Poker Night 394: Disarmament Deal

For a moment, we thought the schedule had changed.  A row of tables for two, at The Red Barn -- with flowers and candles on them?!  What sort of heads-up poker tournament was this?

Well, it really wasn't.  "Speed dating," one of the managers told us.  "Trying something new, once a month."

Yet the regular Monday night poker tournament went on at The Red Barn as well.  Dating and poker - together?!  They both could have "hearts" in common.  But we were in a poker fight for survival, starting with a table of nine.  And we faced some heart-pumping moments along the way....

BLINDS: 50/100

IN THE POCKET: Ace of diamonds - Ace of clubs

A couple of players at our table already have been in a big-betting mood.  That cost us some early chips, but we still start this hand with 6,100.  Sitting one behind the dealer, no one raises in front of us.  So with the biggest of pocket pairs, it's obviously our turn.  We raise 500, hoping for a re-raise from someone.  But several players merely call.

ON THE FLOP: 10h-Jh-7c

This doesn't seem too threatening.  But a player to our right acts like it is.  He bets 2,500.  Could he possibly have a straight -- or more likely three of a kind?  With a bit of skepticism, we call.  A couple of others do the same.

ON THE TURN: 6h

The presence of a third heart is exactly the last thing we want to see.  Now the man to our right throws out 7,500 -- more than enough to put us all in.  In a way, this bet doesn't make sense.  If he has a flush now, why did he bet so much on a flush draw one card before?  Is it all nothing but scare tactics?

We ponder this quietly for about ten seconds, realize we only have 3,000 chips left and finally decide.  "I'll let his chips do the talking.  I'll fold."

Yes, we back down from "pocket rockets."  But a man across the table from us does not.  Instead, he raises to 20,000 -- and stacks built to overflowing from purchases of beers and jukebox music go to battle.  The man to our right calls.  At least we're likely to find out if we were right.

ON THE RIVER: Kc

Now all parties check -- and the man to our right who scared us away shows Q-8.  He bet a small fortune with nothing but a straight draw, and he missed!

But the man across the table didn't miss.  He shows A-6 of hearts.  He made the nut flush on the turn, and gains more than 25,000 chips.

Call us chicken if you wish.  But we smelled trouble, and we were right -- even if the trouble came from a different direction than we expected.  We lived to play another hand.  And we wound up winning several after that, including two big pots with J-J in the first hour, then with A-K in the second hour when a King came on the flop.

We had 20,000 chips at the two-hour break -- then were dealt A-J, which has replaced K-9 as the "Rodney special" for a bonus.  We went all in, even though the woman before us pushed with much more.  She had A-K, and won a big pot because no one even gained a pair by the river.  It was another close call for us -- but another missed final table, as we finished in 11th place.

MINISTRY MOMENT: Before that woman eliminated us, we asked her about her relationship with Jesus.  She told us God has helped her in an unusual way.

"I'd probably be in prison by now," she said -- explaining she wanted to kill her ex-husband at one point years ago.

That woman believes God calmed her down, and gave her peace of mind.  Jesus offers to do the same thing for you....

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. - John 14:27

We've personally needed this sort of spiritual peace several times in recent months.  So how do we obtain it?  The Bible offers this answer:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:6-7

Be thankful as you pray, for whatever blessings God has given you -- even if it doesn't seem like He's given you many.  Then ask (or sing) for His spirit of peace to dwell in your mind, heart and life.  If you have "Christ in you" (Colossians 1:27), that should mean the "Prince of Peace" is inside.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 136 final tables in 394 nights (34.5%) - 20 cashes.