Cashing Out

Remember the boxes we collected a couple of posts ago? Now we can explain them - and as we do, we're announcing some bittersweet news about this blog.

Boxes are stacked around us as we write this post, because we're again on the move to a new location. We're taking a new full-time job in an area that seems to be poker-dry. An online search shows the closest poker nights are in bars 40 miles away. A casino is also about 40 miles away, but it doesn't seem to have regular tournaments.

Because of all this, we've decided to end On the Flop - a blog that we spun off from a different blog in 2008, after we started playing live poker 12 years ago. We've had two goals over the years: see how well we can do against other players, and share our faith in God and Jesus Christ.

Let's take them in order. First, summing up our 18 months playing poker in the Cincinnati area....

JACK Casino: 12 final tables in 20 games, 5 cashes
Hollywood-Indiana: 19 final tables in 25 games, 3 cashes
Dayton/Toledo: 2 final tables in 2 games, no cashes

The final count is rather remarkable - 33 final tables in 47 tries! That's around 70 percent! And eight cashes in 47 tries computes to success 17 percent of the time.

Admittedly, a lot of that occurred in small tournaments - no more than two tables. But we still had to earn a place, and we're thankful to God for success in that. We're also thankful that God provided this blog for (we hope) making a connection between poker hands and the Master's hands.

Into your hands I commit my spirit.... My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me. - Psalm 31:5, 15

We didn't always obtain "deliverance" in all-in moments. But we had safe passage during all our trips, whether into bars or casinos.

Will we keep playing poker? Probably, as time permits (after we unpack all those boxes). The free online option is always on our computer. But live games apparently will become rare, because of the distance involved and the lack of an inviting reward. Bar and grill gift cards are OK - but after you've won hundreds of dollars at casinos, it's simply not the same.

In the meantime, we plan to keep this blog online instead of taking it down. After all, it's a record of our poker history - as well as recent poker news. And we think the "good news" here is timeless....

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news." - Mark 1:14-15

That's our closing advice to you. Think about things bigger than poker tournaments. Consider that a Kingdom of God is coming - something far better than this world offers. Repent of your sins, and go after it as Jesus advised....

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

As we say when we're eliminated from the table.... go with God!

Back to the Fifties

When the World Series of Poker began in June, we noted it was the 50th such event. But we noted that some people (and perhaps even the WSOP) called it the "50th anniversary" - which isn't mathematically right, because it's 49 years since the first one.

It reminded us of how some church groups sadly fight over how to count things. Take this one, which Jesus mentioned:

For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. - Matthew 12:40

Sounds simple, doesn't it? Jesus was buried for "three days and three nights" after His crucifixion.

Trouble is, many Christian denominations say Jesus was killed on Friday and was resurrected on Sunday morning. They parse at words and hours, trying to explain how "three days and three nights" somehow fit into about 48 hours. (Here's an article on that issue, if you'd like to look into it.)

We noted earlier this year that some church groups disagree on the number 50 as well, in computing when to keep the Christian festival of Pentecost. We promised to do our own study into it. After several weeks of complicated digging, it's ready. It's quite a mix of numerology, history and linguistics. Have your thinking cap and "good books" ready as you read it.

In poker tournaments, accurate chip counts matter. Shouldn't the counting of days and years matter as well - especially when it comes to events which shape all eternity?

Poker Night 582: Escape Acts

The evening seemed to start perfectly. The drive to Lawrenceburg, Indiana had almost no slowdowns - a change from last Wednesday, when a wreck made the trip 70 minutes long. We found lots of big boxes to collect outside a drug store. And thanks to a birthday special, Hollywood Casino let us eat the Epic Buffet dinner for free (well, OK, we tipped the server).

The only thing missing was a night of triumph in the poker room. Could it happen....?

BLINDS: 1,500/3,000 (as best we remember)

IN THE POCKET: K-K

It's the third hour of play, and we've had another night of drama. After early losses, A-10 brought a 10 on the flop which won a big pot. We reached the first break at 13,775 chips (starting from 12,000). Big bets with pocket Aces and A-8 in Hour 2 led us to 20,400. But misses then set us back to 11,700 - enough to reach the final table at Break 2.

Now six players remain. Since 20 entered, only two will win money. The blinds are steep. We have a big pocket pair, early in the betting order. So we go for broke - going all-in with 18,400 chips left. Who will dare to take us on?

We watch players to our right fold. Then we notice a woman to our left. She called.... and she has pocket Aces! This classic clash happens only 2.4 percent of the time.

"I probably won't win this," she says. Oh really? She's an 81-percent favorite to knock us out.

ON THE FLOP: 2-3-5

No third King, and even more trouble. Now Ms. Aces has a straight draw.

ON THE TURN: 4

Oh well. "There's the straight," we say. "and that's the ball...."

ON THE RIVER: 6

"Wait!" other players say. Amazingly, there's a straight on the table! We stay alive, and gain about 1,000 chips on the split because of the blinds.

We offer our opponent a long-distance fist bump. "I'm not sure her fist would have been friendly," a player to our right jokes.

"More like a Five-Finger Death Punch," we joke in agreement.

We had other big moments like that, including A-Q which matched another player and resulted in a chop. The field dwindled to five players, then four. We reached Break 3 with 15,000 chips. Then a miscalculation by a player left us in the top three!

We hinted at the "C-word" (chop) and "BB-words" (bubble boy), but our opponents ignored it. Finally with the Big Blind at 6,000, we were forced to push with a lowly 4-10. This time the board didn't bail us out, and a woman to our right hit it big with her own pocket Kings. A long night with some close calls ended with no money, but a thrilling third place.

MINISTRY MOMENT: A man who started the tournament to our immediate left said he was feeling good.

"I try to be good," we told him - and he seemed to understand. Then we paraphrased a Bible passage about that effort....

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do.... no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing. - Romans 7:15, 19

The apostle Paul explains in this complex-sounding section that he's not inherently good (verse 18). In fact, we all have a sinful nature - so deep down, none of us are good. We continued the paraphrase:

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

A distraction then happened, which prevented us from asking the man what he thought of this. So we'll ask you. Have you come to realize you do a lot of evil things - sometimes because you have no choice? Those evil things leave you doomed to death. But like that poker hand, there's an escape hatch here as well:

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

Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice - taking the penalty for sin that we're supposed to face, so that we might gain eternal life in God's Kingdom. Be thankful for that sacrifice, and ask God in prayer to have it applied to you.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 224 final tables in 582 games (38.5%) - 48 cashes. Oh, about those boxes.... we'll explain why we collected them very soon.

Seeking Security

This is one of those weekends when we don't really want to blog about poker at all. The news of deadly shooting sprees in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio (a place where we played poker last September) has been stunning and saddening.

The sad truth is that something like that could happen at a poker room near you. Gun-pointing and barroom brawls are the stuff of Western movies, after all - and those were set more than 100 years ago.

We decided to open our Bible today to two sections with stark contrasts. One pictures the worst of times....

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be.... abusive.... without love.... without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash.... - II Timothy 3:1-4

Several other "end-time" sins are mentioned there, but we're focusing on the ones which seem especially timely. And sad to say....

But evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. - II Timothy 3:13 (KJV)

The old phrase says things will get worse before they get better. Right now, it takes faith to believe things will get better at all. But that's where the second section of Scripture comes in:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.... I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.... He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. - Revelation 21:1-4

A new heaven and earth are coming! Death will someday end! The crying over lost loved ones (from shooting sprees or something else) will stop!

This indeed takes faith to believe. And it comes only through faith God's plan to bring Jesus Christ back to Earth to set up His Kingdom.

The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ., and he shall reign for ever and ever." - Revelation 11:15

It seems no place is safe in the U.S., after the events of this weekend. The best security you can have comes by giving your life to God and Jesus Christ - by turning away from the ways of "evil men" and putting your hope in the better world which the Bible promises is coming. May "Thy kingdom comes".... quickly.

Poker Night 581: Ducks or Swans?

A pocket pair in a poker tournament puts you at an advantage. A high pocket pair is even better. So what happens when it's not so high? Sometimes it leads to drama, such as what happened with us Wednesday night at Hollywood Casino Indiana....

BLINDS: 500/1000

IN THE POCKET: 2-2

We're at the final table, on a night when only 14 people entered. A first hour with only a couple of pots left us at 9,300 chips from a starting 12,000. But we regained some strength in Hour 2 when we went all-in with 10-10 and beat A-Q with a third 10 on the flop.

Now we're in the Small Blind, starting with 10,200 chips and eight players left. No one ahead of us raises. This "ugly duckling" of pocket pairs has us thinking about folding - but we choose to call. Four players are in.

ON THE FLOP: A-A-2

Hip, hip, hoo-A-A! We hit the full house jackpot, and see no reason to wait. We go all-in for 9,200 - since someone else may have a third Ace and be gunning for his own superior full house.

The Big Blind and another man fold, but a young man that some people think looks like Dale Earnhardt Jr. calls. Does he have that Ace? He turns over.... K-J! We're in excellent shape.

ON THE TURN: 3

"Drawing dead," says the man sitting as Big Blind. Indeed....

ON THE RIVER: 9

The Small Blind risk has a huge payoff. We put our opponent out of the tournament in eighth place, and jump to an evening-high 24,300!

We faced another big opportunity minutes later with Q-Q. But while others around us were pushing to get home for the night, we tried to finesse things with a raise to 8,000. A monster stack called, and an Ace on the flop followed by a King on the turn led to a bet we simply couldn't call in confidence.

We hung around after that, reaching the second break at 12,400. But our hopes ran out when we pushed in Hour 3 with A-7. A caller with K-Q (we think) hit a full house, and left us drawing dead on the river. We finished in sixth place; only the top two made money.

MINISTRY MOMENT: When we pushed in that big hand, we said we had 8,200 chips. We were off by 1,000.

"Can't even get it right, and he's the Small Blind," the Big Blind said with his tongue in his cheek. "Who can you trust anymore?"

We knew the answer to that one. "I trust in God," we told him.

In fact, the license plate on our car says that. We live in one of several states that offer "In God we trust" tags. Supporters of such things argue it's the national motto. That's true - but we think we can see through their agenda. They're trying to spread a Christian message by any means necessary. In this case, it's a good one....

In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? - Psalm 56:4

Back to the Big Blind's question. Where do you put your trust? In government? The Bible warns:

Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. - Psalm 146:3

Oops - that also rules out everyone on Earth, alive or dead. That's because we're all doomed to die (verse 4). The only place where you can put any trust at all beyond this life is in God. As Jesus put it....

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.... And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may also be where I am. - John 14:1, 3

By trusting in God, we can join with Jesus in the establishment of God's perfect kingdom on Earth when He returns. Then all can declare....

O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you. - Psalm 84:12

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 223 final tables in 581 games (38.4%) - 48 cashes. We also came close to a final table in a Poker Stars online tournament Monday night. We finished ninth out of 436 entries, in a six-per-table event.

Good Reception

The National League of Poker gives, and then it takes away. Only days after we won two dollars in a cash freeroll, NLOP dropped the nightly freerolls again. Perhaps it was a limited-time offer.

So for the last few days, we've been trying out free PokerStars.Net tournaments for the first time in years. We're not in a U.S. state where we can win money, but the challenge is good and the "entry chips" are structured generously.

It was at a Poker Stars table that we met a player named "ReceiveJesus." We tried to strike up a  chat....

flopblogger: Good to see that name, "Receive Jesus"
flopblogger: Methinks everyone should

There was no response from that player. But the concept is a good one. It comes from Jesus Himself:

He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. - Matthew 10:40

Jesus was speaking here to His 12 main disciples, before He sent them out to the surrounding area (verse 5). It's humbling to think that disciples represent God the Father and Jesus the Son. But they do - and there's even a payoff for you if you accept them:

Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. - Matthew 10:41

Someone is "righteous" because of what Jesus Christ has done - not really because of anything you do:

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.... - Romans 3:21-22

Jesus wants you to receive Him in faith, to gain the reward of the righteous which is eternal life with Him (Hebrews 10:35-38). But Jesus won't force His way upon you. You must willingly receive Him:

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. - Revelation 3:20

If you catch the right card on the river, you can win a pot and survive in a tournament. If you "catch Christ" by receiving Jesus, the reward will be even better. Is it time for you to make the reception?

Poker Day 580: Seven-Ups

"Welcome to the final table," the dealer told our table of ten today. It brought a laugh from a few of us - because it came so early, in only the second round of blinds.

That's what happens when yo play poker on a Tuesday morning at Hollywood Casino in Toledo, Ohio. We were there because we needed to make a return trip to Ontario, where we played poker on Canada Day weekend. This casino is handily located at an exit to Interstate 75. And compared to our home area, the buy-in is cheap at $60.

The daytime tournaments advertise a "guaranteed $1,000" prize pool. But we found out the guarantee only is in effect if 12 players show up by game time. On this day, there were only eight - which eventually increased to ten, but still led to a very early merge of tables. Who would emerge from this?

BLINDS: 200/400/50 ante

IN THE POCKET: 7-7

Everyone receives 8,000 chips to begin. We've won enough modest pots to linger around sea level, but ended the first 80-minute period at 6,850. Now we're down to about 5,800 with rising blinds, and we're looking for good cards.

A woman across the full table goes all-in, with only 475 left. A man to our immediate right calls. With a pocket pair, it's not too expensive to give it a try - so we call as well.

ON THE FLOP: 3-5-7

Yes - there it is! Three sevens could bring a big payoff - but the man to our right bets 1,000. Could he possibly be in this hand with 4-6 for a straight? We're really not sure, but call anyway. Everyone else is out of the hand, except the woman who pushed.

ON THE TURN: 8

The man to the right offers 1,000 more. Now we really wonder if we're being played for a fool, but we can't back away from this. We call again.

ON THE RIVER: Q

"How much do you have left?" our male opponent asks. Uh-oh.... we show about 3,725. "Put you all-in," he then says.

"I have to call," we respond. Now he must show - and he turns over two red Kings!

"Jackpot!" we declare. Three sevens do well at old-fashioned slot machines - and they win here for us. The woman who pushed couldn't beat us (we never saw exactly what she had), and we knock her out while climbing to more than 13,200 chips!

That put us on the highest ground of the day. But minutes later, the man to our right went all-in again.... and we had pocket Aces! We called for 8,425, and he only has pocket Queens. But wouldn't you know it - he hit a Queen on the flop for three of a kind! Our Aces lost for the second time in five days.

We never recovered from that big loss, and finally pushed with A-6 of clubs. A man with K-Q made a Queen on the flop, and that was good enough. On a day with 11 total players (one was "in reserve" after the first break). we get a final table - but a disappointing finish in ninth.

MINISTRY MOMENT: "God!" the player to our right said when he faced a big early decision.

"He's good," we said quietly to him. "All the time. And all the time, God is good."

"Please refrain from talking during hands," the dealer scolded us.

We understood, but the player to our immediate left spoke up. "He wasn't talking about the hand. He was stating his belief in a higher power."

We thanked that man after the hand for speaking up in our behalf. We had no clue what the man to our right had. We simply responded to his exclamation, with words of faith - albeit a "church cliché."

For the Lord is good, and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. - Psalm  100:5

The problem with that verse is that sometimes God doesn't seem to be good to us. It certainly didn't feel good to have pocket Aces cracked for the second time in five days. At those moments, we (and perhaps you) need to remember....

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. - Romans 8:28

There may be more to God's planning and timing than you can see right away. As hard as it can be at times, we need to trust His plans - especially in the long-term:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declared the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

This message was for a people living in exile (verse 4). But deep-down, we're all "strangers and pilgrims" on this Earth (I Peter 2:11, KJV). The believer's hope is the Jesus Christ will return, sparking a resurrection to a future eternal life. That indeed will be good - for all time.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 222 final tables in 580 games (38.3%) - 48 cashes.