The biggest season on the poker calendar begins today - World Series Of Poker season in Las Vegas. There's something new this year that could gain more entries than the Main Event. A "Colossus" tournament prize can be yours as soon as next week, if you pay what's billed as "the lowest buy-in in 35 years" - only $565.
We added the "only" on purpose, because some people might find that laughable. Compared to the Main Event buy-in of $10,000, the Colossus is downright cheap. But for ordinary once-a-week poker players, $565 still seems steep. It's more than a monthly car payment or rent check.
WSOP is trying to attract a crowd, and we understand that. But if you're thinking about going to Las Vegas and giving even the Colossus a try, our advice is this - only play the poker game you can afford.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. - I Timothy 6:10
About ten percent of all WSOP entries last year won prize money. Guess what - that means about 90 percent did not. They might have had fun, but they went away empty-handed except for possible winnings in other parts of the casino. If you consider that fact first, you can see how much money you can afford to "invest" in poker tournaments.
Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? - Luke 14:28
These words of Jesus seem clear to us. Whether it's a big poker event or any other major decision in life, you should "count the cost" (to use classic King James English). Don't take a "leap of faith" you might regret later. But if you can afford to enter those events, have fun - and please let us know how you do.
Showing posts with label buy-in. Show all posts
Showing posts with label buy-in. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Living Large
The biggest poker tournament of the year in our state occurs this weekend. But as usual, we will stay away -- because it's happening on a day when we avoid playing poker. We've explained that reason here before.
But we'd like to focus on one of the side events - a "High-Roller Poker Tournament." It has a $10,000 top prize, but a seat (along with free food and drinks) costs you $500. (The entry fee goes to charity, which is a kind gesture.)
Lots of big poker events have tournaments like this. The WSOP added a contest with a million-dollar buy-in a few years ago. If you have a lot of money to spend, it's a chance to make a lot more.
The concept reminds us of something Jesus said....
Poker high-rollers should realize they'd better have a lot of money not merely to spend, but to lose. Because in truth, most players in a tournament go home empty-handed. We think it's a good idea to think about other ways to invest big winnings.
But we'd like to focus on one of the side events - a "High-Roller Poker Tournament." It has a $10,000 top prize, but a seat (along with free food and drinks) costs you $500. (The entry fee goes to charity, which is a kind gesture.)
Lots of big poker events have tournaments like this. The WSOP added a contest with a million-dollar buy-in a few years ago. If you have a lot of money to spend, it's a chance to make a lot more.
The concept reminds us of something Jesus said....
...When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required. - Luke 12:48 (NLT)If you've earned a lot of money playing poker, what are you doing with it? If you're only padding a bank account, we'd ask if that's really the right priority. Consider what else Jesus said in this section:
And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn't prepared and doesn't carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. - Luke 12:47 (NLT)Have you stopped to ponder what God wants you to do with your winnings? We should note this principle goes far beyond money -- it could refer to an important job, or skills and talents in other areas.
Poker high-rollers should realize they'd better have a lot of money not merely to spend, but to lose. Because in truth, most players in a tournament go home empty-handed. We think it's a good idea to think about other ways to invest big winnings.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Matthew 6:19-21Only a relatively few players will make the list of WSOP bracelet winners -- and unless you win a main event, that bracelet is likely to be forgotten years after you're gone. What things are you doing which will last for eternity? How are you being "rich toward God" (Luke 12:21) - doing things God is much more likely to reward?
Sunday, November 2, 2014
The Surprise Raise
We check the poker room websites before we go to tournaments, because the schedule can change practically by the week. Arrowhead Poker showed nothing unusual today, so we grabbed $20 and made the drive.
"That'll be $70," the manager told us. "Or 50 without the buy-in."
We should've known. The first Sunday of every month traditionally is the big tournament at Arrowhead - with a bigger buy-in and prize pool. But the "freeroll fad" of earlier this year came and went at local poker rooms, so we went on the theory the monthly event had disappeared as well.
"I checked the website before I came," we admitted before we left. (We didn't carry an ATM card which would have let us obtain the difference on the spot.)
But perhaps we didn't check online hard enough. While the main website didn't mention the monthly big tournament, Arrowhead's Facebook page did - a couple of times. It was a page we don't think we've ever checked before.
Moral of the story for us: it pays to "dig deeper" and investigate, even if one source indicates things will happen a certain way. That's true in poker games as well as poker websites; sometimes a leading question or two will draw out opponents, so you can read them better.
And guess what -- that approach is also a good idea when it comes to the things of God. We were reminded of this by a couple of Christian speakers this weekend:
Studying the Bible can help you see if you're really living the way God wants you to live, or doing what He wants you to do. One way to do this is by reading through the Bible - perhaps in a year, or faster.
But we recommend doing more than skimming through it. Take notes on noteworthy verses you find - and take time to compare your approach to life with the Bible's instruction. "Rightly dividing" it means sorting out Scriptural fact from the fiction some speakers (or even ministers) might tell you.
The better you know Jesus, the more you'll understand how He lived -- and the better you'll be able to copy that example, at the poker table and other locations. That example might actually surprise other people, and get them into digging deeper.
"That'll be $70," the manager told us. "Or 50 without the buy-in."
We should've known. The first Sunday of every month traditionally is the big tournament at Arrowhead - with a bigger buy-in and prize pool. But the "freeroll fad" of earlier this year came and went at local poker rooms, so we went on the theory the monthly event had disappeared as well.
"I checked the website before I came," we admitted before we left. (We didn't carry an ATM card which would have let us obtain the difference on the spot.)
But perhaps we didn't check online hard enough. While the main website didn't mention the monthly big tournament, Arrowhead's Facebook page did - a couple of times. It was a page we don't think we've ever checked before.
Moral of the story for us: it pays to "dig deeper" and investigate, even if one source indicates things will happen a certain way. That's true in poker games as well as poker websites; sometimes a leading question or two will draw out opponents, so you can read them better.
And guess what -- that approach is also a good idea when it comes to the things of God. We were reminded of this by a couple of Christian speakers this weekend:
Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. - II Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
Studying the Bible can help you see if you're really living the way God wants you to live, or doing what He wants you to do. One way to do this is by reading through the Bible - perhaps in a year, or faster.
But we recommend doing more than skimming through it. Take notes on noteworthy verses you find - and take time to compare your approach to life with the Bible's instruction. "Rightly dividing" it means sorting out Scriptural fact from the fiction some speakers (or even ministers) might tell you.
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen. - II Peter 3:18 (KJV)
The better you know Jesus, the more you'll understand how He lived -- and the better you'll be able to copy that example, at the poker table and other locations. That example might actually surprise other people, and get them into digging deeper.
Sunday, August 31, 2014
When Free Isn't Free
What's the earliest exit you've ever made from a poker tournament? We may have set a new standard today - by exiting before the tournament even began.
But we should start at the beginning. For weeks Arrowhead Poker's website offered this event:
$500 True Free Roll
But we should start at the beginning. For weeks Arrowhead Poker's website offered this event:
Sunday @ 2pm
August 31st
$500 True Free Roll
Chair Rental $0-0**
You can qualify for this tournament by simply buying into any daily tournament.
We played in a $20 Friday tournament a couple of weeks ago, so we presumed our spot was secure. But no - our name didn't come up on today's qualifying list.
"Did you do the ten-dollar buy-in?" the manager asked us -- as in paying $10 extra up-front for bonus chips. No, we didn't. And that left an organizer with a look of frustration on his face.
"That ten-dollar buy-in pays for this tournament," the organizer explained.
We invite you to look up and down the website and tell us: where does it define "buying into" as paying the extra $10? We don't think it does. In most tournaments we've entered, the "buy in" is the main entry fee - in our case the $20.
But we decided against making an argument about it. We shook our head, bit our lip a bit, walked across the parking lot to a convenience store for a "consolation prize" soda and drove home.
But we decided against making an argument about it. We shook our head, bit our lip a bit, walked across the parking lot to a convenience store for a "consolation prize" soda and drove home.
How many things in life claim to be free -- only to have hidden strings attached? Yet Jesus Christ makes this offer:
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. - John 8:36What does Jesus (the Son of God) mean by this? He explains moments earlier:
Jesus replied. "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever." - John 8:34-35Jesus wants to set you free from sin, to become a son of God.... not simply for today, but forever. How?
And from Jesus Christ.... him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood.... - Revelation 1:5As orators like to say on holiday weekends such as this one: The price of freedom isn't free. In this case, the blood Jesus shed when He sacrificed His life on our behalf frees us from sin. We don't have to pay for that, because Jesus already did.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. - Galatians 5:1So how will you respond to that truly free gift? We've been studying a religious magazine article on how to respond. The author seemingly doesn't want to use the phrase "go all in," but he could - and it seems we should.
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
No Limit? Or Know Limits?
Phil Ivey has seized the chip lead, as we write this entry about the World Series of Poker Main Event. Nearly 6,700 people have entered this year -- and unless you won a seat through a tournament somewhere, the price is steep: $10,000 to buy in.
We know a man who's put up the money to play in the Main Event for the second time in three years. We're glad he has that much "money to burn" -- because, as with most big tournaments, only the top ten percent of the players will win money.
We personally don't have $10,000 to plunk down at this point. We didn't go begging for donations to get it, either. We're thankful to play in smaller tournaments -- if only because it beats losing everything and going broke. Besides, we're reminded of a proverb....
There's a delicate balance, when it comes to counting your riches. Try too hard to hit the jackpot, and you could wind up penniless. On the other hand....
This is part of a parable of Jesus, about a "rich man" who had a good farming year. It ends this way:
Moral of the story: If you don't have a lot of money, that's OK. Be thankful for the blessings God gives, and consider carefully any opportunities to earn more. If you do have a lot of money, don't overlook giving some of it to God through your church.
We know a man who's put up the money to play in the Main Event for the second time in three years. We're glad he has that much "money to burn" -- because, as with most big tournaments, only the top ten percent of the players will win money.
We personally don't have $10,000 to plunk down at this point. We didn't go begging for donations to get it, either. We're thankful to play in smaller tournaments -- if only because it beats losing everything and going broke. Besides, we're reminded of a proverb....
Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. - Proverbs 23:4
There's a delicate balance, when it comes to counting your riches. Try too hard to hit the jackpot, and you could wind up penniless. On the other hand....
And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." But God said to him, "You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?" - Luke 12:19-20
This is part of a parable of Jesus, about a "rich man" who had a good farming year. It ends this way:
This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God. - Luke 12:21
Moral of the story: If you don't have a lot of money, that's OK. Be thankful for the blessings God gives, and consider carefully any opportunities to earn more. If you do have a lot of money, don't overlook giving some of it to God through your church.
But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.... - Deuteronomy 8:18
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Poker Night 358: The Perfect Escape
"The best place to see the dregs on Columbus society." That's what a reviewer wrote this past summer about a restaurant/bar/game room called Players, on the north side of our city. Sounds like the perfect place to do poker ministry, doesn't it?
We went to Players for the first of two weekly Sunday tournaments. And for the first time in our city, we paid a buy.... oops; the proper wording under city regulations is cover charge. The fee was small, at five dollars. The potential payoff was large, as enough players showed up to fill six tables.
Unlike other local tournaments, everyone starts at Players with the same amount of chips: 5,000, with nothing extra for buying sandwiches or Jell-O shots. The chances are even for all - and the drama maybe was a little higher....
BLINDS: 500/1,000
IN THE POCKET: A-9 of diamonds
Our game started with a slow decline -- losing several times to players hitting winning hands on the river. But K-J turned into a timely pot with a winning pair of Jacks, so we reached the one-hour break at 5,050. Now after a failed round of blinds, we have 4,000 and little margin for error. We call; most of the table of seven gets in with no raises.
ON THE FLOP: Ax-8d-5x
That's top pair and a big moment. When the table checks to us, we go all-in for our last 3,000. We'd be happy to buy the pot right now, but a man across the table from us calls. Everyone else folds. He shows A-2, so we have a comfortable lead.
ON THE TURN: 10d
Good, good. Let's dodge one more....
ON THE RIVER: 2d
"Noooooo!" we cry aloud. Our opponent hit two pair on the river to take us....
"He wins," a woman next to him points out -- but gesturing toward us. "He made a flush."
"Ahhhhhh!" we now declare. We didn't notice three diamonds on the board. We're glad she did. Our opponent gained his second pair -- but in the only wrong way possible.
That restored us to 10,000 chips, but rising blinds and a couple of missed chances with promising cards were our downfall. Forced to go all-in again in the Big Blind, we had a lowly 2-9. It didn't pair for us, and a man with three 7's took another player out with us.
The scorekeeper at the door to the Players "poker room" noted we were the 28th player eliminated. That means 28 points for us, if we want to press on toward a quarterly championship. That number would sound great at other local venues -- but on this day, we barely missed the semifinal table by finishing (by our eyes) tied for 18th place.
MINISTRY MOMENT: We took our Lord's Supper card protector, which a woman sitting down to our left found interesting.
"Is Jesus your Savior?" we asked her.
She said yes - then explained one recent blessing. "I had brain surgery recently."
You'd never know that from looking at her, except perhaps for a scar near her right forehead. That woman apparently believes in a God with great power....
UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 124 final tables in 358 games (34.6%) - 19 cashes.
We went to Players for the first of two weekly Sunday tournaments. And for the first time in our city, we paid a buy.... oops; the proper wording under city regulations is cover charge. The fee was small, at five dollars. The potential payoff was large, as enough players showed up to fill six tables.
Unlike other local tournaments, everyone starts at Players with the same amount of chips: 5,000, with nothing extra for buying sandwiches or Jell-O shots. The chances are even for all - and the drama maybe was a little higher....
BLINDS: 500/1,000
IN THE POCKET: A-9 of diamonds
Our game started with a slow decline -- losing several times to players hitting winning hands on the river. But K-J turned into a timely pot with a winning pair of Jacks, so we reached the one-hour break at 5,050. Now after a failed round of blinds, we have 4,000 and little margin for error. We call; most of the table of seven gets in with no raises.
ON THE FLOP: Ax-8d-5x
That's top pair and a big moment. When the table checks to us, we go all-in for our last 3,000. We'd be happy to buy the pot right now, but a man across the table from us calls. Everyone else folds. He shows A-2, so we have a comfortable lead.
ON THE TURN: 10d
Good, good. Let's dodge one more....
ON THE RIVER: 2d
"Noooooo!" we cry aloud. Our opponent hit two pair on the river to take us....
"He wins," a woman next to him points out -- but gesturing toward us. "He made a flush."
"Ahhhhhh!" we now declare. We didn't notice three diamonds on the board. We're glad she did. Our opponent gained his second pair -- but in the only wrong way possible.
That restored us to 10,000 chips, but rising blinds and a couple of missed chances with promising cards were our downfall. Forced to go all-in again in the Big Blind, we had a lowly 2-9. It didn't pair for us, and a man with three 7's took another player out with us.
The scorekeeper at the door to the Players "poker room" noted we were the 28th player eliminated. That means 28 points for us, if we want to press on toward a quarterly championship. That number would sound great at other local venues -- but on this day, we barely missed the semifinal table by finishing (by our eyes) tied for 18th place.
MINISTRY MOMENT: We took our Lord's Supper card protector, which a woman sitting down to our left found interesting.
"Is Jesus your Savior?" we asked her.
She said yes - then explained one recent blessing. "I had brain surgery recently."
You'd never know that from looking at her, except perhaps for a scar near her right forehead. That woman apparently believes in a God with great power....
O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. - Psalm 30:2
Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sin and heals all your diseases.... - Psalm 103:2-3The medical profession can do wonderful things. But ultimately, life and death are in the hands of God. And even when difficulties occur in hospitals, such as the spread of dangerous infections, we can look to the Lord:
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah. - Psalm 32:7Has God ever performed a healing miracle in your life, or perhaps someone you know? Leave a comment with your "testimony" if He has.
UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 124 final tables in 358 games (34.6%) - 19 cashes.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Cover-Ups
In our five-year review of live poker last week, we noted several Columbus-area venues have introduced "buy-in" tournaments -- games we admittedly have yet to play. The reason why came up the other night, without our even mentioning it.
"It's a 'cover charge,' not a 'buy-in,'" one man said of the five-dollar fee. He explained the wording makes all the difference, in the eyes of the local vice squad.
Cover charges to enter bars or clubs are legal. A buy-in for a tournament makes it gambling, which is illegal under Georgia law. (We've entered two buy-in tournaments in Florida, but they were at a state-regulated poker room.)
Speaking personally, we don't any to take part in any illegal poker. We're reminded from the Bible:
(Besides, unclean things can show up anywhere. A man asked us the other day about smoking pot -- as we played a game of chess beneath a shady tree in our neighborhood.)
Our point is that a good Christian witness should uphold the law -- whether that means the rules of a poker game or city ordinances. After all....
May you be fair and legal in everything you do, whether poker is a matter of work or play. Follow a Biblical principle of family affairs....
"It's a 'cover charge,' not a 'buy-in,'" one man said of the five-dollar fee. He explained the wording makes all the difference, in the eyes of the local vice squad.
Cover charges to enter bars or clubs are legal. A buy-in for a tournament makes it gambling, which is illegal under Georgia law. (We've entered two buy-in tournaments in Florida, but they were at a state-regulated poker room.)
Speaking personally, we don't any to take part in any illegal poker. We're reminded from the Bible:
Abstain from all appearance of evil. - I Thessalonians 5:22 (KJV)Of course, we realize some people consider it the "appearance of evil" merely to walk into a bar to play poker. They would turn to another verse:
"Therefore come out from the and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing and I will receive you." - II Corinthians 6:17But bars can have "clean things," as well as unclean things. We've never bought alcohol (which is not necessarily an "unclean thing") at any place where we've played. We settle for sodas, even though that usually means fewer bonus chips at the table.
(Besides, unclean things can show up anywhere. A man asked us the other day about smoking pot -- as we played a game of chess beneath a shady tree in our neighborhood.)
Our point is that a good Christian witness should uphold the law -- whether that means the rules of a poker game or city ordinances. After all....
Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. - II Timothy 2:5As we write this, the sports news of the day includes the strange case of a baseball pitcher who was thrown out of a game. Not for throwing at the batters -- but for having an illegal substance in his glove.
May you be fair and legal in everything you do, whether poker is a matter of work or play. Follow a Biblical principle of family affairs....
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. - Colossians 3:20
Thursday, June 14, 2012
If It Was Real: After Five (Years)
Today marks five years since we walked down the street to a bar in our city, to play our first live poker tournament. The goal in 2007 wasn't primarily on ministry; we wanted to see if we could compete against the other poker players in town.
We've had a good bit of success, over five years and 322 poker nights. Our final table percentage was in the 40-percent range for a long time, only to drop to around 35 percent in the last year or so. And we've finished "in the money" (winning cash) at live tournaments 17 times -- including a two-for-two record at Florida poker rooms, which offer prizes in the hundreds of dollars.
But what if we played in poker rooms or casinos all the time? We've kept track of that, using a tournament prize formula from a casino in our home area of Kansas City -- with a $50 buy-in paying $500 for first place, $400 for second, and on down to $100 for fifth.
Since we crossed the 300-game mark, we've made six final tables in 22 games. But we've only made the top five in two of them, and one of those was a fifth-place tie. We plug those into our earlier records, and here's the result:
BUY-INS: 322 nights x $50 = $15,600
First -- 5 ($2,500)
TIE for first: 1 ($450)
Second - 9 ($3,600)
Third -- 9 ($2,700)
TIE for third: 1 ($250)
Fourth - 12 ($2,400)
TIES for fourth:
4 two-way ($600)
1 three-way ($67)
Fifth -- 16 ($1,600)
TIES for fifth:
5 two-way ($250)
1 three-way ($17)
TOTAL -- 64 for $14,434
Our "buy-in investment" would have lost 7.5 percent over five years. But we would note in local tournaments, the odds often are stacked against us -- as we usually only buy one soda for extra poker chips, while other players accumulate tens of thousands through sandwiches and beer buckets. (Lil Kim's Cove even allows you to buy 15,000 extra chips for five dollars now.)
A few weekly tournaments in our city now have the Florida or casino format -- a buy-in tournament (normally five dollars) with NO extra chips given from the bar. The result is a bigger payout, and a more level "playing field" (OK, table) for all the players. But we have not entered one of those tournaments yet; our reason why is being held for another day.
In the meantime, we thank God for whatever success we've had -- both financially and in spreading "good news" about Jesus. After all, the Bible reminds us....
We've had a good bit of success, over five years and 322 poker nights. Our final table percentage was in the 40-percent range for a long time, only to drop to around 35 percent in the last year or so. And we've finished "in the money" (winning cash) at live tournaments 17 times -- including a two-for-two record at Florida poker rooms, which offer prizes in the hundreds of dollars.
But what if we played in poker rooms or casinos all the time? We've kept track of that, using a tournament prize formula from a casino in our home area of Kansas City -- with a $50 buy-in paying $500 for first place, $400 for second, and on down to $100 for fifth.
Since we crossed the 300-game mark, we've made six final tables in 22 games. But we've only made the top five in two of them, and one of those was a fifth-place tie. We plug those into our earlier records, and here's the result:
BUY-INS: 322 nights x $50 = $15,600
First -- 5 ($2,500)
TIE for first: 1 ($450)
Second - 9 ($3,600)
Third -- 9 ($2,700)
TIE for third: 1 ($250)
Fourth - 12 ($2,400)
TIES for fourth:
4 two-way ($600)
1 three-way ($67)
Fifth -- 16 ($1,600)
TIES for fifth:
5 two-way ($250)
1 three-way ($17)
TOTAL -- 64 for $14,434
Our "buy-in investment" would have lost 7.5 percent over five years. But we would note in local tournaments, the odds often are stacked against us -- as we usually only buy one soda for extra poker chips, while other players accumulate tens of thousands through sandwiches and beer buckets. (Lil Kim's Cove even allows you to buy 15,000 extra chips for five dollars now.)
A few weekly tournaments in our city now have the Florida or casino format -- a buy-in tournament (normally five dollars) with NO extra chips given from the bar. The result is a bigger payout, and a more level "playing field" (OK, table) for all the players. But we have not entered one of those tournaments yet; our reason why is being held for another day.
In the meantime, we thank God for whatever success we've had -- both financially and in spreading "good news" about Jesus. After all, the Bible reminds us....
Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. - Proverbs 11:4
Monday, February 27, 2012
The Last Page?
Two weeks ago we quoted a tournament director as saying new "league" rules would mean the end of poker nights at The Sports Page. Tonight we returned there, to see if he was right.
This time we used our half-price coupon more smartly -- eating a filling ribeye steak dinner. But this time, there indeed wasn't much in the way of poker. Only about 15 players were on hand -- apparently moved to a side room because the main bar featured the Daytona 500 stock car race.
But remember the explanation two weeks ago that players still could play for free, without being eligible for prize money? That was different tonight as well. We couldn't even join a table without playing five dollars. Or as one man put it: "Nobody's playing for fun."
That's too bad. We brought spare money to tip our server, but we didn't come prepared to "pay to play." In a casino or poker room, buy-ins obviously are expected. But at a sports bar on a local circuit known for "free poker," it stung a bit.
So our plan to play poker while watching our alma mater play basketball didn't quite turn out as we planned tonight. The "poker ministry" wound up being an explanation to our server about how we are not good -- only God the Father is. Are you familiar with that part of the Bible? Try to find it, and we'll have an explanation in a future post.
This time we used our half-price coupon more smartly -- eating a filling ribeye steak dinner. But this time, there indeed wasn't much in the way of poker. Only about 15 players were on hand -- apparently moved to a side room because the main bar featured the Daytona 500 stock car race.
But remember the explanation two weeks ago that players still could play for free, without being eligible for prize money? That was different tonight as well. We couldn't even join a table without playing five dollars. Or as one man put it: "Nobody's playing for fun."
That's too bad. We brought spare money to tip our server, but we didn't come prepared to "pay to play." In a casino or poker room, buy-ins obviously are expected. But at a sports bar on a local circuit known for "free poker," it stung a bit.
So our plan to play poker while watching our alma mater play basketball didn't quite turn out as we planned tonight. The "poker ministry" wound up being an explanation to our server about how we are not good -- only God the Father is. Are you familiar with that part of the Bible? Try to find it, and we'll have an explanation in a future post.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
A Real Game-Changer
"As of today, the rules for playing poker at The Sports Page have changed," the tournament director announced before Monday night's game. And it was NOT because we showed up for the first time in several months.
Up to now, the sports bar awarded cash prizes to the top two players -- and anyone who walked in and sat down had a chance to win the money. But the tournament director received a big surprise from the management Monday. The bar still will let anyone play for free -- but from now on....
This sudden change spoiled the mood at The Sports Page Monday night. It certainly changed our approach to the tournament; we didn't carry ten dollars with us, so we couldn't win a dime. And several people grumbled this effectively will mean the end of poker nights at the sports bar.
We don't know if the "end is near" there -- but it reminded us that many people are more comfortable when the rules are consistent. Texas Hold 'em works that way, after all; a flush beats a straight today every bit as much as it did 50 years ago.
The original "rule book" for mankind works the same way. God gave us a set of foundational laws long ago....
Some people think Jesus changed the rules of life's game when He came to Earth. But He said otherwise:
Read all of Matthew 5 and you'll find Jesus actually expanded the interpretation of one of the commandments (adultery), as well as other rules given to Moses. And the Lord went on to say....
Countries around the world still consider some of these commandments the settled law of the land today. But sadly, some places have abolished or ignored several of them.
The place where you play poker might change the "house rules" tonight or next week. But we can be thankful God's basic rules have not -- and obeying them is a way we can show love for our Creator (I John 5:3).
Up to now, the sports bar awarded cash prizes to the top two players -- and anyone who walked in and sat down had a chance to win the money. But the tournament director received a big surprise from the management Monday. The bar still will let anyone play for free -- but from now on....
- You have to pay a ten-dollar buy-in to be eligible for the prize money. (If a "freeroller" wins, he/she gets nothing.)
- Only first place gets the money.
- "The money" comes to only 25 percent of the total buy-in. Your $10 bill gets you a five-dollar voucher for food and drink that evening; $2.50 more goes into that night's jackpot, while the other $2.50 goes into a prize pool for a "major tournament" every couple of months.
This sudden change spoiled the mood at The Sports Page Monday night. It certainly changed our approach to the tournament; we didn't carry ten dollars with us, so we couldn't win a dime. And several people grumbled this effectively will mean the end of poker nights at the sports bar.
We don't know if the "end is near" there -- but it reminded us that many people are more comfortable when the rules are consistent. Texas Hold 'em works that way, after all; a flush beats a straight today every bit as much as it did 50 years ago.
The original "rule book" for mankind works the same way. God gave us a set of foundational laws long ago....
Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant -- the Ten Commandments. - Exodus 34:28
Some people think Jesus changed the rules of life's game when He came to Earth. But He said otherwise:
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. - Matthew 5:17
Read all of Matthew 5 and you'll find Jesus actually expanded the interpretation of one of the commandments (adultery), as well as other rules given to Moses. And the Lord went on to say....
"If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." "Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, "Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'" -- Matthew 19:17-18
Countries around the world still consider some of these commandments the settled law of the land today. But sadly, some places have abolished or ignored several of them.
The place where you play poker might change the "house rules" tonight or next week. But we can be thankful God's basic rules have not -- and obeying them is a way we can show love for our Creator (I John 5:3).
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
The law of the land
We've been too busy with a variety of other projects to do a 2009 year-end summary of our poker playing. Suffice to say the highlight was our night in October at a buy-in tournament in northwest Florida -- where a $40 investment brought back close to $200.
The most curious development when it comes to poker in our home city was a crackdown on where tournaments can be played. It didn't come from the police, but the city code officers and finance department. Read what we mean in the 4 Jan 10 entry at our other blog, The Blog of Columbus.
The most curious development when it comes to poker in our home city was a crackdown on where tournaments can be played. It didn't come from the police, but the city code officers and finance department. Read what we mean in the 4 Jan 10 entry at our other blog, The Blog of Columbus.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
The man with the bracelet
This isn't an WSOP bracelet. It's the man we met at poker night two weeks ago, with the W.W.J.D. bracelet on his wrist. We promised to tell you the rest of his story.
He told us he grew up a Christian, but drifted away from the faith. He didn't tell us what happened, but last October something led him back to a relationship with the Lord.
Now he's back to regular Bible reading, he told us -- and he's playing poker locally as well. Like others, he sees no verse in Scripture which specifically condemns gambling.
We suggested a big Bible word applies to how you play poker, as well as how you deal in general with finances. We'll look at that word another time -- but right now we ask: are you like this man we met? Have YOU drifted away from God, and are playing poker merely to get rich quick or get away from your personal problems?
If you're a drifter, here's some good news: God wants you back. In fact, He sent His Son Jesus Christ in part as a "buy-in" -- to buy you back from sins which hold you captive.
Titus 2:13-14 says Jesus Christ "gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good."
"Redemption" is a term old-timers might apply to green stamps. Collect enough stamps, and you can redeem them for a prize. In God's case, it's the blood of Jesus which redeems us from sin.
We're writing this during a "Holy Week" for many people -- when Jesus gave His life to redeem us. If you'd like to enter that agreement and come back to God as our playing partner did, follow Peter's advice in Acts 2:38. "Repent and be baptized.... in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins...." (KJV) If we can help you with that in any way, please e-mail us.
He told us he grew up a Christian, but drifted away from the faith. He didn't tell us what happened, but last October something led him back to a relationship with the Lord.
Now he's back to regular Bible reading, he told us -- and he's playing poker locally as well. Like others, he sees no verse in Scripture which specifically condemns gambling.
We suggested a big Bible word applies to how you play poker, as well as how you deal in general with finances. We'll look at that word another time -- but right now we ask: are you like this man we met? Have YOU drifted away from God, and are playing poker merely to get rich quick or get away from your personal problems?
If you're a drifter, here's some good news: God wants you back. In fact, He sent His Son Jesus Christ in part as a "buy-in" -- to buy you back from sins which hold you captive.
Titus 2:13-14 says Jesus Christ "gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good."
"Redemption" is a term old-timers might apply to green stamps. Collect enough stamps, and you can redeem them for a prize. In God's case, it's the blood of Jesus which redeems us from sin.
We're writing this during a "Holy Week" for many people -- when Jesus gave His life to redeem us. If you'd like to enter that agreement and come back to God as our playing partner did, follow Peter's advice in Acts 2:38. "Repent and be baptized.... in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins...." (KJV) If we can help you with that in any way, please e-mail us.
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