Ensan Asylum

The biggest names in poker usually don't make the final table at the biggest game of all. The World Series of Poker Main Event has turned unknowns into stars for many years.

Courtesy WSOP.com

In 2019, that star is Hossein Ensan. He won it all this past week in Las Vegas, in only his second major final table. Only true poker junkies might know Ensan won three major tournaments in Europe in recent years, including a WSOP "international circuit" main event in the Czech Republic.

Ensan was born in Iran, but moved to Germany in 1990. We don't know why he moved, but he says he was "a simple painter" at the time. Living in Europe certainly allowed him the freedom to take up poker in the early 2000s, and develop winning skills from there.

But Ensan told WSOP.com during the tournament that he still considers himself a poker amateur. There's a lesson in that statement for all poker players - even if you consider yourself a big-time pro:

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

The mere sight of pocket Aces might fill you with pride. Perhaps that's what did us in the other day (check our last post). But humility brings wisdom, because humble people are in more of a mood to learn. They know better than to assume they know it all.

...We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. - I Corinthians 8:1

A person once walked the Earth whom you'd think would have been the most puffed-up man ever. He came from heaven. He was the Son of God. But He didn't come to stump panels and win big awards.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.... being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross. - Philippians 2:4, 8

Why did Jesus do this? To display God's love for all of us - even for you:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16

Jesus came in humility to lovingly pay the penalty for your sin. Will you humbly accept that sacrifice and make Jesus the Lord of your life? You may not develop the wisdom to win WSOP bracelets, but God will help you gain spiritual wisdom that can last for eternity.

More Daily Doubles?

He made bets over and over. Time and time again. Minute by minute. Day after day. And practically all of them succeeded, making him a lot of money. Yet somehow, he's a bit reluctant to play poker.

Courtesy Las Vegas Review-Journal

We're talking about James Holzhauer, whose wins on the TV quiz show Jeopardy! this year have gained far more attention than any poker tournament. He heads to the World Series of Poker Monday, to compete in a (deep breath) No-Limit Hold 'em Super Turbo Bounty tournament.

"Jeopardy James" won more than $2.45 million on TV in recent weeks. Yet Holzhauer told a Las Vegas newspaper he's entering two WSOP events only because World Poker Tour host Mike Sexton offered to sponsor his buy-ins - and they total only $2,500. The former online player explained, "I'm sure I wouldn't be good enough at it to justify forgoing other opportunities". For him, that means betting on sports.

Holzhauer didn't help poker's reputation when he added, "My main goal is to get lucky." Poker advocates have faced an uphill fight convincing courts and governments that the game includes some skill.

Hand it to Holzhauer for having humility here. Even though he won more than 30 consecutive games on TV, he's not expecting to whip the world at the WSOP. We think plenty of players could learn from that example. A classic book puts it this way....

Good and upright is the Lord.... He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. - Psalm 25:8-9

Sometimes a humble walk before God can have fringe benefits, even at a poker table:

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

"But wait," you may be saying. "Didn't we leave out the part of that psalm that applies to James Holzhauer? After all, he's a sports gambler!" Oh - yes, we did. Let's address that....

...Therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. - Psalm 25:8b

Indeed, many consider sports gambling a sin. (For some reason, we've never heard anyone call the risks of winnings on Jeopardy! a sin.) But we'd ask in return: are you sinning in some other way? Perhaps in a way you don't even see?

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

Deep down, we're all not good enough for God. His standard is perfect (Psalm 18:30), and human beings are not. We need to be humble enough to ask for His help. Thankfully, He provided some.

...And are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. - Romans 3:24

You can be redeemed from sin through the sacrifice of the sinless Savior. Jesus Christ came from the throne of God in heaven to do that. But you need to humbly repent of your sin and accept Jesus as your Lord.

In a poker tournament, "daily doubles" can be hidden in any hand - opportunities to go all-in and double your chip count (or even triple it). Perhaps "Jeopardy James" will hit a few of those at the WSOP. We don't know if he believes in God for such things. If you do, maybe it's time you did - before the "final jeopardy" of death comes.
 

Poker Day 569: Ace is Enough?

On this Presidents' Day, we hoped to set a personal precedent. We've never made the money in a tournament on this holiday - although we did on a Sunday of the holiday weekend in 2014. With an extra-high buy-in of $90, we drove to Hollywood Casino Indiana and gave it a try....

BLINDS: 75/150

IN THE POCKET: A-6 offsuit

We won a couple of small early pots, and still stand around the starting line of 15,000 chips. No one at the full table raises, so we call. About six players are involved.

ON THE FLOP: 8-A-8

Two pair looks good - and perhaps looks obvious, if we bet. But when the play checks to us, we offer 300. That chases all but one man away; he calls to put us heads-up. We're admittedly a bit concerned about our 6 kicker.

ON THE TURN: Q

Now we're not - because that Queen becomes the kicker. Our opponent checks, and we bet 300 again. He calls again. Hmmm - is he hiding a third 8?

ON THE RIVER: Q.

Now it gets interesting. Two pair are on the board, with the best possible kicker as well. But a full house is very possible. Our opponent checks, and we carefully do the same.

"Three pair," we declare as we show. Our opponent.... discards without showing! We win a healthy pot, and guess he might have had a different pocket pair (maybe 10-10?!).

We hit a high of 15,175 chips with that win. But it all dissolved away in the next 20 minutes. A-K came our way three times, and it never worked for us. The last straw came with a flop of Ks-Jc-9c. Our King was a club, but a 1,200 bet was greeted with a raise to 4,200. A third club on the turn led the raiser to bet 7,000 - nearly everything we had.

After thinking it over, we called with conceivably a lot of outs for a flush. But our opponent turned over A-A - including the Ace of clubs, which topped ours. Our only hope was a King on the river, and it didn't come. We headed home early, out first at our table with a stinging loss.

MINISTRY MOMENT: The table talk turned at one point to Sunday's Daytona 500 stock car race.

"Joe Gibbs Racing finished 1-2-3," a man across the table pointed out.

"And that website on the car probably crashed minutes later," we said humorously. A sticker on the car referred to a tribute to the son of team owner Joe Gibbs, who died in January.

"He obviously was a person of faith, based on the cross on the logo," we added. "And we all should be people of faith."

J.D. Gibbs made a commitment of faith as a teenager, through a ministry called Young Life. If you're a youth or young adult reading this, we recommend giving your "young life" to God.

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them." - Ecclesiastes 12:1

You may think matters of faith and religion are simply for old, retired people. But they're not. In fact, Jesus started His ministry as a young adult....

Now Jesus himself was about thirty years of age when he began his ministry.... - Luke 3:23

The Lord died about three years later - crucified before turning 35. Given that Biblical truth, why should you wait for gray hair to appear before committing yourself to a relationship with Him? That day might never come.

But perhaps you're on the opposite side - old and filled with gray hair. It's not too late for you to become a "person of faith."

Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding? - Job 12:12

You may have seen enough of this life to know how ugly and sinful it can be. The wise course is to turn to a better way - a godly way.

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.... - Acts 3:19

As long as you have life, you can turn to God. Is there really a better place to put your faith?

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 216 final tables in 569 games (38.0%) - 46 cashes.

Poker Night 549: Monsters' Ball

Courtesy Fox19.com

If we had gone to Jack Casino for poker tonight, we might have encountered this. A small "colony" of homeless people (their word for it) has set up a tent camp across from the casino.

We left it to that group to send someone inside, to try and win enough money to gain everyone housing. They probably would have done better than we did tonight at the alternative, Hollywood Casino Indiana....

BLINDS: 25/50

IN THE POCKET: 9-9

It's the fourth hand of the night, with a full table of ten. The previous hand brought an awe-striking fold - as a woman with pocket Kings gave them up, when a man with pocket Aces went all-in pre-flop.

We were in the Big Blind then, and folded a measly 4-8. Now we're in the Small Blind, and no one has raised.

"I'm not going to do what he did," we say, "but I'll raise." We make it 150 to go, and three players take us on.

ON THE FLOP: 8s-8d-8h

It's a toll-free flop - and an immediate full house for us! This calls for a continuation bet, to see who's simply chasing big cards. We put out 400. The first opponent folds. The second calls. The third folds. So we're heads-up.

ON THE TURN: 4h

We doubt this helped our opponent at all. But what does he have? A full house of his own? We check, hoping to get a clue - but he checks, too.

ON THE RIVER: 2h

Now three hearts are showing. If he stumbled into a flush, we still have him topped. The larger concern is a larger pocket pair. So we make a rather cautious bet of 500.... and he raises to 2,500.

We've taken the lead in this hand, so we feel compelled to see it through to the end. We call. "Do you have a full house?" we ask.

"I have the 8," he says. OUCH!!! He hit quads on the flop, then waited us out! A good, well-played monster hand for him. We won a few hundred chips back minutes later with a hidden A-Q.

But then, when a man raised to 1,100, we saw pocket Aces in the Big Blind. Pushing like that earlier player did would have seemed too obvious, so we raised to 3,500. He called - and the flop was K-Q-10. For no good reason except to scare him away, we bet 5,000. Our opponent went all-in. We feared the worst, but called anyway. His cards: Q-Q. The turn and river didn't save us, and we finished our worst poker night this year - first out, in under 30 minutes.

MINISTRY MOMENT: "We're all playing with a short deck," the dealer said at one point in the early minutes.

"Now you're getting philosophical," we told him with tongue-in-cheek. But we admitted, "I need to grow in knowledge." And when our turn with the cards came, we explained, "I need to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ."

That reminder comes right out of the New Testament:

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

These closing words of the apostle Peter should be taken in their entirety. For years, we attended church groups that emphasized the "knowledge" part - but on knowing scriptures, more than knowing the One who is the focus of Scripture. The two should go hand-in-hand....

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. - Colossians 1:9

Spiritual wisdom means a "sound mind" (II Timothy 1:7, KJV). We'll admit we really didn't have it in our last hand of the night.

We should have realized the flop gave our opponent an excellent chance of hitting two high pair or three of a kind. Yet instead of making the awe-striking fold like that woman did, we did our own version of "going on tilt" - hoping the longshots that bit us recently would turn around and help us.

So the knowledge of Jesus Christ is important - but so is His grace. We need it, after clearly making a bad decision to go out for a poker night instead of staying home to work on other things. But thankfully, we can do this....

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. - Hebrews 4:16

Do you need God's mercy for some reason - perhaps something much bigger than a poker meltdown? Ask God for it in prayer, repenting of sin if the case requires it. He's willing to listen and forgive.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 202 final tables in 549 games (36.8%) - 41 cashes.

Pocketing Ten

Tonight is a big moment for this little blog. Shortly after midnight U.S. Eastern time will be the tenth anniversary of our first post!

That first post was about a memorable hand a few nights before, at a west Georgia bar's weekly tournament. This blog actually is a spinoff from another blog we wrote for several years about the city where we lived. We've moved out of that city (two moves in all), but still like to play poker when we can.

From the start, we've tried to make this a blog about far more than poker. That's because we think there are parallels between the game and real life - and even spiritual life. Throughout the ten years, we've asked God to bless our efforts, because....

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. - Isaiah 55:10-11

In other words, we want the words we put here to reflect the word of God....

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:8-9

We don't claim to have any genius when it comes to poker. But God is smarter than anyone else, whether or not they play cards.

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. - I Corinthians 1:25

We've allowed you to comment on our blog posts for ten years - but to be honest, the response has been very small. So we're asking you to leave an "anniversary comment" with this post, to see what the returns from it are. Has this blog taught you anything - about poker or otherwise? Have you gained from it in some way? Are there things we could do better? Please let us know.

In the meantime, we hope you'll take the advice of a new song. Go "All In" - not necessarily the next time you're dealt cards, but in a commitment to something (and Someone) greater.  

Who's Afraid of the Big Banned Bluff?

It's one thing for towns, states or countries to ban poker games. It's another for a specific ad promoting poker to be banned.... and not because it's X-rated.

Courtesy Casino.org

Yet that's happened in Britain to a TV commercial for PokerStars (where we've played for years for free). It shows a man going all-in and winning a pot with 8-3. Britain has a government branch which monitors advertising, and it ruled the ad "could lead to financial harm."

The Advertising Authority explained some viewers (apparently poker newbies) might conclude all you have to do to win in poker is outbluff everybody else. A statement from PokerStars contended bluffing is a regular part of poker, and "not a reckless act in itself."

After thinking it over, we've concluded an absurd example (this ad) is being taken to an absurd extreme (this ban). What should PokerStars show instead? Pocket Aces? They get cracked online on a regular basis. A big winner wheeling around town in a Ferrari? That's equally as unlikely to happen as an 8-3 push.

 Of course, people should use wisdom when they play poker - especially if they dare to risk losing money in it. That's true away from the poker table as well....

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

The people at a poker table may seem as friendly as can be. But in a cash game, make no mistake - they're hungry wolves seeking a profit. And in a tournament, it's safe to assume most of them are playing to win. So whether you bet, bluff or fold, careful play matters. And away from the table....

So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise. - Ephesians 5:15 (NLT)

That means not taking absurd poker commercials too literally. But it also can mean not being played as a fool by others who might go bluffing all-in themselves, hoping to scare you out of a good hand. Learning the balance takes time and experience - in poker and in life.

Let's open this up for your comments. If this PokerStars ad is out of bounds, have you seen other poker commercials that were even more misleading?

Wise Guys (and Gals)

The World Series of Poker seems to have something for everyone. There are tournaments in games most people probably have never played, such as Razz. And this year, there were two events for "seniors."

The Seniors Championship, for people 50 and older, had almost 5,400 entries. The "Super Seniors" contest was smaller, at 1,720 entries - but perhaps that was because you had to be 65 or older to play. It's interesting to compare those tournaments with the WSOP Main Event, where the final table tends to skew younger; it's a rare year anymore when someone in "senior" range is there.

It's easy to assume older poker players would be smarter and better than younger ones. As a famous book puts it:

Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding? - Job  12:12

Of course, we should note that some people start playing poker in their "aged" years. So game experience matters as well. But in general, older people have seen and experienced more of life - so they can pass on their lessons to younger people.

And yet the Bible also says....

I thought, "Age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom." But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding. It is not only the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right. - Job 32:7-9

These words came from Elihu, who described himself as "young in years" (Job 32:6). Read the book of Job from beginning to end, and you'll discover his comments about Job's trials made more sense than the "counsel" of Job's older but close friends.

To be wise in playing poker, or in anything else, it's best to consult a God who was around before any of us:

For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. - Proverbs 2:6

Ask God for His wisdom, and it may come at times you don't expect it. Even in the midst of a poker game.

Put Your Hands Together

We've been so busy with other tasks that we hadn't played any poker in a month. But we had time to enter a National League of Poker tournament Thursday night. It turned out very well - 23rd place out of 1,190 entries! (Of course, only the top five earned money.)

Late in the evening, the chat went this way when two players split a big pot:

Dealer:  sloso splits Main Pot ($3,273) with Full house, aces full of deuces
Dealer:  hornytoad splits Main Pot ($3,273) with Full house, aces full of deuces
Me:  (church clap)
hornytoad:  Is that a socil disease you catch in church?
Me:  No.
Me:  :-O
Mr_BarnYard:  really
Me:  Polite applause for something
Mr_BarnYard:  church clap all day
Me:  I'll be in church this weeekend, though.
hornytoad:  OK dont need a shot for that*** lol

People who attend certain churches should know what we mean by "church clap." It's applause that agrees with a speaker's point or some member's success - but not as wild as the celebration for winning a ballgame.

With some poker players as well as some churches, even polite applause is discouraged. We personally think that's a shame, and here's why....

Come, everyone! Clap your hands! Shout to God with joyful praise! For the Lord Most High is awesome. He is the great King of all the earth. - Psalm 47:1-2  (NLT)

In this psalm, noise-making is encouraged - as long as the focus of the noise is on God.

You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands! - Isaiah 55:12 (NLT)

We mention this verse whenever someone suggests noise-making in a church service is a bad idea. If trees can "clap their hands" - and they don't have hands - why can't I?

But we realize there should be a balance here. There's a time to be quiet at a poker table - especially if a player asks for it, so he can think about a big decision. The same is true for worshipping God....

But the Lord is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him. - Habakkuk 2:20 (NLT)

Some poker players and church groups go to one extreme or the other - either overly silent or excessively noisy. We suggest praying for God to provide the wisdom to know when to react in either direction, so you don't cause offense.

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others.... - James 3:17 (NLT)

Have fun at the table, and even at the church you attend. (Yes, we recommend that.) And don't be afraid to make some noise - as long as you keep things under control.

AI v. A-J

Long before people played poker against each other on computers, people were playing against.... well, computers.

We did it in college (or perhaps it was some other card game) against a primitive 64k computer like a Commodore. We've also done it in recent years at a casino in Kansas City - where a computerized Texas Hold 'em game was programmed so well that it cost us some money.

Now researchers in Canada and the Czech Republic say they've developed the "DeepStack" program - artificial intelligence that can beat the best in a heads-up no-limit poker game. In fact, it won most of the time against 11 poker pros over a total of 12,000 games.

Developers say the program succeeds by "learning" from past games to figure out "intuition" for playing future hands. In other words, DeepStack seems to learn from its mistakes.... very well. How good are you at doing that? Not simply at the poker table, but in other aspects of your life?

If you make the same mistake several times in poker, it could be due to bad reads or a lack of good thinking. If you do it in your everyday actions, you may have a bad habit that needs breaking.

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

Tough words - but Biblical words. It's far better to change your thinking and not make the same mistake twice. If you need help with that, may we make an unusual suggestion?

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. - James 1:5

God wants you to be wise, not foolish. And beyond that, He wants you to ask for His wisdom....

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. - I Corinthians 1:25

You can grow in that wisdom by consulting God's book of wisdom on a regular basis. It can lead to the greatest victory of all....

...From infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. - II Timothy 3:15

We're not guaranteeing you'll beat DeepStack. But if you learn from your mistakes and grow in knowledge of how to play the game - in poker or otherwise - you could wind up with a "deep stack" of blessings.

Poker Day 496: J-Hawks

"My last two times here, I had a sixth and a ninth," the man next to us said Friday before the tournament began at Kansas Star Casino.

"I consider myself warned," we said in response. For either of us to make the final table, we'd have to work through dozens of opponents - and face challenging hands like this one:

BLINDS: 50/100

IN THE POCKET: J-J

We've lost a pot or two, and start this hand with about 3,100 chips from a starting 3,500. We're also in the Big Blind - so when a player doubles to 200 ahead of us, we can call and try to hide. About four players get in.

ON THE FLOP: 2-4-6

Pickup sticks?! This is a second-grade flop in more ways than one. Sitting early in the betting order, we check to the raiser. So he makes a continuation bet of 400. A man across from us calls. We're not sure what they have, but we think they're fishing. We call with our overpair. Three players remain.

ON THE TURN: 8

The even-number trend continues. We check again. Now the raiser at the far end of the table does as well. But the man across from us senses an opportunity. He bets 700 - and now we're wondering. Did he get in with something weird like 5-7 suited, and hit a straight?

After thinking for a moment, something tells us to be daring. We call. And to our surprise, the man at the far end folds.

ON THE RIVER: 8

The board pairs, but we still don't feel too comfortable about this. We check. If our opponent bets 700 again, we probably bail out. But maybe he's unsure as well; thankfully, he checks.

"A pair of Jacks?!?" we say with uncertainty as we show our cards. We're delighted to see that's good enough! Our opponent had 4-5! A superior two pair wins us a huge pot.

Our stack reached a high of 5,400 in the first hour, but then started fading. We had 3,150 at the first break. But then in the second period after changing tables, we went all-in with A-Q and the board showing A-J-10-10. Trouble was, three of those cards were spades - and another player had two more to make a flush. No final table on this day, as we wound up 47th out of 81 players.

MINISTRY MOMENT: This was one of our best days in a long time for talking about maters of faith. It started when the successful player to our left saw our card protector - a small electric plug.

"I brought this to remind me that I receive power from Gods Holy Spirit," we explained. Then we asked the man what he thought of the Spirit.

"Real good," he said. "Part of the trinity."

"What's the Holy Spirit done for you lately?" we probed.

"I don't know," he admitted.

We think there are ways to know what the Holy Spirit is doing in your life. For instance....

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. - Galatians 5:22-23

These traits should be evidence of God's Spirit at work. Verses 19-21 list signs of the exact opposite - "the sinful nature" at work. Also....

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him - the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.... - Isaiah 11:2

It's a good idea to pray each day for God to renew His Spirit in you. We specifically ask for His wisdom to guide our decisions, whether they come at the poker table or the workplace. ("Wisdom" to us means applying knowledge at the right time and place.)

Can you think of other signs of the Holy Spirit? Offer comments with your suggestions; we'll get back to this table and the Spirit in our next scheduled post.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 182 final tables in 496 games (36.7%) - 36 cashes.

The Winner Takes It All

In a recent post, we presented a choice - a choice that can seem very difficult:

Does not wisdom call out?.... "Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold." - Proverbs 8:1, 10

These Bible verses might give the impression that you should never enter big-money poker tournaments. Simply open the Bible and put your nose in it all day - right?

Well, no. That's going to a religious extreme. But then again, maybe spending every waking hour playing online poker and touring the world for the next high-stakes cash game is an extreme as well. We think the key is in finding a balance....

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven....  - Ecclesiastes 3:1

We think wisdom is not really wisdom unless you apply it in daily situations. Otherwise it's simply knowledge.

...But wisdom is proved right by her actions. - Matthew 11:19b

You can know how to play pocket Aces. But doing it properly at the table takes wisdom - and you could be rewarded handsomely for that. That's why we said in the previous post that if you seek wisdom, you could get nice extras.

So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart.... Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for - both riches and honor - so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings." - I Kings  3:11-13

King Solomon asked God for wisdom and discernment (verse 9). God granted him so much that Solomon is credited with writing Ecclesiastes and much of Proverbs. And he had a lot of wealth to boot (I Kings 10:14-29).

So it seems to us the choice is clear. Seek God's wisdom first, as opposed to poker riches. Search for it in the Bible. Pray for God to provide it. And you might actually become wise enough to stump the table and get the riches, too.

The patience is in

So, you may be asking, what was our secret to success when we won money at a recent poker tournament in Tulsa? Believe it or not, it all started with a grocery trip.

We went to a large famous-name store at mid-morning, and came across several moms trying to keep young children in line. We told ourselves to be a good example, by staying patient with them.

Then we loaded our groceries in the car - and lo and behold, we heard a radio preacher talking about patience. Already we sensed a theme for the day.

As we drove to Tulsa that afternoon, we heard a radio host bring up the very same subject - patience! Now we knew we were getting a message from God. It became the key word on our mind during the evening tournament - and in the end, we had a top-five finish in the money.

The idea of receiving "messages from heaven" is a topic for another day. But right now let's ask: how patient are you at the poker table? Are you impulsive, looking for a quick advantage? Or do you wait for the right moment to make a move?

We think God wants us to lean on the side of waiting. Here's why....

Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city. - Proverbs 16:32

The impulsive player might go "on tilt" and lose composure after a bad beat or a tough loss on the river. There could be a comeback - but more often than not, that player makes a quick exit.

A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense. - Proverbs 19:11

You can't win every single hand in a poker tournament. "Perfect games" are for baseball, and they don't happen very often there. If a loss comes, try to minimize the setback - both in chips and in your mindset.

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

That's what happened with us on a Thursday night in Tulsa. The payoff of patience came at the end, although we admittedly nearly lost it while fighting to eliminate a short-stacked man at the final table. The theme of the day helped us to humbly thank God for our ultimate success.

To quote from the radio preacher we mentioned earlier, and the broadcast in our link: "When we are patient, we put ourselves in position with God to receive God's best." Are you willing to have that patience - at the table, and in all your endeavors in life?

The Wize Guy

We've been playing more online poker lately, and coming across some interesting moments. Take this one the other night at National League of Poker, where two players named "Bizarro" and "Wize11" went all-in:

Dealer:  wize11 wins Main Pot ($19,180) with Two pair, queens and sixes
Me:  Wize beats Bizarro
Me:  Deep lesson there :-)

Which name describes your poker personality? Are you a "Wise" player (giving the winner of that hand the benefit of the doubt) - considering carefully your moves and actions? Or are you a "Bizarro" player, trying all sorts of styles and approaches to throw off opponents and get an edge?

We tend to take the "Wise" approach. That's more our nature, and we think it's more of a Biblical nature as well:

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. - James 3:13

Proper wisdom should lead to humility. We think that means realizing there's a God who's much wiser than us - and seeking wisdom from God every day.

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. - James 1:5

If we're honest with ourselves, we all lack wisdom in something. It could be how to handle a big poker hand, handling the money you win, or some other aspect of life. Don't be afraid to ask God in moments like that. If we do it in humility, He can provide wisdom when you least expect it.

But what is true wisdom, really? Is it knowing "the book" on playing any two particular cards? Ultimately, no....

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. - I Corinthians 1:30

That may not seem like a standard definition. But it's a Biblical definition. Wise people humbly seek to be righteous and holy - and Jesus Christ set the example for both those traits. Doing that will lead eventually to "redemption," being cleansed from sin to serve God forever (Hebrews 9:12-14).

Taking the "Bizarro" road can lead to all sorts of wild behavior and trouble. It's better to be a "Wize11" - and follow the wisest One of all.

The Show That Never Ends

Our background involves working in television. So we're not sure how we missed this - but we learned only the other day that there's now a non-stop poker TV network.

Poker Central actually has been around for more than a year. It fulfills our old joke about turning on cable TV and finding a poker game somewhere, because it shows nothing but poker at every hour of the day and night. It has poker tutorials on weekends, but that's the only time the format changes. There's not even a late-night infomercial about how to spend your poker winnings on cheap real estate.

If other TV channels can show non-stop baseball, shopping or cooking, we suppose there's room for a channel like this. But with all due respect, we hope no one is watching Poker Central 24 hours a day. That might be a sad sign of poker addiction. Besides, there might even be better ways to spend your time....

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. - Ecclesiastes 3:1

Unless you've been staring at playing cards too much, you probably know there are other "activities" beyond the poker table. The real question is: which activities are the best use of your time?

Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.... Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. - Psalm 90:1, 12

These words were prayed by Moses. He spent many days in contact and communication with God, especially in the last 40 years of his 120-year life. As a result, God gave Moses some of the most detailed wisdom ever received. You can find it scattered through the Biblical books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

Time in the Word of God can be time well-spent - especially if you apply what the Bible says you should do. And beyond that....

Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. - Psalm 84:10

A good way to understand being in God's "courts" is to worship in "the house of... God." It certainly beats playing poker in a smoke-filled basement, where the game could be illegal. And we think it also beats watching endless hours of poker on TV - because too much sitting can ruin your health.

A little poker on television? We see no problem, if everything is clean about it. But watch in moderation, much as we suggest you play in moderation. Spending time with the original "King of Kings" can be even better in the long run.

One By One

Some chess masters are so good at the game that they stage "simultaneous" events. They'll play 20, 30 or more people at different boards at the same time -- walking from table to table, looking over the situation, making their next move and moving on.

Why don't you see poker stars do that?  A clue to the answer comes from an article posted this week by a former "charity poker tournament director."  Among other things, Aaron Todd recommends NOT directing an event and dealing for a table at the same time:

I was shuffling one deck while dealing with the other, and I dealt a flop with the hand I was shuffling. One of the players pointed it out immediately, saying, "I think we have a problem; one of my cards is there on the flop."

"Multi-tasking" has become commonplace for many people. They walk down a street, checking their phone for messages with one hand, and maybe eat a hot dog with the other.  They deal with many "spinning plates" at the same time during the course of a workday, whether they're calls from clients or monitoring of urgent situations.

But when it comes to poker, many players see value in focusing on one game at a time.  And we think that's a good approach far beyond the table.  Here's why....

That man should not think that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. - James 1:7-8

Who is "that man" in this passage? The preceding verses indicate it's someone who asks God for wisdom, yet who does so with doubt instead of faith (verses 5-6).  We've found that's a high standard - because there are times in poker when you think you've made the wise move, only to see it become a bad beat.

Those moments can create clouds of doubt.- and we admit we're not sure of the best way to remove those clouds.  Perhaps it comes in realizing the odds in a given hand, and accepting the fact that longshots sometimes happen.

But can we get a bit more personal with this?

No one can serve two masters. Ether he will hate the one and love the other or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. - Matthew 6:24

Jesus's words demand a decision from each of us.  Are you trying to "straddle" as you play poker -- making it the top priority, promising to get "back to God" sometime in the future?

The problem is that no one knows how much "future" we have left. We're all potentially one wrong step or missing breath away from the end of our lives.  Jesus wants you to serve Him and God the Father, above all other things.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. - Matthew 6:33

If God's given you something to direct, direct it well - and share the other tasks as you can.  But may your ultimate focus be on the things which matter most. Above everything else.

If You're Slumping II

Our last post examined some of the options you might have, if you seem to be in an eternal losing streak at the poker.  You could leave.  You could learn from your mistakes.  But what else can you do?

3. Seek help from experts. A large number of books written by poker pros are available.  So are short "tips" classes online.  And really serious players might invest money in "boot camp" in-person with pros.

Of course, this option requires something from you - an admission that you need to be taught.  Not all poker players are willing to humble themselves like that.  But people who wrote the Bible did:

Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end. - Psalm 119:33

Come to think of it: learning God's "decrees" will help you in the long run more than any poker boot camp.  You'll learn the proper way to conduct yourself, in the poker room and outside it.

My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. - Proverbs 3:1-2

4. Pray about it.  This admittedly seems like the strangest option of all.  People should pray about whether they should play poker?  Or even pray for God's help in succeeding??

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. - James 1:5

The fact that you're not sure what to do actually indicates you need wisdom to do the right thing.  God can help with that.... but....

But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. - James 1:6

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Look to God for answers.  They may come from other people, circumstances or an in-depth look at the Bible.  But look for them in faith, and God can provide them.

May God help you to make wise decisions at all times - including the times when poker games don't seem to be going well.

Two-Minute Warning

Kansas Star Casino seemed busier on December 24 this year, compared to last year.

"Wait until tomorrow," we overheard one table game dealer tell his players.  "People will have all the cash they got as presents."

But we were there on Wednesday night, hoping to make money player 1-3 cash game poker.  We went on a waiting list, and received one of those "your seat is ready now" electric plates you might get at restaurants.

We walked around for a long time, stopping to watch table games.  Finally after about 30 minutes, we decided to sit down at Ultimate Texas Hold 'em to bide our time and perhaps make a gain.  And wouldn't you know - during our first hand at the table, the notifier went off.

We had good cards in that one hand, but the dealer beat us and we lost $20.  With $40 in chips left and $40 in our wallet, we went back to the poker room desk.

"Minimum $100," the attendant told us.  That standard hasn't changed, and we came prepared to offer that $100.  But that one hand elsewhere in the casino had changed everything.

"I played one hand over there, lost $20, so I only have $80," we admitted.  We could have walked over to the ATM, withdrew $50 more and been ready to play.  But instead, we handed our electronic gizmo over and said "thanks, but no thanks."

We wound up losing $70 back at the Ultimate Texas Hold 'em table.  But we learned quite a lesson without even sitting down.  It was a lesson in patience -- waiting even longer than you might think, to obtain what you really wanted.

"Patience is a virtue," we often hear.  It's a helpful trait to have while playing poker -- folding lesser hands while waiting for good cards to come.  And we think it's valuable in all aspects of life.

A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense. - Proverbs  19:11

Some players bet big right after losing a tough hand, saying they're "trying to win my money back."  Sometimes that works; sometimes they dig themselves an even deeper hole.  That's where patience needs to govern our play -- as it should everything we do.

Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm because the Lord's coming is near. - James 5:7-8

We live in an area where "winter wheat" grows. Farmers know better than to harvest it during winter. Seeds lie in the ground, absorbing moisture from rain and snow until plants begin to shoot up in spring.

Maybe you have to develop patience by telling yourself to be patient -- over and over again, if necessary.  That would have made all the difference for us this week.  We might have won big in the poker room -- but then again, we might have lost our entire $100. We'll never know in this life. May you develop the patience that brings a good harvest, in poker or elsewhere.

No Limit? Or Know Limits?

Phil Ivey has seized the chip lead, as we write this entry about the World Series of Poker Main Event.  Nearly 6,700 people have entered this year -- and unless you won a seat through a tournament somewhere, the price is steep: $10,000 to buy in.

We know a man who's put up the money to play in the Main Event for the second time in three years.  We're glad he has that much "money to burn" -- because, as with most big tournaments, only the top ten percent of the players will win money.

We personally don't have $10,000 to plunk down at this point.  We didn't go begging for donations to get it, either.  We're thankful to play in smaller tournaments -- if only because it beats losing everything and going broke.  Besides, we're reminded of a proverb....

Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. - Proverbs 23:4

There's a delicate balance, when it comes to counting your riches.  Try too hard to hit the jackpot, and you could wind up penniless.  On the other hand....

And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years.  Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."  But God said to him, "You fool!  This very night your life will be demanded from you.  Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?" - Luke 12:19-20

This is part of a parable of Jesus, about a "rich man" who had a good farming year.  It ends this way:

This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God. - Luke 12:21

Moral of the story: If you don't have a lot of money, that's OK.  Be thankful for the blessings God gives, and consider carefully any opportunities to earn more.  If you do have a lot of money, don't overlook giving some of it to God through your church.

But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.... - Deuteronomy 8:18

Quick In, Quick Out?

The first hand of the day brought us 7-7.  By the river, two more 7's had shown up - giving us quads!

It could have been a big jackpot hand -- and in a way, it was.  We were playing a computer in heads-up poker, on our last trip to a Kansas City casino.  We inserted $40 to start, and that first hand brought our total to $88.

We were trying to win back money we lost in a casino tournament, and pay for our trip across the state.  We could have cashed out immediately, taking only a small loss.  But we decided to play another hand.  And lost.  Then another.  And lost.  And then....

Well, we had a small winning streak recovering to about $50.  But we pressed our luck too much against a computer programmed to be wily -- and in a few minutes, our $88 was down to zero.

"Why don't we ever get out?" we recall a man asking with a bit of a sigh during a poker room discussion months ago.  That's a great question not only in cash games, but other aspects of our lives.

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

A small first step which looks successful can lead down a slippery-slope into big trouble.  That's why it's important in poker to sense the tide is turning -- and have the wisdom to get out when it does.  Even famous characters in the Bible had to learn that lesson the hard way:

One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace.  From the roof he saw a woman bathing.  The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her.... Then David sent messengers to get her.  She came to him, and he slept with her. - II Samuel 11:2-4

The look alone was not enough.  Being told the woman was married (verse 3) was not enough.  King David had to "go all the way" with Bathsheba.  Read the rest of the chapter and you'll discover that lustful and covetous act led to an unexpected pregnancy, and a plot to have Bathsheba's husband killed.

But the thing David had done displeased the Lord. - II Samuel 11:27

We've heard ministers on Christian radio put it this way: Sin will take you farther than you want to go, and make you pay more than you wanted to pay. 

We think the same is true in poker.  Don't simply play with emotions or "gut" feelings.  Play with your brain active and functioning.  It might save you money, and even some heartbreak.  Believe us - because we've been there.

The Great Debate

It's an issue probably as old as the game itself.  Is poker a game of simple luck - or is there skill involved?

The U.S. Supreme Court recently had a chance to settle that issue, at least in the eyes of the law.  But it did not.  The court turned down a case where a New York man had been convicted of running a "game of chance" in his business by hosting Texas Hold 'em games.  A federal judge sided with the business owner; an appeals court did not, saying state gambling laws include poker.

After playing poker for years, online and in person, we've concluded the answer to our question is not a simple either/or.  There's a bit of luck, in terms of right cards falling at the right times -- but there's also a measure of skill, in knowing how to play hands and when to make certain key moves.

If you think about it, that also can describe our lives in general.  For instance, a big tree could fall on top of your car while you're driving toward the poker room.  But if you see the tree moving out of the corner of your eye, you might be able to skillfully drive around its fall and escape damage.

In the same way, some people say God doesn't really control anything -- that our lives are simply the result of our own decisions and unexpected events.  They might actually quote a Bible verse to support that view:

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

We emphasized the last part of that verse, because that happens in poker on occasion.  Poker rooms  have "bad beat jackpots" for a reason.  It's possible for two players to hit "quads" (four of a kind) in the same hand.  Even the best-looking hands played in the best possible way sometimes can run into something better.

Yet the Bible says God "rules in the kingdoms of men" (Daniel 4:17, KJV).  Perhaps He is the one intervening in certain situations -- perhaps to bless people, or possibly to punish them:

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. - Proverbs 16:33

So what's a believer (or even a poker player) to do?  We think the answer lies in doing the best you can with what you have, based on what you know.

...The wise heart will know the proper time and procedure. For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a man's misery weighs heavily upon him. - Ecclesiastes 8:5-6

The "wise" way may not always be the winning way.  But the Bible shows in the long run, it's the way that's best -- especially when that wisdom is based on the ways of God:

For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright.... - Proverbs 2:6-7