Poker Night 346: Looks Can Be Deceiving

Maybe it was due to the DNC (Democratic National Convention).  Maybe it was the VMA's (Video Music Awards).  But the poker turnout was sparse at Lil Kim's Cove tonight -- not even enough to fill two tables.  Making the final table should have been easier.  Yet we still had to earn it -- so we were looking for letters, with a different pattern.

BLINDS: 25/50

IN THE POCKET: A-J offsuit

We used to call this combination "Allmendingers" -- before the NASCAR driver with A.J. in his name was suspended for drug use.  They're still good starting cards, early in the evening.  But we decide to limp in with them, waiting to see if others at our table of six raises.  No one does.

ON THE FLOP: 2d-4c-8d

We don't exactly recall the suit of the 4, but we know we don't have diamonds.  Or a pair, for that matter.  We check, and are helped when the entire table checks with us.

ON THE TURN: 9d

Now three diamonds are showing.  But when the players ahead of us check, we sense an opportunity: "200," we say and bet.  A couple of men are wary of us and fold; two other players call.

ON THE RIVER: Jc

Some might say we were bluffing before the river.  Now we really won't, as we've made top pair.  So we increase the bet to 400.  Our remaining opponents apparently were chasing something and missed, so they fold.  We win the pot -- and the only people who know what we really had are reading this blog now.

Other cards paid even bigger dividends for us during the first hour -- as a suited Q-9 turned into three 9's, followed by A-8 leading to triple-8.  But then hands such as A-6 and A-4 went sour, as flops were missed and others bet big.  Our stack dropped from a high in the 19,000 range to about 8,900 at the one-hour break.

Things looked bleak in the second hour when A-K failed to pair on the flop, and we had to fold to big bets.  When we dropped to 4,500, we went all-in with K-K -- but thankfully, they prevailed.  Then we took the very next pot with Q-10, when both cards paired on the flop!  That rallied us to 27,500, providing enough cushion to make the final table.

Once we arrived there, we took a big loss when A-Q failed.  Then we tried another push with 10-10 and 6,500 chips left.  But a player to our left made his own two-pair flop with Q-8, and that was enough to win.  We wound up tied for fifth, as another player was ousted with us.  If that counts as a "top-five finish," it's our second in a row at Lil Kim's.

MINISTRY MOMENT: A surprising compliment came our way during the second hour from a man across the table.  "I've never seen you get mad."

"I realize it's just a game," we answered.  But then we added:  "You haven't seen me when I'm playing online, and my Internet connection fails."

The praise actually belongs to God, if we're able to keep our emotions in check during tournaments.  A "poker face" during a hand is one thing -- and that can be nothing more than a good acting job.  We think an even disposition throughout an evening takes more than that.

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment.... Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. - I Peter 3:3-4

Peter actually directed these words toward wives.  But we would ask: is God's Spirit sexist?  Aren't the traits of gentleness and quietness good for men to have, as well as women?

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

Peace of mind can lead to a calm quietness, even when the storms of life attack us.  For an example of how Jesus displayed this, read Mark 4:35-41.  Then when you pray for peace -- whether in world events or your family -- pray for God to give you a peaceful Spirit first, to deal with it all.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 123 final tables in 346 nights (35.5%) - 19 cashes.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER TOTAL: Full tournaments - 266 point wins in 1,135 games (23.4%), 82 final tables, 10 tournament wins, 10 cashes.  No-River Hold 'em - 10 point wins in 47 games (21.3%), 9 final tables, 1 win.

We came close to victory in a No-River tournament on Labor Day, finishing fourth out of 108 players.

POKER STARS.NET TOTAL: Pretend cash games - $82,168, down $172.