table of six (one of only two tables in the tournament) raises.

ON THE FLOP: 2-4-10

Jackpot!  And we can wait to see what other players do.  A man to our left bets 3,000.  A big bettor to our right calls.  But we can't settle for that.

"I'm all-in," we declare -- offering a total of 15,000.  The man to the left concedes.  The big bettor can't resist, and calls.

"Reggie Jackson," we say (remembering the baseball player's number).  Our 4-4 for three of a kind has our opponent dominated; he shows 5-5.

ON THE TURN: 3

Gulp - now our opponent has an open-ended straight draw.

ON THE RIVER: Q

We dodge elimination, and avoid a split of the pot because we have the only spade in play.  The first hand at every blind level was played under "High Chicago" rules - with the highest spade hole card automatically winning half the pot.

We had the Ace of Spades later in the High Chicago hand, and wound up getting the bulk of a pot which had a straight on the board.  But that 4-4 started a big comeback for us where we won several pots and reached the final table.  Then with careful play and helpful cards on the board (such as 8-7 turning into triple-8's), we stayed in the running while other players dropped out.

Eventually the field fell to three players, which put us in the money.  Then we eliminated an older man with A-8 (we think), giving us a big chip lead for heads-up play.  But with first place paying $100 and second place $80, we offered our remaining foe a split-the-money settlement.  We wound up winning $90 - and feeling very thankful!

MINISTRY MOMENT: We took a small battery for our card protector again, which prompted that runner-up to ask about it with a full table listening.

"I bring this to remind me," we explained, "that I receive power from God's Holy Spirit."

That man then started saying quietly how he believed in the Holy Spirit and God's power.  He went on to explain to other players how he's been sober almost one year, and once faced 15 years in prison -- apparently for using methamphetamines.

"It's at moments like that when you realize you need help," the man said.  Thankfully, he turned to God.  Now he prays everyday, and tries to avoid becoming addicted to other things (poker among them).

Is there an area of your life where you need serious help?  Maybe you think you can win the battle on your own.  But even famous Bible names realized they needed assistance from above....

What a wretched man I am!  Who will rescue me from this body of death?  Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord! - Romans 7:24-25

Paul wrote these words after explaining he wanted to do good things, but found himself fighting the tempting pulls of sin and evil (verses 15-23).  Does this sound like you?  If so, follow the advice of another Biblical apostle....

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." - Acts 2:38

If you need help even starting that process, please let us know via e-mail; we'll be happy to help you.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 140 final tables in 405 games (34.6%) - 22 cashes.  Our last cash win in live poker was in mid-March at Lil Kim's Cove in Georgia; sadly, we understand it's suspended all poker tournaments for several months.

Poker Night 381: Te'o-ing?

"So the question of the night is this," we said as we shuffled the cards for dealing at Lil Kim's Cove tonight.  "Who would make a better bluffer at a poker table - Lance Armstrong or Manti Te'o?"

The Tournament Director standing over our table was the only one who offered a comment.  He chose Armstrong, because the cyclist lied about using performance-enhancing drugs for years.

In local poker games, we've never seen any drugs passed or received offers of any.  In fact, the only "illicit substances" we face are tobacco and alcohol -- and we don't think the latter really enhances your play at all.  But bluffing?  That can happen anytime, from anybody....

BLINDS: 100/200

IN THE POCKET: A-J offsuit

We won one early pot and split another, bringing us to this hand at about 12,000 chips.  These are nice cards, but at this table of seven with occasional raising we don't see a need to hurry here.  We call, and no one raises.

ON THE FLOP: 8c-5c-5s

This "toll-free flop" doesn't seem to thrill anyone.  The play checks to us, so we try a "please get lost" bluff bet of 400.  It runs most of the table off, but two men call.

ON THE TURN: 8s

Two pair on the table makes things intriguing.  A man wearing lots of orange stares at us for a couple of seconds.  We stare back.  He checks.  We're not sure what's up here, but we realize he might have a full house.  We also realize if he doesn't, we have the top kicker.  We also check; so does the third man.

ON THE RIVER: 7c

A third club on the board complicates matters, especially a mid-range card.  The Orangeman (who says his trim is black, as opposed to Syracuse University's blue) pulls out 3,000.

"No one's going to call that, man," a player out of the hand says.  "You bet too much."

"Someone's going to call it," the bettor insists.

"Well, it's not going to be me," we say.  There are too many potential hands which top our Ace kicker, so we fold.

"It's not going to be me, either," the third man says.  He also folds.

The pot winner then shows his cards -- Q-6 offsuit!  His bigger bluff worked, where our modest bet on the flop did not.

We scored a big pot at the one-hour break with two pair to jump to 10,500.  But the Orangeman outplayed us again after the break, not once but twice.  First we limped in "under the gun" with pocket Aces, hoping for a big score -- but two Queens came on the flop, and he held a third.  His betting and our calling dropped us to the minimum 500.

Then forced to go all-in at the Big Blind with 4-6, a 4 landed on the river.  But this time, the Orangeman held the pocket Aces.  Our best-laid plans might as well have been tossed in a juicer; we finished 20th, and became the first elimination at our table.

MINISTRY MOMENT: We don't remember what cards came out, but one early flop made a young man to our right say, "Oh!  Lord!  Jesus!  Have mercy!"

"Jesus is a merciful Being, isn't He?" we said to the man -- and he sounded like he agreed with that.

Have you ever had the notion that God the Father is a mean "law enforcement officer", while Jesus the Son is loving and merciful?  That idea isn't really accurate.  Find a Bible, and check a few verses which show why....

For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath. - Deuteronomy 4:31

 These are words from the "farewell address" of Moses to the nation of Israel.  Even though he saw God punish many people with death (read Exodus 32 for one example), he still called God merciful.  But Who was this God that communicated with Moses, anyway?

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning. - John 1:1-2

Verse 14 explains this "Word" walked the Earth as Jesus Christ, but was eternal in origin.

For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.  They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea... they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. - I Corinthians 10:1-4

Do you grasp what the apostle Paul is saying?  Jesus was with Moses and the nation of Israel during their wandering in the wilderness!  We can conclude from this that the "God" who interacted with Moses was God the Son, who became Jesus.

So if Jesus was merciful thousands of years before appearing in the flesh, why would He be any different in the New Testament?

On hearing this, Jesus said.... "But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'...." - Matthew 9:12-13

If you have questions about this, read our complete Bible study about the subject of mercy.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 131 final tables in 381 nights (34.4%) - 20 cashes.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER TOTAL: Full tournaments - 280 point wins in 1,321 games (21.2%), 90 final tables, 11 cashes, 10 wins.  No-River Hold 'em - 22 point wins in 87 games (25.3%), 17 final tables, 1 cash win.

A change of computers reduced our online action in the last week.  But we finished eighth in a 324-player late-night tournament early Wednesday, after placing ninth out of 111 in a No-River Hold 'em game last Friday.

POKER STARS.NET TOTAL: Pretend cash games - $86,394, down $3,200.

Mr. Know-It-Some

We'd barely walked in the door of the poker tournament when a young man came alongside us with an unusual request.  Would we go to a certain part of town and buy him some "spices"?

We sensed it was a trick question, but we didn't know exactly what he meant.  So we took the humorous route in responding.  "Like cinnamon?"

No, that wasn't quite it.  The young man then asked if we'd ever been to one particular part of town -- an area which admittedly doesn't have the best reputation.  Yes, we had been there several years ago.  "I went to church with a couple of men, who had Bible studies in their homes."

That wasn't quite the answer that man expected, either.  He moved on -- and then we asked someone sitting nearby if "spices" was a slang term for marijuana.  He said it was not, but explained the word can refer to other things people smoke.  (We found a very different use of the word online.)

So we're admittedly not up on the current drug and pseudo-drug slang.  And to be honest, we don't mind that.  It means we're following some Biblical advice....

Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.  Touch no unclean thing and I will receive you. - II Corinthians 6:17

We know some Christians who refuse to go to certain locations to play poker, because they have a "bad reputation" -- for illegal drugs or other reasons.  We understand their concern.  Others say you should go "all out," and not visit poker tournaments at all.  But we think Jesus advised a more balanced approach:

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.... As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. - John 17:15, 18

Jesus left a "sin-free zone" at God the Father's right hand, and came to a sin-scarred Earth to deliver us from our sins.  In a similar way, believers should go out and tell other people about what Jesus has done -- and what He can do for them.  But in the process, be careful....

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be you therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. - Matthew 10:16 (KJV)

Don't let yourself get lured or trapped into something which will cause regret (or even sin) later.  Follow Jesus's instructions to be "the salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13) - not necessarily the spice.

The 18-Million Dollar Man

The Main Event is starting this weekend at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.  But for a change, it is not the biggest tournament in the game -- at least not in terms of prize money.

Antonio Esfandiari won $18.3 million dollars this past week, in a new WSOP tournament called "The Big One for One Drop."  The buy-in was a whopping one million dollars.  (Which is why we're playing local free tournaments instead -- we do what we can afford.)

We were struck as much by the champion's interview as the grand prize.  Esfandiari comes across on television as one of the more mild-mannered, ego-condensed poker players.  Some of his quotes reflect that personality:

"You know, my style is to talk and have a good time at the poker table, I might as well enjoy my life, instead of sitting there and being bored. Because poker, as we all know, is boring sometimes. So, I was just trying to have a good time...."


We get picked on during online tournaments for being talkative, too (as in chat comments).  It's as if some players consider a poker room like an ancient cathedral, where you simply must be silent.  But if you don't enjoy what you're doing, will there really be joy in your moments of success?

So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad.  Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun. - Ecclesiastes 8:15

These words come from the wealthiest man of his time, King Solomon of Israel. He encouraged joyful living -- but where do find real joy?  Listen to Esfandiari again:


 I did some self-awareness work, and just kind of took things into perspective; you know, what was and what wasn’t important. And going out and partying at the end of the day, it really didn’t make me that happy. I loved it, don’t get me wrong. I kind of grew out of it. I’m 33 now and so I just decided to live a better life....

The older people get, the more their priorities can change.  Seek pleasure night after night from alcohol or drugs, and you're likely to discover eventually how those things ultimately are unfulfilling.

Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path.  Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags. - Proverbs 23:19-21

But we hope Esfandiari realizes even an 18-million dollar payday can't buy real happiness....

For riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations. - Proverbs 27:24

True joy comes from having God's Holy Spirit inside you (Galatians 5:22).  And that leads us to one more eyebrow-raising quote:

If you fade this flush draw, you win the biggest tournament in history of the world. And that’s it. This is the moment. It’s here, right now. I was like please Jesus, this one time. And I’m pretty sure I used up all my one-times on this tournament, but I’m okay with that. 

Did you notice?  Esfandiari looked to Jesus at the biggest moment in his poker career.  So many people do that -- looking to God for help only at the most critical times.  It's better to develop a right relationship with God and Jesus, and have that at all times.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. - II Peter 3:18

So congratulations to "The Magician" -- and may you learn lessons from him, about life as well as poker.

Cover-Ups

In our five-year review of live poker last week, we noted several Columbus-area venues have introduced "buy-in" tournaments -- games we admittedly have yet to play.  The reason why came up the other night, without our even mentioning it.

"It's a 'cover charge,' not a 'buy-in,'" one man said of the five-dollar fee.  He explained the wording makes all the difference, in the eyes of the local vice squad.

Cover charges to enter bars or clubs are legal.  A buy-in for a tournament makes it gambling, which is illegal under Georgia law.  (We've entered two buy-in tournaments in Florida, but they were at a state-regulated poker room.)

Speaking personally, we don't any to take part in any illegal poker.  We're reminded from the Bible:

Abstain from all appearance of evil. - I Thessalonians 5:22 (KJV)

Of course, we realize some people consider it the "appearance of evil" merely to walk into a bar to play poker.  They would turn to another verse:

"Therefore come out from the and be separate, says the Lord.  Touch no unclean thing and I will receive you." - II Corinthians 6:17

But bars can have "clean things," as well as unclean things.  We've never bought alcohol (which is not necessarily an "unclean thing") at any place where we've played.  We settle for sodas, even though that usually means fewer bonus chips at the table.

(Besides, unclean things can show up anywhere.  A man asked us the other day about smoking pot -- as we played a game of chess beneath a shady tree in our neighborhood.)

Our point is that a good Christian witness should uphold the law -- whether that means the rules of a poker game or city ordinances.  After all....

Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. - II Timothy 2:5

As we write this, the sports news of the day includes the strange case of a baseball pitcher who was thrown out of a game.  Not for throwing at the batters -- but for having an illegal substance in his glove.  


May you be fair and legal in everything you do, whether poker is a matter of work or play.  Follow a Biblical principle of family affairs....

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. - Colossians 3:20

Poker Night 323: Anniversary Present

Several people were amazed at Lil Kim's Cove tonight, when we mentioned it was our fifth anniversary of live poker tournaments.  They couldn't believe we remembered the date.  But what happened during the first hour may have seemed even more unbelievable....

BLINDS: 100/200

IN THE POCKET: J-J

We've already had a roller-coaster ride, even though the table is playing relatively tight.  We made a straight on the flop holding 5-6 -- but only 150 at first, allowing two players to stay in and make flushes on the turn.  Their big betting cost us thousands, but we were wise to fold on the river before going all-in.  We've taken a couple of pots since then, including the Big Blind with 8-3.  Now we're in the small blind with this, and choose to limp in.  Most of the table gets in.

ON THE FLOP: 5-J-7

Triple J's look quite OK!  So in lead position for action, we offer 600.  That's too much for most of the table, but the dealer to our immediate right calls.

ON THE TURN: J

Whoa!!  J now stands for jackpot -- but we know we can't claim a 5,000-chip bonus for quads unless the hand goes all the way to the river.  So we check.  The dealer checks as well.

ON THE RIVER: 7

We play innocent and check again.  The dealer is in no mood for that -- and gives us even more than we expected.

"Four-thousand," he says.  Now it's time for what they call in TV poker "Hollywooding."

"Four-thousand?!?!?" we ask with mock astonishment.  We start counting our chips, because we're honestly not sure how many we have.

"Don't do it, man.  Don't do it," the dealer advises.

"That might put me all in," we say while we count.

"You don't want to do it."

"I shouldn't do it?!" we ask with an added measure of uncertainty in our voice.

"Don't do it."

Nope.  Our mind is made up.  "I'm going to do it," we say with a hint of resignation.  "I'll call."  Our count totals 3,875, slightly below the dealer's bet.

"But I've got a boat," our opponent says.  He flips over a 7, to show a full house.

"But I've got to call, when I've got quads."

We turn over the Jacks, and the table is stunned.  One man guessed we might have pocket Aces, but nobody saw quads coming.  We win a double-up and that 5,000-chip bonus.

"I had to bet.  I had a boat," our opponent says in frustration -- not once, but several times.  We can't really blame him.  But he ran into an unexpected buzz saw.  At least he was able to joke about it minutes later.

"You didn't have to call," he said.

"I know, but something told me I should call there."

"But you didn't have to listen to that something."

"I think it's called The Idiot's Guide to Poker," we said with a smile and a giggle.

That was the middle of three hands in a row which we won -- the following hand coming when we dealt ourselves Q-Q, and they prevailed.  We reached the one-hour break with more than 20,500 chips.  Trouble was, we lost half of them early in the second hour to a woman who made two big hands.  A comeback with Queens returned us to 15,500.  But a final push with A-Q and an Ace on the flop lost to a man who made three of a kind.  Our anniversary night ended in 16th place - at least better than five years ago.

MINISTRY MOMENT: A young man walked over to our table during the one-hour break, and told some players about a couple of habits he's given up recently.

"I've stopped drinking.  In fact, I gave up smoking pot."

One person described him as "clean and really sober."  Then he continued.

"Several months ago, I made a promise to the man upstairs that if he'd help me give up pot, I'd quit.  The man upstairs has given me the strength."

"God's helped you do it," we said -- making sure of which "man upstairs" he meant.  Indeed, he gave God the credit.  And he went on from there, to mention which church he attends every week -- a church which was familiar to a couple of people at the table, but not to us.

Two thoughts come to mind here.  First, we're glad God has helped the man overcome those habits.  If you have weaknesses or addictions in your life, God can help you as well.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. - Psalm 73:26

How does this happen?  How does God become your strength?  It begins by confessing your weak areas to God -- and admitting you need His help.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.... I can do everything through him who gives me strength. - Philippians 4:6, 13

Our second thought may seem a bit nit-picky -- but it involves the wording that young man used.  We think some people use the phrase "man upstairs" to avoid possibly offending people with a direct mention of God.  The apostle Paul took a similar approach when he addressed a crowd in Athens....

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  For he has set a day when will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed.  He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead. - Acts 17:30-31

Paul never named the name of Jesus Christ in this mini-sermon -- but that's clearly the "person" he was describing.  A few men followed Paul after that address, and believed in God (verse 34).  Perhaps this young man's testimony (even posted here) will help others do the same.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 114 final tables in 323 nights (35.3%) - 17 cashes.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER TOTAL: Full tournaments - 236 point wins in 992 games (23.8%), 76 final tables, 7 cashes plus 2 other wins.  No-River Hold 'em - 6 point wins in 34 games (17.6%), 5 final tables, 1 cash win.

We mentioned the qualifying tournament we won last Friday.  In addition, we came in seventh out of 203 players in a No-River tournament Wednesday.

POKER STARS.NET TOTAL: Pretend cash games - $78,791, down $630.