Back to School

An old cliché says you can't teach old dogs new tricks. But perhaps that depends on the dog.

Not that we're calling Daniel Negreanu a "dog" - but "Kid Poker" made a surprising move in the last year or so. He underwent three months of lessons on "game theory," after feeling he was "a step behind" young German players. Negreanu says he learned "new concepts" about poker. And we'd say they've worked; his winnings in the last 12 months are above $4 million.

We're not sure exactly what new concepts he learned. But can you learn something from what Negreanu did?

First of all, Negreanu humbled himself. We've long said that poker is a game that can keep you humble. But in this case, a six-time WSOP bracelet winner realized he needed to improve. Instead of trash talking the rising stars, he seemed to follow this advice....

The Lord mocks the mockers but is gracious to the humble. - Proverbs 3:34 (NLT)

Some poker players have become legendary for their insults and put-downs at the table. Negreanu's approach was to step back and analyze his own play. And so should we - even beyond poker:

Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves.... - II Corinthians 13:5 (NLT)

Read the rest of that Bible verse, to see an important question about your faith - not in yourself, but in Someone bigger.

But back to Negreanu: he then was willing to learn. At age 43, he sought advice in learning how to be a better poker player. All of us could use that sort of attitude...,

Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen, - II Peter 3:18 (NLT)

You say you know poker? Become a student of the game, watching others carefully for new twists and approaches. And do you say you know God and Jesus? Don't be too sure of that, either. All of us need to grow in our knowledge of the ultimate family. That can come from watching others, too....

Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise. - Proverbs 13:10 (NLT)

Negreanu apparently took that advice - and his bank account is better for it. Might that work for you? In poker, and in life?

Remember As You Play....

...Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. - Ephesians 4:22 (New Living Translation)

Poker players like to joke during tournaments about how "truthful" they are. The real truth is that sometimes, players resort to deceptive moves to win pots. We did something like that, with an all-in moment in our last tournament. A man did it several times to Phil Hellmuth at this year's World Series of Poker Main Event, leading to one of Hellmuth's most famous rants in years.

Does the verse we quoted mean poker players should end all that? Not necessarily. The New International Version translates the last part by saying, "Your old self.... is being corrupted by its deceitful desires." The desire is deceitful, more than the person or his actions - although the two certainly can combine:

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? - Jeremiah 17:9

What does your heart desire, when you play poker? If it's simply a good time with friends or an entertaining evening, that's one thing. But if you're hungry for money or fame, be careful....

Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. - Ecclesiastes 5:10

Some things really are worth desiring - and they're things which require no deception at all. In fact, they depend on you being truthful.

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

That desirable life can lead to eternal life in God's kingdom - but it depends on having a "clear conscience." Have you checked yours lately? Are you really living a life that God would accept - in the poker room, as well as outside it?

The Mouth, the Kid and the Finger

Let's say it upfront: We are not taking sides in the U.S. Presidential election. We'll explain why in a moment.

But of course, many other people are taking sides. And this week, there's been a curious combining of poker and politics.

A lawyer and "free speech activist" asked on Twitter if Hillary Clinton was giving signals to the moderator during this week's first debate, by pointing her finger toward her face. He specifically asked for comments from "poker pros like The Mouth Matusow." Mike Matusow has been tweeting against Ms. Clinton a lot, so he was happy to respond:

Wow ive watched the debates 3 times & never noticed!! I felt the whole time she had the questions but after watching that i she def signals

(We'll open the floor for your comments right here: Do you agree with Matusow? Why or why not?)

Considering moderator Lester Holt was found to be a registered Republican and Donald Trump's campaign manager called him "brilliant" before the debate began, we're not sure why he would have suddenly switched sides. But anyway....

We move on to Daniel Negreanu - who declared on Twitter Ms. Clinton won the first debate, while admitting he's biased in her favor. Considering Negreanu is Canadian and can't vote in the U.S. election, his endorsement may hurt in U.S. voting as much as it helps.

Then there's Phil Hellmuth, who's apparently become a political analyst in his spare time. He gave both Ms. Clinton and Mr. Trump "A" grades for this week's debate - and in other commentaries has compared Mr. Trump to a "loose aggressive" poker player.

So the poker world is watching the election closely - and they're certainly free to comment about it. So why are we not taking sides? Because several months ago, we handed over our vote to a higher authority....

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. - Romans 13:1

These words were written when the Roman Empire was in charge, and voting for leaders was unheard of. The apostle Paul accepted the fact that, like them or not, God had put the Roman authorities in charge - or at least allowed them to be there.

Some people wanted Jesus Christ to overthrow the government during His time on Earth, and become "King of Kings" on the spot. But instead....

"Do you refuse to speak to me," Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?" Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given you from above...." - John 19:10-11

The Lord could have called down angels and begun to "fight the powers that be" right then. But He didn't. Jesus came to Earth for a different purpose about 2,000 years ago. But someday soon....

"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." - Acts 1:11

Jesus will come back to Earth in a powerful way, to establish the Kingdom of God upon this planet:

On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords. - Revelation 19:16

That's the leader we're waiting to see - and Jesus is the One who has our ultimate vote. Can you think of anyone who would do a better job?

The Director's Cut

No, poker and blogging about it is not our full-time job. We do something else to make a living - and our work schedule has changed for the second time this year. A schedule that opened the door for us to play Monday night poker now has closed.

We miss Yvie's for the characters who tend to show up at its tournaments - from good players dealing with serious disabilities to eccentric men wearing hats that look borrowed from a costume shop.

One thing we may not miss so much is the Tournament Director. We've mentioned before how he can lay down the law before games begin. One recent Monday night, it happened again - with tough words to stop people apparently arguing too much over his rulings.

"I could be completely wrong," he admitted loudly to the room. But complaining too much about it, he warned, could get you shown the door.

We've never done it, but it's probably not easy being a Tournament Director. There are dozens of people to check in, point standings to manage, and sometimes new poker locations to negotiate. Add to that the job of referee over disputed hands, and you have a potentially challenging job.

So how do you treat the people in charge, at the places where you play? One very helpful guidebook suggests this:

Obey your leaders and submit to their authority... Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage for you. - Hebrews 13:17

Some people look at this Bible verse and think of Presidents or royalty. But think a bit more deeply about it. "Leaders" can be found in all walks of life - on your job, at the church you attend, on a sports team, and even at a poker tournament. Don't make things difficult for them. After all, they could turn around and make things more difficult for you.

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men. - Titus 3:1-2

Yes, Directors' decisions can be wrong at times. But humbling yourself, being in subjection to those decisions and having a peaceful spirit sets the right example. It makes the game go better for everyone. And besides, the "poker brat" nickname already has been taken.

For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. - Romans 13:3

We throw in this last verse for those of you who might be tempted to cheat at the table. You're far less likely to get punished if you follow the house rules. In fact, if you follow all of our Bible-based advice, a strange thing might happen -- the Tournament Director might even become your friend.

When the Master Walks In

One of the fun things about poker is that anyone can walk into a tournament, plunk down the buy-in fee (or even play for free) and become a winner.  Anyone.

Just ask Phil Hellmuth. He walked into an American Legion post in Michigan the other night, and joined the usual players for a cash game. Hellmuth clearly didn't take the night off, because he left with about $400.

A game manager says he doubts the other players went home upset, because "they lost to a master." But c'mon now - wouldn't you have a little extra incentive to win pots, if you know a WSOP bracelet winner was sitting across from you?

All our poker games should work that way.  In fact, our lives away from poker should work that way. Because whether you realize it or not, a "Master" is always watching:

From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth.... - Psalm 33:13-14

One old hymn adds these words to those verses: "He sees their sin, He sees their works...." In short, God sees it all. And Jesus someday will judge it all -- as "the Master" of all things will not simply walk the Earth again, but return with power.

Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven. - Colossians 4:1

Jesus Christ will come soon to judge all of us (Revelation 20:11-13). We're all sinners, of course; we can't win a "righteousness race" with a perfect Savior.  But are you "playing" your best and living your best, with that time in mind - hoping to win a reward from Jesus when the time comes?

Star Search

This year's "November Nine" was set early today in Las Vegas - the final table for the World Series of Poker Main Event.  And it came tantalizingly close to including one of poker's most famous names.

Daniel Negreanu was walking a tightrope toward the final table, sitting low on the leaderboard.  Then his pair of Aces on the flop crashed out against a straight.  Negreanu finished in 11th place, and apparently in a bit of anguish.

Negreanu wins more than $500,000 - but was the game of poker a loser?  After all, "Kid Poker" has one of the most familiar faces in promotions.  And he wrote on Twitter during the Main Event it's "good for poker" when Phil Hellmuth makes a deep run - even though Negreanu eliminated him.

Ultimately, we think poker is bigger than that. At least, it should be.  Just as spiritual matters should be.

What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; another, "I follow Christ." - I Corinthians 1:12

The apostle Paul wrote these words - not because he was trying to win a church popularity contest, but to point a church group toward the right choice. Which of these four options would you choose?

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe - as the Lord has assigned to each his task. - I Corinthians 3:5

His title may have been "apostle," yet Paul took a humble approach to himself.

So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future - all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God. - I Corinthians 3:21-23

For him, it all boiled down to God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son.

You might have a favorite poker player or TV preacher - but don't make them the focal point of everything you do and believe, When it comes to walking with God, put the focus on the Father and Jesus His Son. And when it comes to poker, develop your own tactics and strategy. After all, Negreanu admits he folded A-K pre-flop during this tournament. Could you do that?

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?

The Humbling Game

Forbes magazine has posted a thought-provoking interview with pro poker legend Annie Duke.  There are lessons from it for business leaders, as well as poker players.  But there's also this interesting section:

I asked Duke if great poker players were humble. “Yes and no,” she replied. “They’re very humble in the face of the game. They know poker is an unsolvable game that they can never master. But they’re not humble in the face of their opponents.”

We've said for years poker is a game that keeps people humble - and Duke verifies that here.  You can have the nicest-looking pocket Aces in the world, yet someone with 3-2 of hearts can make a straight or a flush on the flop and beat you.  It's a reminder of these wise words:

I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all. - Ecclesiastes 9:11

Duke goes on to quote Phil Hellmuth: "If it weren’t for luck, I’d win every time.”  But luck can happen in poker - both for and against you.

The same thing can happen in life; we saw a news story this week of a driver who lost a tire on his car on the freeway - and it bounced over a center wall, hitting another driver and injuring him.

We've heard some ministers say a right relationship with Jesus can eliminate the "time and chance" part.  And perhaps that's where the other side of Duke's words about being humble kick in.  God actually wants us to be humble, even when opposition is staring across the table at us.

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. - Proverbs 11:2

For some people, June is a "Pride Month."  We could cite verses about the sinful nature of homosexual lifestyles - but God opposes pride of any sort.

God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. - James 4:6b

So when you face a challenge before the flop, how should you treat it?  Humbly.  Respectfully.  As you should when you're before God -- which, if you think about it, really is all the time.

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. - James 4:10

Friday Night Lights, Part 3

This series of posts began with an unusual Friday night for us -- as we deliberately went to a casino and played Ultimate Texas Hold 'em poker on a Friday night, to avoid doing anything that might show love for God on Valentine's Day.  But we realized the only way this action would accomplish anything is by sharing it with other church members.

So we had an awkward worship service the following day -- telling people we'd broken God's seventh-day Sabbath the night before, and why.  But that action had Biblical backing....

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. - James 5:16

If you do something at the table which upsets other players, do you walk out and hope the whole thing will blow over?  Phil Hellmuth once did that for a few minutes on national TV.  But good poker players have long memories -- and if they remember classic hands, they probably remember the attitudes of the people playing them.

Many a politician has learned the hard way that confessing faults and sins resolves matter faster, and may even improve their career chances.  So we all need to admit we're not perfect.  It keeps us all on the same level relationally -- even if our chip stacks are very different.

One woman at church took issue with how we interpreted the magazine article which started all this.  She said if anything, it was poorly worded.  On that, we agreed.  All of us need to be careful about that, because....

For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned. - Matthew 12:37 (KJV)

It's interesting that no one in our congregation condemned us, after we admitted to sinning on the Sabbath.  Perhaps they were too stunned by the news. Or perhaps they practiced the instruction of Jesus, when a supposedly-adulterous woman was brought before Him:

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." - John 8:7

No one threw stones at that woman.  Everyone left, perhaps convicted of their own sinfulness.  Are you able to do that, when trouble happens at a poker table?  It beats pointing fingers and making the "I never would...." claim.

As it happened, the sermon that day was about "The Commandment of Men."  It included this reference, which seemed to directly challenge what we'd been doing:

So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God.  Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. - Romans 14:22

The context of this chapter involves eating habits and the observance of certain days (such as Valentine's).  The message seemed to be: if you choose not to do what we preach, shut up and don't talk about it.  To which we'd respond: how else is bad teaching or Biblical guidance to be corrected?.

Another person took our issue directly to the magazine's editors -- and was told via e-mail we should review the author's sentences about expressing love on Valentine's Day, in relation to the entire article. 

We invite you to do that, and tell us what you think about all this.  Were we wrong to hit a casino for Friday night poker?  Were we wrong to bring it up to others -- or even to you here?

Animals at the Table

In one of his books, Phil Hellmuth describes the traits of poker players as one of five "animal types."  But none of them include the animal most often mentioned during a tournament.  Take this recent online chat, where we tried to bet a player out of a hand....


Dealer:  smokedawg70 wins Main Pot ($765) with Straight, seven to jack
Me:  very good
Me:  couldn't run you off
flvron1:  stubborn donkey
flvron1:  I said it 4 U

Donkey can be used to describe all kinds of players -- such as the ones who stay in through long-shot chases of cards, or the ones who go all-in with 3-6 offsuit trying to seize antes and blinds.  But did you know that label also is put on people in the Bible?

He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers. - Genesis 16:12

Wow -- does that sound like poker, or what?

Yet verse 11 shows this "wild donkey" label didn't come from a losing poker player -- but from "the angel of the Lord."  It describes Ishmael, the first child of Abraham.  The first part of chapter 16 explains how he was born to a servant maid, outside of God's plan.  After a son was born to Abraham's wife, Ishmael and his mother were sent away (Genesis 21:8-18).

So if God's angel can call babies "donkeys" even before they're born, does that mean we should throw around that label at a poker table?  The chat continues, showing what we did....

Me:  I wouldn't put it
Me:  that way.
flvron1:  diplomat
Me:  Of course. 
flvron1:  right on
Me:  "Word fitly spoken"
Me:  as I read in a book.
flvron1:  got 2 book
Me:  This is a Good Book.

As in a different Old Testament book....

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.  As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. - Proverbs 25:11-12 (KJV)

God can talk tough when He wishes.  The Bible makes that clear.  But there are times when biting the tongue and being gracious can be a better example of the love Jesus Christ showed.

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. - Colossians 4:6

An old phrase says you can make more friends with honey than with vinegar.  That's what we try to do in poker rooms -- to make a Christian walk appealing, not a turn-off.

So play like a donkey, if you think it will work.  Sometimes it will; sometimes it won't.  But we're leaving the "donkey" labels to God -- trying instead to be as "harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16, KJV).

Ace-Rod?

(We might as well take that headline before a New York tabloid does!)

K stands for King at a poker table -- and that can be good.

K stands for Strikeout in baseball -- and if you're a hitter, that's not good.

Today brought news of a possible "pocket pair." New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez is under investigation for possibly taking part in illegal high-stakes poker games -- including one session with none other than "poker brat" Phil Hellmuth.

Rodriguez's agent denies it happened. But people already are making comparisons to Pete Rose -- so we ask: what if the evidence reveals "A-Rod" did play poker?

Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics played in World Series of Poker events this summer, before and after the National Basketball Association lockout began. UFC fighters play in online and in-person tournaments on a regular basis. So you tell us -- is it wrong for baseball players to do it? What other thoughts do you have on this story?

For now, we'll offer only one -- really not an original one....

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

Testing Time

We mentioned before Monday evening's poker tournament, we faced a test at a discount store near The Sports Page. It consisted of standing in line behind a woman who had bought a cart filled with canned goods, and wasn't able to load them onto the checkout counter very quickly.

What was the test we told a cashier at another aisle we would have flunked? It was the patience test -- and it certainly came in handy later at the poker table. We waited for the right cards and moments to make a move, and in most cases it paid off.

The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. - Ecclesiastes 7:8

A "race" occurs in Texas Hold 'em when one player is all-in, and at least two players show assorted cards (as in no pair) before the flop. But in most tournaments, you don't have to race to build up a big stack of chips. The rules are structured to allow for a certain amount of patient play -- although, of course, rising blinds can increase the pressure.

Phil Hellmuth writes in one of his poker books that if you try to play almost every hand, you are destined to lose. The "pride" of a big stack in the first hour can be broken by someone hiding a big pair in the second hour. So we take our time -- and lately we've been pleased with the results, both in person and online.

Hebrews 12:1 advises, "....let us run with patience the race that is set before us." That's good advice not only for a poker tournament, but the spiritual race which leads to eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Head, Heart and Hellmuth

Poker fans probably are still buzzing about Phil Hellmuth's latest televised disaster. If you haven't seen it, we don't want to give away too much. But in the second hand of this NBC Heads-Up Poker segment, Hellmuth thinks out loud about how to answer an all-in challenger -- and does it for so long that his opponent forces the issue.

"My heart is telling me I should ship it all in," Hellmuth tells Annette Obrestad more than once. Interesting words -- since believe it or not, the Bible seems to suggest you go against what your heart tells you to do.

"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" says Jeremiah 17:9. Ecclesiastes 9:3 is even more blunt: "The hearts of men, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live...."

Hmmmm -- on second thought, maybe these verses are not about making decisions by "going with your gut." They're talking more about an overall attitude of life, with hearts producing all sorts of "evil thoughts" as Jesus said in Mark 7:21-22.

Bible writers put the thinking process and the heart together. That's why there are verses such as, "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he...." (Proverbs 23:7, KJV) Nowadays, most people refer to the heart as the center of emotion -- with the mind as the base of cognitive thinking.

As NBC's Craig Hummer pointed out, Hellmuth in this case should have put the two areas together. If Hellmuth had put the brain first (as he admits in a post-match interview), he would have folded easily and looked for a better opportunity.

But what all of us need (and this goes for Obrestad as much as Hellmuth) is a new heart. One with all the evils of a sin-filled life removed.

"Create in me a pure heart, O God," David prayed in Psalm 51:10. How does God make that happen? We'll suggest two ways -- by putting your faith in God (Acts 15:9), and allowing the positive example of other believers to refresh you (Philemon 20). Maybe you can come up with others.

Sometimes hearts win poker hands with a flush. Sometimes they don't. Sometimes listening to your "heart" can get you into a disastrous hand (yes, we know from experience). But may your goal be to have a completely changed heart -- as Galatians 4:6 says, changed by God sending "the Spirit of his Son" to dwell there.

Heads-Up Week 2: What's the Hurry?

A couple of themes have developed, as we watch today's second week of the National Heads-Up Poker Championship.

1. Overcards beat mid-range pocket pairs in races. For instance, Don Cheadle's A-Q beat J.P. Kelly's 8-8. That happened several times during the first hour.

2. Longer matches are winning praise. Even though Phil Hellmuth gained a quick win over Howard Lederer, Hellmuth said it's a sign of skill in heads-up if you play a longer contest.

Cheadle later mentioned playing with "discipline" in a match. And NBC's Ali Nejad admitted it's good to be "methodical."

The theme in all these statements? Don't rush into something, because you be rushing into trouble.

Proverbs 6:18 warns against having "feet that are quick to rush into evil." And Jesus advised against impulsively following those who think they've found Him in other places: "Men will tell you, 'There he is!' or 'Here he is!' Do not go running off after them" (Luke 17:23).

Unless you're playing heads-up, you can't win a poker tournament in one hand. (Someone tried to do that to us online the other day, and we laughed at it.) It's not a Biblical statement, but it works well here -- good things come to those who wait.

Heads-Up Week 4: Humbler Hellmuth

Did Phil Hellmuth go to church with Daniel Negranu or something?

After he beat Tom Dwan in a heads-up TV rematch today, Hellmuth declared Dwan the "best player in the world under 30" -- and even introduced Dwan to his father!

Quite a change from last year, when Hellmuth had that A-A vs. 10-10 bad beat and openly asked if Dwan would be around in five years.

Time can heal wounds -- even at the poker table. And even help you gain respect for someone who did in your best-laid plans.

James 3:13 says our deeds should be "done in the humility that comes from wisdom." Hellmuth seems to have thought things over in the last year, and showed a humble approach in today's rematch. May your success at the table (and in life) show wise humility as well.