You Be the Judge

The flop was nice: a pair plus a straight draw. Our opponent bet about 500, and we called.

The turn was better - a 6, giving us a straight! But our opponent bet an even larger 3,000. And oh yes - three spades were showing.

This moment required some thought. The "better" hand in this case was not the best possible hand - and what if he had it?

"I'm going to assume you've got it," we told him. And we folded.

"I'll show you one of my cards," the talkative man responded. He turned over a 9d - and with two 9's showing, that gave him at least three of a kind. But certainly not a flush.

Did we throw away the winning hand? At that moment, we thought so. Minutes later, he seemed to confirm it, commenting: "My three 9's topped you."

"Welllllll," we answered, "your three 9's won the pot."

The dealer sitting next to us picked up on that, even if our opponent didn't. "He bought you off the pot," he said.

 "You have rightly judged," we told him. And in that hand, we apparently did not.

Our quote to the dealer came directly from the words of Jesus, at the end of a short parable:

"There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed 500 pence, and the other 50. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?" Simon answered and said, "I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most." And he said to him, "Thou hast rightly judged." - Luke 7:41-43 (KJV)

Poker is a game that combines skill and luck. But it's also a game of judgment. Is your hand really better than someone else's at any given moment? If someone makes a bet to convince you otherwise, is your opponent betting from strength or flat-out bluffing?

In the parable, Jesus asked Simon to make a conclusive judgment based on a short story. That alone might surprise some people, who are quick to quote another short phrase of Jesus:

Judge not, that you be not judged. - Matthew 7:1 (KJV)

Hold on - is Jesus talking out of both sides of His mouth here? Why would He command not judging, then call for a judgment by other people?

Perhaps the answer lies in reading beyond that one verse in Matthew....

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. - Matthew 7:2

This verse indicates Jesus expected people to make judgments. If we're honest with ourselves, we all do it frequently. In another place, He said so directly....

Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment. - John 7:24

In other words, "judge not" by what you simply see. Go deeper and do some careful thinking before making your decisions. This concept extends far beyond a poker room - to the friends you make, the place where you live and much more.

If you're having difficulty in poker games, maybe you should ask yourself: am I using good judgment? Am I using any judgment at all? Then ask God for His wisdom to help you judge things in a right way.

Poker Night 572: Well AJ-usted

Our last trip to Hollywood Casino Indiana was a confusing mess, with a "six game mix" tournament. Wednesday night, it was back to basic Texas Hold 'em. Maybe that's too boring for some people....

BLINDS: 100/200

IN THE POCKET: Ace-Jack of spades

How slow was it Wednesday night? So slow that cards weren't even dealt until 18 minutes were off the clock! Not enough people were at the two tables for play. But the usual latecomers eventually arrived to get things going.

Now we've folded a blind, and have our best cards so far. But we see these nice cards sitting in the leadoff seat. We limp in, and a couple of people at the table of five call.

ON THE FLOP: Jh-10x-Qx

A high-end flop gives us a pair and a big draw. Other players check, so we don't wait. We bet 400. One man calls, while the other folds.

ON THE TURN: 5h

This card seems harmless, but what is our opponent holding? We check for a clue. He checks. So much for that.

ON THE RIVER: 6h

This complicates matters, because now three hearts are showing. We could keep it slow, but decide aggression is the better response. We bet 500, and get a call. If he has a Queen....

"Jack with an Ace?!?" we say hopefully.

"You're good," he answers! He never shows his cards, and we take a nice pot.

Patient waiting for good cards paid off after that, as our stack grew - to 13,825 at the first break, then a near-high of 25,800 heading to the final table! But then big cards turned back for us - as A-K lost to a woman with 6-6, and A-J lost when the same woman with 608 caught an 8 on the river.

With five players left and our stack down to only 3,800, we saw 2-2. One player was all-in for much more, but we decided we couldn't wait for something better. We made it two pushes at the same time - but a man with (we believe) Q-8 hit a bigger pair, and took us both out.

Only the top two made money in a night with 16 entries. Bbut we finished strongly in fifth place (officially; by our reasoning tied for fourth).

MINISTRY MOMENT: At one point, we pretended to cool off a man who was winning hand after hand. "He's on fire," we said.

Surprisingly, that led the dealer to mention the recent devastating fire at the historic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Something's been on our mind about that.

"What surprised me about Notre Dame Cathedral was how many people acted like their grandpa had died," we told the table.

"It's like if the Washington Monument caught fire," another player explained. He pointed out that monument is a symbol of the U.S., as the cathedral apparently is to France. (We visited Paris years ago, and don't recall anyone ever mentioning it as an icon for tourists.)

We understood the man's point. But we responded, "It's a very nice building - but ultimately, it's just a building. It's going to be rebuilt. They're worshiping the creation more than the Creator." That comes from the King James Version of this verse:

They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator - who is forever praised. Amen. - Romans 1:25

We've heard ministers apply this version in a number of ways - going after environmentalists and animal rights supporters, among others. But religious people can do the same thing, if they aren't careful. God's hand can be seen in nature or great art - but that does not mean the nature or art should become our god.

The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.... Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone - an image made by man's design and skill. - Acts 17:24, 29

The other poker player seemed to understand our point as well. "But try telling that to the Catholics," he replied. Indeed, the Roman Catholic Church seems to put a lot of emphasis on icons - such as the "crown of thorns" in the Notre Dame Cathedral that the ministers there presume came from Jesus Christ.

Our point is simply this: put God first. Not a minister. Not a church building. Not a national or local politician. As Jesus put it....

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. - Mark 13:31

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 218 final tables in 572 games (38.1%) - 46 cashes. We're currently at six finals in nine tournaments this year!

Our Little Garden

After a couple of busy months where we didn't have much time for poker, we hope to return to the table this week. But we have found time to take advantage of a casino's temptation.

Jack Casino has offered us two free $10 table bets each week during March and April. We've taken that offer to blackjack tables ten times so far - and the score stands at six gains, four losses.

Our profit: $28. It's not much because we tend to play small and bet small. We minimize our losses that way - even if it means minimal wins as well. Did you know that's a Biblical principle?

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. - II Corinthians 9:6

It's only logical, after all. Plant a lot of seeds, and you should get a big crop. But let's make something clear - the apostle Paul is not talking here about plunking down $100 at a time on blackjack. Keep reading....

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. - II Corinthians 9:7

The focus here isn't about you taking home a big wad of money. It's about giving. This was written to a church group which wanted to make a "generous gift" to another part of the world (verse 5). And God rewards a giving attitude....

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. - II Corinthians 9:10-11

Excuse us for asking - but how giving are you? Yes, we know that's not the proper mindset for winning poker. But if you practice a giving spirit in your life, God (the true "he who supplies seed") is ready to bless your effort.

Our blackjack "profit" really is less than $28, because we've tipped our dealer several times. That's giving on a small scale, too. But who knows - maybe that's why we're modestly succeeding. We're certainly thanking God for it.

Clever or Deceptive?

Sometimes the poker game starts well and gets better. But many times, the cards run dry and you're tempted to get creative to win pots. How far would you go to do that?

We've been analyzing an article on something many poker players would appreciate: deceit. It can be as subtle as making a big bet on the turn with three clubs showing - or as outlandish as going all in before the flop with 8-3 offsuit.

Trouble is, this article calls deceit a sin. That's because the history of that concept is not very good....

Then the Lord God asked the woman, "What have you done?" "The serpent deceived me," she replied. "That's why I ate it." - Genesis 3:13 (NLT)

This Bible verse comes from the garden of Eden, where the devil appeared as a serpent and persuaded Eve (the woman) to eat from a tree that God declared off-limits (verses 1-6). That brought sin to Earth, and it's spread from there.

Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God.... Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. - Romans 1:28-29 (NLT)

Deception (a similar word to deceit) follows from not acknowledging God. We each have to ask ourselves: is it "part of the game" in poker and "good fun" - or is it a sign of something deeper and more sinister in our lives?

The good news is that God sent Someone to overcome Satan's deceits....

Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. - Hebrews 2:17 (NLT)

Jesus Christ not only offered the sacrifice. He was the sacrifice - dying so that His blood would cover and remove our sins. He even gave His bruised and abused body that we might be healed (Luke 22:19-20).

Many believers will symbolically take Jesus's "blood" and "body" this week, at a ceremony which has several names. The Bible calls it Passover, the Lord's Supper or "communion." Whatever name you use, it shows a commitment to what Jesus has done. If you're not familiar with it, this article explains it. Will you accept what Jesus has done for you - and live a deception-free life?

A Different Sort of FOLD

In this age of text message shorthand, you may have heard of FOMO - the "fear of missing out." We'd like to create a new one for poker. It's FOLD - "fear of losing dollars."

We're inspired by an online column by poker millionaire Jonathan Little. He explained the proper mindset poker players should have. In part....

Learning to think in terms of equity (instead of dollars) is a great way to conquer the fear of losing money.... You must accept that you will win and lose pots when you play poker.

In some cases, the FOLD is logical. If you have 7-2 offsuit, that's not statistically likely to turn into a winning hand. But when you have something like J-J or 10-10, the walk becomes more unbalanced. A big bet by other players (whether they have something or not) could make you wary and lead to FOLD.

In short, poker is a game with no guarantees. If you develop a serious case of FOLD, you're not likely to do well. We need a different mindset - one that we think is downright godly:

But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought, and never fails to bear fruit. - Jeremiah 17:7-8

Trust completely in your own skills, and you set yourself up for failure. It's far better to put your trust in a God whose plan never fails.

Yes, "heat" will come - perhaps from aggressive bettors who want to test your courage. But if you accept the fact that drought sometimes will happen and stay close to God in those times, fruitful times will follow.

Some Christians are marking an example of this today. They consider it "Palm Sunday," when Jesus entered Jerusalem five days before the "Passover" festival week (John 12:1, 12). He arrived knowing He would be arrested, bloodied and killed five days later. Yet consider how Jesus faced it....

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." - Matthew 26:39

Jesus could have FOLD-ed - with the "D" here standing for His divinity. Yet He did not. In a restless moment of tense anticipation, He accepted God's will. Many of His disciples reacted differently - and Jesus was not surprised by that.

"You will all fall away," Jesus told them, "for it is written: 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'".... Then everyone deserted him and fled. - Mark 14:27, 50

Jesus put His life all in - putting His confidence in a Father who could resurrect Him. Days later, it happened. His disciples didn't understand until after it happened. Whose example is better for you to follow, when things in life become uncertain? The FOLD way - or the faith way?

Kids' Poker?

We'll say right off the bat -- despite the title, this is not about "Kid Poker" Daniel Negreanu. It's about a different player, who thinks poker should be a game for children.

Maria Konnikova is more than a winning poker pro. She has a doctorate in psychology, and she's working on a book about the chances we take. In an interview, she explained poker is a great way to learn how "to make correct decisions" - and she says those decisions are based on calculating risks, instead of being emotional.

Konnikova thinks young people can develop thinking and self-control skills in poker, that can help them make better decisions in life.   But she used a striking phrase to explain what's involved - the "illusion of control." We don't have complete control over a poker hand, because one wrong (or right) card can change everything.

The Bible offers seemingly conflicting views on controlling our lives. Here's one example....

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

The fruit is called self-control. But if it comes from God's Holy Spirit, do you really control yourself? Or is Something greater and higher controlling you?

The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.... - Romans 8:6

The idea of "mind control" mixed with religion often leads to thoughts of brain-washing and spiritual cults. But as strange as it might sound, it's how a Christian is supposed to live. But not with the mind of a guru....

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.... - Philippians 2:5 (KJV)

How do you do this? It starts with believing Jesus exists - and that takes "child-like faith" (Matthew 18:1-3). But then you need to grow up in that faith.

When I as a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. - I Corinthians 13:11

As another Bible writer put it:

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

Let God control your life, and the "self" control should follow. You might even play better poker as a result.

Brunson Sets Things Straight

We mentioned recently the first-ever "Global Poker Awards." They were presented in Las Vegas this weekend - with one going to a true legend of the game.

Doyle Brunson received an "Award for Lifetime Achievement." But in the process, he clarified reports that he played his final World Series of Poker event in 2018 - something which earned him a different award nomination, for "Moment of the Year." (Are people that happy to see him go?)

Brunson explained in texts to the awards show that he's simply spending more time "at home with my wife of 59 years." He added, "I'll retire when they throw dirt in my face." The audience remembered his classic line in the opening credits of Poker After Dark - "We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing."

Brunson's Twitter profile notes that he's a poker player, of course. It says he's 82 years old, although other websites dispute that. But it also adds, "Christian." In fact, a February tweet from Brunson says this....

I can stand the "jargon" and the f word but chills run up and down my spine when I hear the Lord's name taken in vain.

Does this describe you? That last part is one of the Ten Commandments, you know:

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain. - Exodus 20:7 (KJV)

Sit at a poker table long enough, and you're liable to hear someone do exactly that. It could be a statement of disbelief over a river card, or a vent of frustration after a string of big losses. But it's something people should not do.

The New International Version quotes this verse saying you shouldn't "misuse the name" of God. That expands the meaning quite a bit - because there are many ways to misuse God's name, besides swearing.

Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord," will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. - Matthew 7:21

These words of Jesus indicate you can declare Him "Lord" all day long - but if you're not doing God's will, it will ultimately be worthless. You'll be kept out of God's Kingdom! Another Bible verse puts it this way:

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. - James 2:26

Some ministers claim it's enough to simply "speak Christ" into your life. That's a good idea, but it's incomplete. A true Christian life is reflected not only in what you say, but the deeds you do.

So congratulations to "Texas Dolly" on his legendary poker career. May it keep going. May his Christian works keep going as well. And may you learn from his example.

Friday Flop Funny

"I'm glad the S in H.O.R.S.E. doesn't stand for strip."

- Our words during the recent seven-game mix tournament at Hollywood Casino Indiana.

Into the Unknown

We've been writing about our "seven-game mix" tournament during the recent Heartland Poker Tour visit to our area. It included several versions of poker that we'd never played before, and couldn't find for online practice.

"So wait," you might be saying. "Why would you enter a poker tournament when you don't really know how to play the games?"

Yes, that thought occurred to us as well. It was a set-up for potential disaster. Yet we chose to try, anyway. In part, it was because of the opportunity to do our main goal of ministry. And in part, it was a step of faith. A famous book defines it this way....

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. - Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)

 We had no way of knowing what would happen in the tournament. The order of the games wasn't even determined until we showed up.

Yet that's how faith operates - and if you think about it, poker players use more faith than they might realize. Why would you call a big bet with a draw for the nut flush? Why would you pursue an open-ended straight draw? It's due to faith that the right card could come.

But this Bible verse challenges us to make our faith bigger. It's more than an Ace on the river. It's
about believing in a God who created real rivers....

By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. - Hebrews 11:3 (NLT)

Atheism demands physical proof of things. So does scientific research. But Biblical faith calls for belief in evidence that seems incomplete to the naked eye. It also calls for walking every day in that sort of faith.

Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked. - I Timothy 1:19 (NLT)

Read all of Hebrews 11 to see some amazing examples of faith-filled people in history. Then put your faith "in Christ" - far more than a poker hand. When Jesus comes again (and we write in faith, based on the Bible, that He will), your faith will be rewarded.