Never Having To Say You're Sorry

Our last post brought up the subject of "courtesy" at the poker table.  It had been on our mind before that, because of this online chat earlier in the week:

Dealer:  flopblogger wins Main Pot ($2,580) with Two pair, nines and sevens
Me:  Sorry Friends
Nebrguy1957:  lol @ sorry
Nebrguy1957:  what utter ***
Me:  Trying to be polite
Nebrguy1957:  try to be honest
readingu:  thank u
Nebrguy1957:  it means more

These words of correction made us stop and "examine ourselves," to borrow from II Corinthians 13:5.  There are some online players who trash-talk the opponents they eliminate.  We say "sorry" to express the opposite of that.  And the Bible recommends:

Finally, be you all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous.... - I Peter 3:8 (KJV)

The New International Version substitutes "sympathetic" for "compassion" and "humble" for "courteous." That's the feeling we're trying to convey - realizing not everyone can win in a poker tournament.

On the other hand, some players have told us there's "no sorry in poker."  They'd point out in a tournament, eliminating other players is what you have to do to win.  So the players in our chat concluded we were not really sorry at all.

We have mixed emotions as we ponder this issue.  Here's what we wrote in the chat, after taking a moment to think things over:

Me:  OK I'm convicted.

Dealer:  Nebrguy1957 wins Main Pot ($1,240)

Me:  Please forgive me.

But no one accepted our offer of forgiveness.  And the more we think about this, the more we think it comes down to what sort of heart you have.  Is it selfish and competitive, striving for victory at all costs?  Or has it been changed by God into something different?

The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. - I Timothy 1:5

The other players may have assumed our heart was like theirs.  But by God's grace, we're trying to let Him....

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. - Psalm 51:10

So if the word "sorry" causes a stir in online poker, what else should we say when we eliminate a player?  Maybe Peter had a right answer all along....

Do not repay evil for evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. - I Peter 3:9

That's something we'll be working on in upcoming games.  In the meantime, what do you say when you eliminate an opponent -- if anything?