Conscious or Con?

Our last post introduced you to young man at a final table with some unusual theories about life. When we brought up our belief in the second coming of Jesus Christ, he said he believed in a "Christ consciousness."

Is this how you look at God and Jesus? Is the Godhead (as some call it) simply a good way of thinking? Or is there more than that?

A good moral conscience might influence how you play poker. For instance, you might tell other players that they're exposing their cards to you. But other players can work in exactly the opposite direction....

To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. - Titus 1:15

In other words. a lack of belief can corrupt your conscience. So belief can make your conscience right. But belief in what?

I speak the truth in Christ - I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit - I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. - Romans 9:1-2

Our NIV Study Bible has this note about these verses: "Conscience is a reliable guide only when enlightened by the Holy Spirit." How does the Spirit give you a true Christ-conscience?

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. - Hebrews 11:6

It takes faith that God exists. And that includes both the Father and the Son....

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.... Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. - I John 5:1, 5

Having a "Christ consciousness" is good. Believing that Jesus Christ was a conscious human being who's now in heaven as the Son of God (with "Christ" meaning "Messiah") is even better. Why not take your belief "all the way to the river" - and believe in what Jesus came to Earth to do for you?

Your Cheatin' Heart

Several recent posts have focused on the electrical plug we sometimes use as a card protector. We know it converts power from a three-pronged device for a two-prong outlet. Another player noted it's a "grounded device."

But when we double-checked the plug online, we found out something else. In fact, something that's a bit embarrassing. It's also called a "cheater plug."

Were we sending a wrong message to people by using this at poker tables? Were we implying we are a cheater?

Maybe we're over-analyzing this. But then again, we'd ask - do you have sneaky ways of cheating at poker?

They're the stuff of Old West legends. But that does not mean you should be doing them:

"Cursed is the cheat who promises to give a fine ram from his flock but then sacrifices a defective one to the Lord...." - Malachi 1:14 (NLT)

This is about cheating in an animal sacrifice. But does God make any distinctions about this?

You can't wait for the Sabbath day to be over and the religious festivals to end so you can get back to cheating the helpless. You.... cheat the buyer with dishonest scales. - Amos 8:5 (NLT)

This is about cheating poor people, or customers in general. Read on for God's response to this....

Now the Lord has sworn this oath by his own name, the Pride of Israel. I will never forget the wicked things you have done! - Amos 8:7 (NLT)

Those cheating moments could come up at the final judgment, along with "every idle word" (Matthew 12:36). The Bible shows a better approach to take....

….Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated? - I Corinthians 6:7 (NLT)

Yes, this goes all the way to the opposite pole - allowing others to cheat you. But it shows better ethics on your part, and might win more respect with other players.

So should we put away the "cheater plug" - leaving it for a wall at home, instead of a poker table? Your comments are welcome. In the meantime, the old cliché still is a good one: winners never cheat, and cheaters (ultimately) never win.

BLOGGER'S NOTE: Speaking of this topic, we became aware this weekend that we may have been violating New International Version copyright rules without realizing it. We are inquiring with the publisher about this, and will make corrections as required.

Lessons From a Drop-Out

"Are you doing OK?" the woman behind the bar asked us the other night.

We patted our pockets, then gave a surprising answer. "I don't know."

The problem was that our wallet was not in either pocket. Had we forgotten it somehow?

We quickly retraced our steps, starting in the poker room - and that's where our short search ended.

"I thought you might be looking for that," a man said as we spotted our wallet on top of our chip stack, during the first tournament break. Apparently it dropped out of our pocket at some point.

We thanked the man for his good dead - then added: "It's nice to see there's some honesty in poker."

Poker, of course, is a game known for bluffing. We've done it a few times to "steal" pots from other players. But after almost nine years of playing live poker, in six U.S. states, one Canadian province and aboard one cruise ship, we've learned something which might surprise you: the vast majority of poker players are ethical people. The "stealing" starts and stops at the table.

For the Lord your God detests.... anyone who deals dishonestly. - Deuteronomy 25:16

The context of this verse involves weights and measures. But we think this verse is more than a warning to business owners and farmers' markets. God wants us to be honest in all that we do.

A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies. - Proverbs 12:17

Yes, we think that means speaking true words at the poker table. If an opponent asks probing questions about your hand, you can always keep your mouth shut or dodge the issue.

He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless. - Proverbs 2:7

We don't think this verse is a guarantee of wins in poker tournaments. We do think it's a promise of ultimate victory - advancing to eternal life with Jesus when He comes back to Earth. That will be a life you can't lose. And you might not need wallets to hold cash anymore, either.

Right or Wrong? Part 3

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

3. The vast majority of gamblers lose.

We haven't done research on this, but we suspect it's true. That's how casinos make a profit, after all. We've wondered in recent years why several casinos in Atlantic City have closed. Have more people realized they're losing, so they don't play anymore?  Or are people actually getting better at the games?

But here's our issue with that point. The minister tried to make comparisons with investing in business - yet statistics show most start-up businesses fail as well. They fail at a slower rate than gamblers (ten years vs. a ten-day junket), but 71 percent eventually fail.

But our link had an amazing note about which kind of business has the "best rate of success after [the] fifth year." It's religious organizations. In other words, doing things for God pays off!

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. - I Corinthians 3:6-7

The apostle Paul is referring here to church growth, with new people becoming converted. But there's a principle here that religious organizations should understand better than anyone - that it's only by God's grace and mercy that anything grows. If that's true with church membership, why shouldn't it be true with a business? Or even success at a poker table, for those who believe God?

4. Gambling transgresses honesty. The preacher called it thievery "by mutual consent."

This may be true in back-alley dice-rolling and basement poker nights.  But many poker rooms and casinos take pains to ensure everything is on the up-and-up - like the day we had to take a one-blind penalty for acting too soon in a tournament.

A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies. - Proverbs 12:17

This point really comes to your personal ethics. Are you honest with your words and actions at a poker table? Or do you lie (if that's too harsh, "shade the truth" a bit) to get your way?

It's our policy always to be truthful during poker tournaments. Sometimes that means saying nothing, when an opponent asks probing questions about our hand.

Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. - Ecclesiastes 5:2

We think it's better to say nothing and protect your reputation than tell a lie and risk ruining it.

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

Watching Out for You

Set up a game - whether it be poker, football or something else - and someone inevitably will try to cheat at that game to gain an advantage.

The latest case of poker cheating comes from an online security website.  "Odlanor" malware can take a look at your cards at a website such as PokerStars, and instantly let your opponents know what you have.  It can enter your computer through poker helps, such as calculators or player databases.

For those of us who play online primarily, this is irritating but no big deal.  But for those who play online for money, it's a very big deal -- as cheaters could take advantage and rob players of winnings.

You probably can delete the malware programs to solve the problem. But that doesn't solve the core issue: Why do some people cheat at poker? Why do they feel compelled to break the rules, be unethical and attempt to sneak their way to victory?

As odd as it may sound, we think the problem is spiritual. At the root of a malware infection is a sin infection....

I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. - Romans 7:18

The man writing these words was the apostle Paul. Yes, one of Jesus's apostles admitted he had a sinful nature.  If he does, we suspect deep-down all of us do.

For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. - Romans 7:19-20

The wording here can seem confusing.  But Paul is saying a sinful nature inside him can lead him to do bad things -- such as cheating.

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

Jesus came in part to provide people a new nature - a nature that is holy, godly and righteous.  In other words, one that doesn't want to cheat.

To them God has chosen to make know among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. - Galatians 1:27

Once Jesus enters a person through the Holy Spirit, everything should start changing. But we need to focus on living a godly way, not the cheating way.  Look for ways to win that are clean and above reproach - not ways that can get you tracked down like a cyber-criminal and put in jail.

Bends, Pokes and Other Things

The talk at the table turned to one of the biggest poker events of the year in our area.  One woman was troubled by something she saw after the tournament was over.

As the decks of cards were collected, she said several Aces had bent corners - especially the Ace of spades.  The woman was especially irked because it was a charity poker tournament. The prize pool was big, but the focus was supposed to be on giving to a non-profit organization.

Then another player mentioned visiting a poker room where he saw needles on the ground outside.  He indicated the needles may have been used to poke tiny holes in the cards, so people could know what was dealt where. (We're keeping the name of the room anonymous, because we have not proven or disproven that claim.)

Like it or not, some people try to win at poker "by hook or by crook."  If they can gain a sneaky advantage through cheating, they will.  But of course, that doesn't mean they should.

Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers. - I Corinthians 6:8

These words from the Bible were written to a Christian church -- yes, to a church with cheaters! Members were taking each other to court over disputed matters or wrongs. The apostle Paul was especially annoyed because church members were taking their issues before judges who might not believe in God at all (verse 6).

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither.... thieves nor the greedy... nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. - I Corinthians 6:9-10

Paul mentions a lot of other offenses in these verses; we're only highlighting the sins which relate to our topic.  His main point is that people who are cheating to "get ahead" need to stop it. Otherwise, God will stop them from entering His Kingdom.

Paul was tough when it came to punishment -- writing wicked people should be expelled from a church group (5:13).  But he also had a message for people who think they've been the victim of cheating.

...Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? - I Corinthians 6:7b

In other words, follow the example given by Jesus....

But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. - Matthew 5:39-40

Sometimes you can set a better example in poker by taking a loss gracefully, than by winning a huge pot or tournament.  This approach admittedly is not easy; our society promotes "getting even" a lot.  But if you do it the right way (perhaps by eliminating the cheating player with a big hand), you'll honor God more.

So feel free to spill to us here - what's the worst case of poker cheating you've ever seen, and how did it happen?

The Daily Grind

If all you've seen in the poker world are big televised tournaments, it might look glamorous.  Players toss around big-money chips in lavish casinos, and make ridiculous sums of money - right?!

Well, let's be realistic. Not all poker players are gazillionaires.  Some do well simply to make a living at the tables - and some may be trying to cheat you out of yours.

An essay posted by the New York Post reminded us of this.  It's about an Australian player who talks about losing or winning more than $1,000 a day - and does it by playing ten hours a day, five days a week.  In other words, "professional poker" becomes a job.

But it seems this job is an exception to what the Bible says about work:

All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. - Proverbs 14:23

Is that a guaranteed paycheck in poker?  Unless you have a sponsorship deal, the logical answer is no.  What you earn depends on how long and how well you.... uh.... play?! Work?!  Whichever.

The key comes in knowing what you're doing, and doing it well.  That's not only true for poker players, but in other walks of life.  For instance, farming come to mind....

The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. - I Corinthians 3:8

That principle will be true at the end of our lives as well, no matter how long we play poker:

....You, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done. - Psalm 62:11-12

But don't overlook one important standard God uses in figuring that reward....

The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. - Psalm 18:20

Do you "labor" in poker in a clean way?  An ethical way?  A way which sets an example for others of proper (even godly) conduct?  That kind of work will bring a good reward - including the hope of eternal life with Jesus Christ.

Seeking an Edge

If you're looking for ways to cheat at poker and win - sorry, you've come to the wrong website.  But it's noteworthy to us when even top-level poker players are accused of cheating.

That's what an Atlantic City casino is accusing Phil Ivey of doing.  Not at poker, but another card game.  He's accused of closely watching the edges of playing cards in baccarat for flaws, and using that knowledge to win millions of dollars.

We admit we've never played baccarat; we might have confused that word with a legendary composer of music.  We'd also never heard of "edge sorting" - but we're amazed at the things some people might use to gain, well, an edge at a card table.

Some people think they need to cheat to get an edge in life.  They might cut corners on their job, or even do deceptive things at church to "get ahead" with God at the expense of other members.  But God is too smart to be fooled by that....

The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. - Proverbs 15:3

That "knows if you've been bad or good" stuff.... well, God was doing that long before anyone thought of a Santa Claus.  And beyond that....

All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and 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

When judgment day comes, Jesus could remember things about you that you've forgotten (or maybe wished you had).  But there's a way to escape that "true confessions" moment:

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

God already has seen your cheating -- whether it's at the poker table, or other places in your life. Isn't it better to admit it to Him now, receive forgiveness and turn to a more ethical way of life?  Or would you rather dare to go "all in" against Jesus, and lose?

Dismissed

It's tempting to say the other "horseshoe" has dropped in the Tim Giardina case - as in Horseshoe Casino.  The navy officer we mentioned here recently has been stripped of a top position with U.S. Strategic Command and demoted one star.  It's all apparently because he's accused of bringing counterfeit chips to an Iowa poker room.

We've already pointed out one lesson of Giardina's story.  Here's another potential one.  Keeping in mind Giardina is innocent of criminal charges until proven guilty, we'd offer him this advice.  If you feel compelled to cheat at poker to be successful at it, maybe you shouldn't be playing cash-game poker in the first place.

The Bible offers several examples of people who tried to take ethical shortcuts.  Consider two people named Simon...

When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." - Acts 7:18-19

The Simon who made this request sounded ready to share spiritual gifts.  But in reality, he was practicing sorcery and magic (verses 9, 11).  An apostle formerly known as "Simon" gave him a blunt answer:

Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!  You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God.  Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord...." - Acts 7:20-22

Yes, we know -- a large number of Christian ministries seem to constantly ask for money.  But this blog never has.  And in this case, Peter turned down a donation because he could tell the other Simon didn't have the right motivation.

Gifts to God can be good things.  But the spiritual gifts God offers require something else in return:

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

"It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.... Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." - Acts 4:10-12

Success in God's eyes doesn't come through cheating or shortcuts.  It comes through repentance -- real repentance, not a counterfeit.  And it comes through accepting God's Son as your Savior.  Is that the game plan you're taking?

The Real Deal

Tim Giardina is off the hook -- a little, at least.  Prosecutors in Iowa have decided against filing state charges against him, for allegedly playing poker at a casino with counterfeit chips.

But Giardina isn't completely in the clear.  He's the man we mentioned in our last post: still a Vice-Admiral in the U.S. military, a top officer in the Strategic Command -- and his alleged "vices" could get him demoted or fired.  He could face federal charges, for using bogus chips.

We've never tried to play poker with counterfeit chips.  We've assumed the places where we play are smart enough to know the difference between the genuine chips they hand out and the fakes.

But this case raises a bigger question to us.  Are you trying to live a counterfeit life? 

"This is the only life I have," you might say.  OK, but are you living it in a counterfeit way?  Many people do....

You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth.  Selah.  You love every harmful word, O you deceitful tongue! - Psalm 52:3-4

Counterfeit words at a poker table can throw other players off the track about a hand.  Counterfeit words away from the table can ruin relationships -- for instance, telling family members you aren't gambling with their savings when you really are.

Sadly, there even can be counterfeit Christians.  Some people who are turned off by God see them as hypocrites.  But here's the refreshing thing -- Jesus Christ saw through such people, too.

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men.  I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. - Matthew 6:5

God doesn't want people who are counterfeits.  He wants real people, who really live a godly life:

...The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. - I Samuel 16:7b

If you're trying to win at poker through counterfeiting or cheating, please stop it.  If a top military official could be caught in the act, do you really think you can keep getting away with it?  And if you're living a counterfeit life, admit your falsehood and fakery to God in prayer.  Repent of it -- then starting living by the truth, as Jesus is the truth (John 14:6).

Poker Day 412: Better Late Than Never

We backed our car into a parking spot at Arrowhead Poker.  We got out of the car, having already checked our pockets for our poker tools (note pad, pencil, prop).  Then we realized we'd forgotten one very important thing.  It was a Sunday tournament with a $20 buy-in -- and we'd left our wallet at home.

Instead of going inside feeling embarrassed, we drove back home muttering about our own stupidity.  We could have said "Forget it" and worked on other things the rest of the day.  But we finally decided to grab our wallet and go back -- even though it meant showing 25 minutes after the starting time.

The poker room manager was reluctant for a moment -- but eventually split the one table of play into two, so we could have a seat.  Our chip stack was deducted for one round of missed blinds, so we had some catching up to do....

BLINDS: 200/400

IN THE POCKET: 4 of diamonds - 6 of diamonds

We regained our deduction right away, winning two pots in a row as soon as we sat down.  Now we're at around the starting number of 20,000, sitting in the Small Blind.  The group of five is playing somewhat tight, so no one raising before the flop allows us to simply call.

ON THE FLOP: A-4-2

It's a pair -- albeit a drab one.  We're first to act, and check.  But we're a little comforted to see the rest of the table checking as well.

ON THE TURN: 5

This brings four cards to a straight.  We decide to test how serious the table is, by betting 600.  (We do have a pair, after all.)  Two players call.  But something also tells us a good card is about to come....

ON THE RIVER: 3

Indeed it did!  This puts a straight on the table -- but our 6 gives us a higher straight.  So we bet 2,000, in a "truth or dare" challenge.  One man folds quickly.  The other thinks about it several seconds, then thinks better and surrenders.

We're in a somewhat giving mood, so we turn over our cards.  "I knew you had a 6," one of the folders said.  He was wise.  We're still happy, gaining about 2,000 chips.

We slowly kept building our stack, and reached the final table.  Then came some up-and-down moments, with a top of about 210,000 chips late in the tournament.  We finally held on to make the top three, which earned prize money!

But then a big all-in challenge when we held A-4 failed, as an opponent held A-Q and cleaned up.  That left us forced to go all-in with very little in the Big Blind, and our Queen-high lost to three of a kind.  Yet third place earned us $30 on a $20 investment -- not bad for someone who started the afternoon feeling stupid and ashamed.

MINISTRY MOMENT: Our final-table seat was directly to the Dealer's left.  At one point he dealt the cards a bit loosely for a moment.

"I saw that," we said as he juggled a "burn card" back into the deck.

"What was it?"

"A red Ace."

Sure enough - it was the Ace of diamonds.  He displayed it to the other players.

"Thank you, sir.  Honesty is the best policy."

We agree with that -- but let's face it.  How many other poker players would agree with that view -- even serious ones?  The national news Sunday evening included a top U.S. military official who's under investigation for allegedly taking counterfeit chips to a poker room.

Some people think the phrase, "Honesty is the best policy," comes from the Bible.  That exact quote does not.  (We could find no original source for it.) But the principle is certainly Biblical:

Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight or quantity.  Use honest scales and honest weights.... - Leviticus 19:35-36

This instruction probably refers to doing trade or business.  But shouldn't it apply to everything we do in life?  Look at what could happen if your answer is no....

Shall I acquit a man with dishonest scales, with a bag of false weights?  Her rich men are violent; her people are liars and their tongues speak deceitfully.  Therefore, I have begun to destroy you, to ruin you because of your sins. - Micah 6:11-13

Verse 1 of this chapter makes clear God is saying these words.  Deceitful actions and words might make you rich in the short-term -- but God can make sure you pay for it in the long-term.  May our lives be like Shakespeare wrote in a play: "Every man has his fault, and honesty is his."

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 145 final tables in 412 games (35.2%) - 24 cashes.  Since moving to Kansas, our record has been strong: 6 for 8 in reaching final tables, with 3 cash wins.

Mr. Know-It-All

Playing cards are a vital part of any poker game.  But sometimes for certain people, they can turn into a sort of magic show.

"Nine," someone might say before a turn card comes out -- and lo and behold, it's a 9.  We don't know how they do it.  But we know of someone who lost his job for doing it the other day.  And of all places, it happened during the World Series of Poker.

Mike Sowers tells CardPlayer.com he went all in with three 9's.  With three hearts showing on the flop, the dealer said: "Sorry man, bad beat."  Then the dealer flipped over a fourth heart on the turn, giving another player a winning flush to eliminate Sowers.

What did the dealer know?  Apparently too much -- because he reportedly admitted to not shuffling the cards.  The dealer apparently wound up fired, while Sowers received a refund of his buy-in.

One question lingers from this strange story -- why didn't the players at the table notice the dealer's actions?  Didn't anyone realize he hadn't shuffled the cards?  Perhaps there's a lesson here for all of us:

This is what the Lord says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord." - Jeremiah 17:5

We'll focus on the first part of this verse for now.  Alert poker players always watch for people not playing by the rules or taking shortcuts.  Perhaps we should even watch supposedly "neutral" dealers in poker rooms, too.

Eventually humans will let you down because, well, they're only human.  For a better answer, we recommend....

But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. - Jeremiah 17:7

The Advantage Law

The other night we noticed something about the poker player sitting to our immediate left.  So between hands, we whispered an advisory to that woman.

"I can see what you have, when you lift your cards."  In other words, we could tell what kind of hand the woman had.

We don't recall her saying anything in response -- but her facial reaction was one of surprise.  Perhaps it was because another player actually told her he could take advantage of her actions.

"What are you doing?" may be your first response to this.  "Don't you want to win the tournament, and get the money??"  Yes -- but the Christian in us puts fairness and ethics ahead of winning money:

It is God's will that you should be sanctified.... no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him.  The Lord will punish men for all such sins.... - I Thessalonians 4:3, 6

The context of this passage refers to sexual sins, but we think the standard should apply in all walks of life.  In fact, Paul does that elsewhere in his writings.

Why not rather be wronged?  Why not rather be cheated?  Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers.  Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? - I Corinthians 6:7-9

We live in a world where professional athletes, and even corporate executives, look for every edge they can to gain an advantage over their competition.  If it's done legally and within the rules, that's one thing.  But if someone cheats to get ahead, that's another.  Instead, our motive should be....

The commandments.... "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."  Love does no harm to its neighbor.  Therefore  love is the fulfillment of the law. - Romans 13:9-10

Huh?!  We're supposed to practice love -- at a poker tournament??  Yes.  In fact, we should practice it everywhere.  That's what the God who is defined as love does (I John 4:8).

Dear children, let us not love with words of tongue but with actions and in truth. - I John 3:18

A word of quiet advice can be an act of love, of course.  What sort of loving example do you set - in the poker room, and outside it?

The Gift of Gold II

We've read speculation online that the world "gold bubble" is about to burst.  But at our local poker tournaments, a gold chip remains valuable; it's worth 5,000.  So let's go back to the Tournament Director's offer of a gold chip to everyone at the Director's table -- and only that table.

We mentioned in a previous post that deal didn't seem fair.  So the Director offered to give a gold chip to everyone in the tournament, to compensate for it.

"Since you're doing it as a gift...." we answered a bit reluctantly.

Call us selfish if you wish (or perhaps practicing "Roberts's Rules of Supreme Court Health Care Decisions"), but we accepted the 5,000-chip offer for our own table.  The key word in our answer was gift -- and it actually ties in with U.S. Independence Day, and the man who told us about bigotry earlier this week.


You see, the concept that "all men are created equal" is a nice concept -- but it's not reality.  Any mother who's given birth to a disabled child probably would confirm that.  So would anyone who worked as a slave for the writers of the Declaration of Independence.  The New Testament puts it in a spiritual perspective....

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.... - Romans 12:6

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.  There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. - I Corinthians 12:4-5

Paul goes on in those two chapters to list the various gifts God grants to believers -- everything from the interpretation of languages (or "tongues") to healing.  But he adds:

Are all apostles?  Are all prophets?  Are all teachers?  Do all work miracles?  Do all have gifts of healing?  Do all speak in tongues?  Do all interpret? - I Corinthians 12:29-30

(To which we would dare to add: are all cut out for playing poker successfully?)


Paul leaves the answers to his questions open, but they seem obvious -- no.  Different people have different gifts.


That "gold chip gift" may have helped us reach the final table last week.  So be thankful for whatever gifts God has given you -- even a gift of playing poker well.  If you're not sure what your gifts are, ask God in prayer to reveal them to you.  Also consult some friends you trust, as they might have noticed them a long time ago.


And here's an important P.S.: Turn to God, and seek the greatest gift of all -- a gift He wants to give everyone:

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 6:23

The Gift of Gold

A man stayed in the hand with weak cards, but caught the exact right card on the river to take a nice pot.  The Tournament Director was playing at the table, and was stunned.

In response, the Director pulled out gold chips worth 5,000 -- and proceeded to give one to everyone at the table except the big winner.  "This is for sucking out," the Director explained.  "Don't tell the other tables I'm doing this."

We were playing at this table, so we received one of the valuable gold chips.  But something didn't seem right about this.  "This doesn't seem very fair," we noted to the Director with an innocent-sounding voice.

"If you'd like me to give a gold chip to everyone at the other tables, I will," the Director offered.

Talk about a sudden ethical dilemma.  This Director was offering us (along with about four others) a competitive advantage over the rest of the tournament field -- a "leg up" we seldom have, since the other players tend to outspend us for bonus chips, in terms of food and drinks.

How would you have responded to this situation?  Before we share our answer, let's get some Biblical guidance.  Would Jesus pull this kind of stunt?  There are plenty of Scriptures to indicate He would not....

For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. - Deuteronomy 10:17

We fear there are some believers who think they gain special favor or protection from God because they give more than ten percent of their income to a church, or attend services every week for years.  But the Bible record suggests otherwise:

....Your Father in heaven.... causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. - Matthew 5:45

And yet there are times in the Bible when God clearly selected a few people for doing something special.  It occurred in the Old Testament....

Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory."  And the Lord said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence  I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." - Exodus 33:18-19

God also chose to speak "face to face" with Moses -- a privilege not granted to his siblings, even though they complained about it (Numbers 12).  What makes the difference in these cases?  The New Testament offers a clue:

Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right." - Acts 10:34-35

In this week of U.S. and Canadian patriotism, is it simply a case of "God Bless America"?  No - it's more about God blessing the worshipful and obedient, no matter where they live.  Peter grasped this concept long ago, because Jesus accepted him back after denying the Lord three times at a crucial moment (John 21:15-19).

So what did we finally decide to do, regarding that 5,000-chip bonus?  Read the answer.... in a future post.

Reconciling Things

Sometimes even a neighborhood poker game can have its tense moments -- for instance, when a big pot or first place is at stake. In children's games, the result can be everything from yelling to hurt feelings and bruised relationships. (Yes, we know this; ask some of our relatives.) But adults ought to be able to put those moments behind them -- "burying the hatchet" and letting bygones be bygones.

The dictionary defines such a grown-up approach as being reconciled to each other. And in a recent post, we noted how believers need to be reconciled to God. Why is that necessary?

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. -- Romans 3:23

God wants to develop a glorious relationship with us. But God is perfect (Matthew 5:48) -- and while humans are told to be perfect, we all fall far short. So we need that reconciliation. And thankfully, God provided a way for that....

That God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. -- II Corinthians 5:19

When you accept Jesus as your Savior, your sins are applied to Him. They're covered in Christ's shed blood, as our perfect sacrifice (Romans 4:7-8). And after that happens....

....And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. -- 5:19b

That's the message we're bringing here. Be reconciled to your fellow poker players, even if they bluff you out of a small fortune. And even more importantly, become reconciled to God -- to build a glorious relationship which can last for eternity.

Poker Night 248: Works of Art

There's nothing like a final table appearance at a five-plus table tournament to rebuild a little confidence. So we were optimistic heading to Lil Kim's Cove Thursday night. Of course, that optimism would be tested early....

BLINDS: 50/100

IN THE POCKET: K-J offsuit

We won an early pot, so we stand at around 8,000 chips. This "King James" version (or "artwork" as described at the NBC Heads-Up Championship) gets a call from us, and most of the table jumps in with no one raising.

ON THE FLOP: 2-2-K

A young man to our left who's been playing a lot of hands bets 200. We think he's speculating, and raise to 500 with our two pair. He calls; the rest of the table folds.

ON THE TURN: 5

As long as an Ace doesn't show up, we're feeling comfortable about this - but our opponent bets 1,000. We still don't think he has a 2, so we call again.

ON THE RIVER: 7

Now our opponent checks, as if he thinks WE have the 2. Yet that move makes us wary of a trap, so we check as well. We show K-J. He has K-4. Our kicker gains us a nice pot.

We kept things tight after that, which let us advance to the semifinal table. But we didn't win any more pots, and had to push with Q-J. The turn card was a Queen -- but the river was a K, and a man with K-9 made two pair to eliminate us in 14th place.

MINISTRY MOMENT: When the chip stacks were distributed at our table, one had a green chip missing - so someone was 500 chips short. When a man sat down to our left, we noted his stack was one short.

"Thank you very much. I appreciate your honesty," the man said. "Honesty is the best policy."

Well, yes - until the game begins and the bluffing starts. To borrow a phrase, "all bets are off" when the bets are on the table. So how honest should you be during a game? Leave a comment with your thoughts; we'll offer ours in an upcoming post.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 95 final tables in 248 nights (38.3%) - 15 cashes.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER TOTAL (as of 12 May): Full tournaments - 139 point wins in 656 games (21.2%), 49 final tables, 5 cashes. UFC three-card knockout: 1 win in 4 games (25%).

Full disclosure: we received a nice NLOP hat in the mail today - a "thank-you gift" from Zen Entertainment for mentioning its tournaments so often here.

POKER STARS.NET TOTAL: Pretend cash games - $47,044, up $2,128.

Poker Night 243: A Time to Panic

We changed our poker schedule this week due to a special Holy Day, and made a Tuesday night visit to The Red Barn. We won two early pots to jump above 9,000 chips. And then....

BLINDS: 100/200

IN THE POCKET: 7-8 of diamonds

We sit in the Small Blind, and have lost a couple of mid-sized pots to drop to about 6,400. We limp in with suited connectors, but the Big Blind raises to 500. We join about three other players in calling.

ON THE FLOP: 6s-9h-10h

Now that's a nice order of cards -- a straight on the flop! We decide to slow-play to maximize our gains, and the Big Blind bets 300. After other players call, we're tempted for a moment to go all-in. After all, two hearts are showing and someone could be on a flush draw. But instead, we make a modest raise of 1,000. Only the Big Blind calls.

ON THE TURN: Ah

Uh-oh -- not the suit we want to see. We cautiously check, and the Big Blind bets 2,000.

"Can you beat a flush?" he asks us. "If you can't beat a flush, don't bother calling."

We've heard trash talk like this before, and we conclude he's trying to chase us off the pot. We call 2,000, leaving 2,250 in our stack.

ON THE RIVER: 5h

Oh no!!! Now four hearts are showing, and our straight looks like a dead-end street. We check again. Our opponent bets 2,000 again.

"OK, I'll fold my straight," we say showing our cards.

"I had the flush," the pot-winner says. But he never shows the cards to prove it, and he asks moments later why we called his pre-flop raise in the first place. (Our "suited connectors" explanation seemed to satisfy him.)

So did we completely misplay this hand? We're not really sure. Other players at The Red Barn tend to buy more bar items than we do, giving them an automatic chip advantage due to bonuses. So our opponent had more chips to play with than we did.

But if we had pushed for 5,250 more chips after seeing the straight on the flop, the table probably would have presumed we had a huge hand and folded on the spot -- or someone like Mr. Big Blind with a huge stack might have decided to take us on, and in the process potentially take us out. What would you do?

We never recovered from that big loss -- eventually going all-in with A-9 after the one-hour break. A woman called with 3-2. So what happened? The flop was 3-3-2, of course. She made a full house, and sent us home shaking our head -- sixth place out of six at our table.

MINISTRY MOMENT: "That looks nice," the Tournament Director said after looking at our "Lord's Supper" card protector. He hadn't seen it before. Here's a quote from that famous supper which you may have overlooked....

They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. - John 16:2

When we lost that big straight to the presumed flush, the pot winner and another man exchanged a "knuckled bump" across the table -- right in front of our nose. No one ever seems to offer that to us. The paranoid/persecuted thinker might conclude from that the other players are out to get us. It's not "killing," but a targeted elimination.

It's the nature of a poker game, of course. The only way you win is by eliminating everyone else. But why might we be on a "hit list" of sorts?

They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. - John 16:3

By comparison, a much more Christ-like attitude was displayed by the woman who hit that unlikely full house to eliminate us. "I still love you," she said as she shook our hand -- even though she offered it a touch early on the turn, when running Aces didn't come.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 94 final tables in 243 nights (38.7%) - 15 cashes. The slump stands at 12....

Remember As You Play....

James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. -- Galatians 2:9

The Contemporary English Version translates this verse as Paul receiving "a friendly handshake." Of course, some people don't enter a poker tournament with a "friendly" mindset. They want to win -- period.

We went 2-2 in a Saturday night heads-up tournament, and were surprised by how our second win ended. We offered a handshake to our female opponent, and she declined -- saying something about "not shaking hands."

Here's the thing: she shook hands with us when the game began. It's not like we needed sanitizer after more than a dozen hands -- was it?

This made two times in four heads-up tournaments that a loser refused to shake our hand. And sadly, we think that reflects badly on them. It's a matter of simple courtesy -- and in this case, the realization that poker is merely a game.

Even pro hockey players traditionally shake hands after a playoff series -- and hockey is about as rough-and-tumble as a game can be. If they can calm down and act sportsmanlike, we think you can as well. It's a small way to show etiquette, and even walk the Christian walk.

Getting It Straight

Saturday night was our best Heads-Up tournament showing at The Red Barn so far. We won our first three matches -- and had we won the fourth, we would have been guaranteed prize money (given to the top three finishers). Alas, we lost that fourth match and were eliminated in the losers bracket after that.

But one incident in the second match stood out for us -- and we hope it will for the man we played:

BLINDS: 200/400

IN THE POCKET: 9-9

We're in a healthy chip lead. Since we're not dealing, we post the big blind. And when a pocket pair comes, we jump on it -- but not too much, lest we scare our opponent away. We raise 400, and get a call.

ON THE FLOP: 9-8-7

With three of a kind, we decide to go for it -- putting our opponent all-in. After a moment, he calls and shows A-6. "I need a straight," he admits. (Or perhaps running Aces.)

ON THE TURN: Q

So much for the running Aces.

ON THE RIVER: 5

"I didn't get it," our opponent says with resignation. Do you agree?

"But look -- you did get a straight," we point out. He was looking for the 6-10 straight, but hit a 5-9 straight instead!

Our opponent obviously was thankful that we pointed that out. "Honesty is the best policy," we told him.

"What?!?!?" some of you may be screaming at this point. Honesty -- in poker?? A game filled with bluffing? And in a format where bluffing probably works better than any other? Well, there's a Bible verse describing people like that....

To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. -- Titus 1:15

Keep a "poker face," shake hands with the alleged loser and start snickering after he walks out of the room -- and you probably have a corrupted conscience. But the Christian poker player is different. He realizes a "God-conscience" some call the Holy Spirit will nag at him later.

Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. -- Hebrews 13:18

Honor to us means fair play -- even if it hurts us. A heads-up game which could have ended in 30 minutes wound up being a 45-minute marathon. But winning honestly made things worthwhile.

A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies. -- Proverbs 12:17

Oh, by the way -- did you notice the winning hand we helped our opponent see?

Teach me your way, O Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. -- Psalm 27:11