Compliments of the Day

"A nice word is always welcome," the female dealer said as she swapped into our poker table.

We picked up on that. "OK. You look very nice today," we told her. "You're being a complimentarian."

Being a what? Admittedly, that's a word we'd never heard until the last couple of weeks, much less used. The Southern Baptists have had an in-house debate for about a year about "complementarianism" - the religious idea that males and females have different roles which complement each other.

But did you notice how we changed the spelling in our first quote? We decided to endorse the practice of complimenting (with an I) other people. This is something both males and females can do - even in the middle of a tense poker game.

An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up. - Proverbs 12:25

It can be as simple as complimenting an opponent on a well-played hand. Or you can try what we've done recently - complimenting a player wearing an out-of-the-ordinary hat.

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. - Proverbs 16:24

But we'd put a small warning on this habit. Don't go over the top from complementarian to flatterer - using words of praise that you really don't mean.

A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin. - Proverbs 26:26

To put it another way: look for the good in others, as you look for good cards to play. It could make your next poker game more of a game, and less of a grind.

Poker Night 543: Bunker Mentality

In our first-ever ten live poker tournaments in 2007 in Georgia, we made three final tables. In our first ten in southern Kansas, we made seven and cashed three times. Wednesday night marked tourney #10 in our new home area. Could we keep succeeding at Hollywood Casino Indiana?

BLINDS: 200/400

IN THE POCKET: J-J

It's another small, late-arriving Wednesday night crowd. The tournament started with six players, but now has a full table of ten. We took a loss betting A-Q early, and still are a bit below the starting 12,000 chips.

This nice high pair in late position inspires us to raise to 1,000. Only two players call.

ON THE FLOP: 4-J-J

Well, what do you know - quads! We're last in line to bet, and are ready to wait for our opponents to take a dare. Only they check this flop. So do we, of course.

ON THE TURN: 2

Now do we have any takers? Sadly for us, no. The two opponents check. We do the same.

ON THE RIVER: 8

Now who wants to be daring? The first man checks once more. But a man down the table from us takes a stab at the pot, betting 1,100. Can we entice more?

"How about.... 2,500?!" we say as we raise.

Player #1 gives it up. The man who bet quickly does the same. He probably concludes he was trapped. But we don't tell him so; in fact, this blog is first to reveal that we had quads at all.

On a night with 14 total players, we had no big breakthrough pots - and no huge losses, either. A-Q in our pocket eliminated one player, and we strolled to the final table with about 13,000 chips. Then we won more modest pots, to stay alive while the field dwindled.

An all-in bet with two hearts was rewarded with a flush on the river, and we were in the final five.... then four! But as blinds went up, we had to push with anything hopeful. Our last stand was with K-10, but they lost to pocket 3's.

Final result: Some remarkable deja vu. We finished fourth in Lawrenceburg for the third tournament in a row - and fourth in six nights there! And because the turnout was small, we missed the money again; only the top two were paid.

MINISTRY MOMENT: As the final table dwindled, a woman across the table received a "walk" in the Big Blind - meaning no one at the table called. The very next hand found her in the Small Blind, while we were in the Big Blind. No one else called - but she did.

"You see, he gave you a walk," we said tongue-in-cheek. "You can do the same. It's called paying it forward."

Then we mentioned a radio station in our area which actually encourages the "pay it forward" approach at restaurant drive-through lanes. It's a way for people to show the love of God to others - even to complete strangers:

Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. - Ephesians 4:32 (NLT)

It's one of many traits Christians are expected to have, to be a light to others around them....

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. - Colossians 3:12 (NLT)

This may seem like a hard thing to do at first. After all, poker is a game built on taking (or more politely, "winning") chips away from other players. But if you try it, you might find it's a hidden specialty you've had all along:

If your gift is serving others, serve them well.... If it is giving, give generously.... And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. - Romans 12:7-8 (NLT)

The late Glen Campbell put it well in a song, which is still sung in some churches: "You've got to try a little kindness." There are creative ways to do it, even to fellow poker players. What suggestions would you make? Write a comment if you have some.
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UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 200 final tables in 543 games (36.8%) - 41 cashes. After ten tournaments in the Ohio Valley, we have eight finals and one "bubble boy" payoff.

In the Eye of the Storm

Many poker games are friendly and good-natured - an evening for buddies to get together and have a good time. Many of our tournaments have been that way, even at casinos.

But what we saw in our first tournament at JACK Casino Cincinnati was different. Several of the players were dead serious - barking at each other and accusing them of committing violations worthy of penalties. It was a bit like WWE Monday Night Raw (even though that was not on any of the TV screens in the room).

In fact, a man to our right at the start of the evening seemed ready to draw us into the fuss. When we eliminated a player who went all-in, he bumped our chair with delight - the closest thing he could do to hugging us after a hockey goal. Apparently we'd knocked out one of his main rivals.

What do you do when it feels like you're surrounded by Phil Hellmuths having bad days? We picked up on the mood right away, so here's part of what we did....

1. FOCUS ON THE GAME. Instead of getting caught up in the circus around us, we played our cards (with perhaps one exception) as we normally would. There's a Biblical reminder along those lines....

"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" - Matthew 14:28-30

Peter did something miraculous when he stepped out in faith and looked toward Jesus. When he saw stormy circumstances, trouble happened.

Many people pick on Peter for losing that focus - but consider this. Where were Jesus's other disciples at that moment? They "were terrified" and never left the boat (verse 26). Refusing to play poker until a stormy table calms down could cost you a big opportunity.

2. NOTE VIOLATIONS PEACEFULLY. At least twice during the tournament, a man to our left acted on his cards before we played ours.

"Uhhhhhhh....." we said loudly when it happened. That's all we needed to say; the dealer and others at the table got the message and responded accordingly. And we didn't rub it in to the other man. He had to skip some hands, and that was sufficient.

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath.... - Romans 12:18-19

And along those lines....

3. BE SPORTSMANLIKE. When we finally lost at the final table, we walked around the table and shook the hand of the man who eliminated us. We didn't notice many others people doing that, but it's something we've always done.

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. - I Thessalonians 5:15

Take those small steps at a poker table - whether the mood is sunny or stormy - and you're likely to stand out as different from the crowd. But it probably will be in a respectful way.

Luck or Something Like It III

We've been going over an article our church pastor wrote several years ago about whether you should really give "luck" any credit for things going well or badly - in poker or anywhere else.

In our first post on this topic, we noted God provides "blessings" as opposed to luck. Now for a third time, we point to this part of the pastor's article:

When blessings come upon an individual, they typically are linked to physical and/or spiritual obedience and good works. God plainly tells us that blessings are a result of our actions.

But here's a problem with that statement. God not only provides blessings to whomever He pleases - He expects you to provide blessings, too. Here's proof:

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. - Romans 12:14

How often do you see that in a poker room? Especially in some tense cash game?

It's easy to trash-talk your opponent when he hits a two-out river card to win a big pot or stay alive in a tournament. Yet the proper approach in God's sight is the approach that isn't natural. It means biting your tongue, if that's what it takes.

But I tell you, Do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool.... - Matthew 5:34-35

Swearing and foul language can happen often at a poker table. God wants your response to borrow from a recent hit country song - be "humble and kind." (Which strangely comes from an album with an old-school "four-letter word" in its title.)

You have heard that it was said, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.... - Matthew 5:43-44

Jesus Christ offered this advice. Then He lived it....

When they hurled their threats at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. - I Peter 2:23

Can you do that - not only keeping quiet and calm during a poker tournament, but even offering blessings to opponents along the way? It might not be easy. But with the help of God's Holy Spirit, it can be done.

So we close by borrowing from a late preacher whose voice is still heard on radio. Instead of counting on something lucky to happen, "walk with the King today.... and be a blessing."

Sad About Chad

The World Series of Poker is still going -- but there may be heavy hearts among many players.  It was stunning to learn today that one of the more popular pros on tour had died, much too soon.

Chad Brown completed in some of the biggest poker tournaments.  Yet in many ways, he wasn't the stereotypical poker player.  He was well-built and handsome, not frumpy.  His background was in baseball and acting, not really as a "card shark."

And we remember him best for what a TV commentator said when he was eliminated from an event: "One of the nicest guys on tour."  Brown actually shook the hands of players who beat him.  Trust us to say not many players do that, at any level of poker.

A rare form of cancer took Chad Brown's life at age 52.  For the poker players who are missing him, we'd like to offer some words of comfort.

If a man dies, will he live again?  All the days of my hard service I will wait for my renewal to come. - Job 14:14

The story of Job is that of a man who endured extensive trials, which God allowed Satan to bring on him.  The devil was not allowed to take Job's life (2:6) -- but even in the worst of times, Job looked ahead to a "renewal".  So did other Bible characters,

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed -- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. - I Corinthians 15:52

Death was like sleep, in the mind of the apostle Paul.  He also looked forward to a "change."  And as a believer in Jesus Christ (verse 57), Paul had faith about what that change would be....

For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. - I Corinthians 15:53

We don't know the religious background of Chad Brown.  But believers in Jesus have hope that they'll receive eternal life, as Jesus did when He was resurrected from the grave (Romans 1:4).

May all poker players follow the sort of good example Chad Brown set at the table.  And may they be filled with a hope that goes beyond the table, beyond this life -- a hope of a life with Jesus which will never end.

Poker Night 392: A-One and a-Two

Because of the NLOP Senior Championship Monday night, our live poker activity for this week has been adjusted.  Wednesday night found us at Soho Bar and Grill, where a young man at our table declared poker is all about lying.  Is it?  Really?  Let's see what this hand brought....

BLINDS: 50/100

IN THE POCKET: A-2 offsuit

"It's my big blind," the young man to our right says as the cards are dealt.  He's the man who said poker is about lying.  In this case, that's what he's doing -- because he's second in line to act.

"You're bluffing even before the cards are dealt," we say with a joking scold.

But we're in need of some good cards.  A few early entries have fallen flat, at a table where one woman already has admitted she's drunk and a man says he's had "seven beers."  Since all we're drinking is a bottle of cola, you might think we have the advantage against them.  But we realize tipsy players sometimes still can have brain power to win a hand.  So we limp in, and no one raises.  (The "Joker" to our right folds.)

ON THE FLOP: A-K-7

The top pair comes -- but we realize something else: our "kicker" card is dreadful.  The seven-beer man leads off the betting, by tossing out 300.  A man across from us calls.  We do the same, thankful that no one is going bigger.

ON THE TURN: 2

The second pair comes!  And now we want that beer-filled man to make another bet.  But after a moment, he checks.  So does the player between us.  Now it's time to move.

"Pat Robertson bet," we say; "700 Club."

That's 100 for each beer, for the man to our left.  He calls.  The man across from us thinks about it a while, then calls as well.

"I'm all in," chimes in the liar to our right.  No - he folded pre-flop.

"You're out of the hand, yet you're still bluffing," we say in pretend shock.  But enough of the comedy relief....

ON THE RIVER: 9

At this point we're privately puzzled about what the other players have.  Is someone holding an Ace, with a higher second pair?  The players ahead of us check, and we decide we've been daring enough.  We check as well.

"Acey-ducey," we say as we show our cards.  And that's good enough to win the pot!  One man shows Q-J, which means he missed a straight draw.  The man with seven beers never shows his hand.

We won an even bigger pot in the first hour with A-Q, when the beer-filled man tried to run us off a Queen on the flop with big bets despite only having King high.  That led us to the one-hour break at 12,000 chips.  Then in Hour 2, he lured us down an expensive path with K-J.  We went all-in on the turn with no pair, but were saved by a Jack on the river.

After another save when running cards came to bring us a straight, we had 7,000 chips left at the two-hour mark.  That was barely enough for a 10,000-chip Big Blind, after a "color up" of low-value chips.  And of course, our turn for that came seconds before the Tournament Director made the "final table" call.

We were forced in with K-4, and the board didn't pair.  A man with a 9 hit the flop, eliminating the beer-filled man along with us.  Despite finishing in a tie for eighth place (ninth in points), we missed the final table.

MINISTRY MOMENT: As we walked to the bar to leave a tip for our soda, we passed a man who told us, "It's all good."

"What is all good?" we asked him.

The man named John proceeded to give an inspirational testimony unlike any we've heard at local churches recently.  John says he's been homeless five months, and thought about committing suicide after losing several relatives to death in a six-month span.  But now he tries to think on the positive side.

"I wake up every day.  I have food to eat."  (He didn't say how, and we didn't ask.)  "No one took my stuff.  And every night before I go to bed, I thank the Lord for helping me through another day."

John pulled out of his rear pocket a booklet written by TV preacher Kenneth Copeland.  John says he reads it every day, and is growing to believe God more and more -- including taking time to attend church each weekend.

But one of John's motives for living sounded curious.  "I still have people I want to p**s off," he told us -- as in people who apparently wish "I wasn't around anymore."

We suggested an ever better way for John to make people upset -- to do kind acts toward them.  That's actually the Biblical approach:

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you. - Proverbs 25:21-22

We've heard people scoff at such an approach -- and sadly, the scoffers have included a Christian minister or two.  But Jesus stated clearly....

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.... - Matthew 5:44

Or as the apostle Paul put it later....

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. - Romans 12:21 

John says even though he's homeless, he doesn't ask people for money.  Yet he told us God provides his needs, and he hopes to get out of his homeless situation soon.

We promised John we'd pray for him, and we ask you to join us in that.  There's nothing better in easing the pain of a missed final table than meeting a man who looks on the bright side -- even if you might not see a reason for him to do it.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 136 final tables in 392 games (34.7%) - 20 cashes.

Poker Night 385: Middle of the Road

An old phrase says familiarity can breed contempt.  In a poker circuit, familiarity can breed predictions -- as other players think they can figure out what you have.  So every now and then, changing your playing habits can pay dividends.  Watch what happened tonight at Lil Kim's Cove....

BLINDS: 25/50

IN THE POCKET: A-8 offsuit

The game has been underway only a few minutes, so most of the players seem to be in a "warm-up" mode.  No one raises pre-flop, and we're comfortable calling with this.

ON THE FLOP: 8-3-Q

To borrow from some poker regulars, we "got a piece of that."  It's not the best piece -- or is it?  When the play checks to us, we try to find out.  We bet 200 with middle pair.  That's apparently enough of a message to most of the table, which folds.  But a man to our immediate right calls.  We're heads-up.

ON THE TURN: 10

Our opponent is first in line to play -- and he thinks long and hard about what he should do.  We're not sure what he's thinking.  He finally checks.  That was our plan all along, so we check as well.

ON THE RIVER: 2

Our opponent doesn't spend as much time on this card.  He checks, and we respond by betting 300.

"He must have the 10," someone to our left says.

"Naw -- he's got the Queen, man," guesses a man across the table.

How nice of them to put more doubt in our opponent's mind -- not to mention throwing him off the track.  He folds.

"I was chasing a flush," the man to our right admits.  He also had a 3, but presumed we had that beat.  After a moment of hemming and hawing, we finally admit we did have something better.  But we don't say exactly what it was -- well, until now.

We won a few more pots in the first hour, but then tried for a big gain with J-J and lost to a straight.  Yet we reached the one-hour break with 16,000 chips (after starting with 12,000).  Another win in the second hour helped us reach our third live final table in a row.

But the cards didn't turn in our favor after that.  Facing decisive blinds at the end of Hour 2, we went all-in with A-J under the gun.  An Ace came for us on the river -- but a man to our right made a full house well before then.  He eliminated us in eighth place.

MINISTRY MOMENT: We joined a semifinal table as a couple of men talked about borrowing cigarettes.  We think someone was turned down, because he mentioned how the other man wouldn't "be his brother's keeper."

"Maybe by not giving him a cigarette," we said, "he is being his brother's keeper by not giving him cancer."

The other man understood our point of view.  He actually brought up a concept that's rooted in the first book of the Bible:

Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?"  "I don't know," he replied.  "Am I my brother's keeper?" - Genesis 4:9

The first part of Cain's answer almost certainly was a lie.  Instead of "keeping" Abel, Cain killed him in a field -- and did it despite a personal warning from God about controlling his anger (verses 5-7).

If you're hot-tempered at a poker table, you risk going "on tilt" and making disastrous decisions.  You also might say things which needlessly offend and upset other players.  It's best to follow the apostle Paul's advice....

"In your anger do not sin."  Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. - Ephesians 4:26-27

Paul goes on to recommend getting all "rage and anger" out of your life -- replacing those emotions with Christ-like virtues of kindness and compassion (verses 31-32).

But let's ask you about our original point.  Would you give a cigarette to someone who asked for one?  And what does it mean to be "your brother's keeper", anyway?  Leave a comment with your thoughts, and we'll explore this further in a future post.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 134 final tables in 385 nights (34.8%), 20 cashes.  We've made three final tables in a row for the first time since December 2011, when we only played one night a week.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER TOTAL: Full tournaments - 282 point wins in 1,346 games (21.0%), 92 final tables, 12 cashes, 10 wins.  No-River Hold 'em - 24 point wins in 92 games (26.1%), 19 final tables, 1 cash win.

We didn't take notes on the action, but we had a long successful night in the "Wild Wednesday" tournament.  After nearly five hours online, we finished fourth out of 778 players to win some nice prize money!  We also finished fourth out of 39 players in a Monday qualifying game.

POKER STARS.NET TOTAL: Pretend cash games - $85,970, down $1,048.

Poker Night 338: The Lucky Loser

The schedule finally worked out tonight, so we could stroll over to Lil Kim's Cove where poker night is currently Tuesday.  But many things that we tried to do went wrong.  For instance, we reached over to make change from the pot for a player -- and spilled our cup of soda on the table.  But could we clean up later, in a different way?

BLINDS: 200/400

IN THE POCKET: K-K

We were generously given 5,000 extra chips by the Tournament Director for that cup of soda -- and that's the biggest gain we've had all evening.  The players at our table are betting like they're trying to match one of Judge Marilyn Milian's lines on The People's Court: "Quien es mas macho?"  But they're surprisingly tame in this hand -- only calling in the last hand before the one-hour break.

After several missed flops, we have 6,050 chips (by our count) -- and we've dealt ourselves Kardashians.  Other players might have thrown out thousands.  Instead, we raise to a modest 1,000.

"I've got to do that," the player to our left says as he calls.  Several players jump in, but don't re-raise.

ON THE FLOP: 6-A-7

Ugh.  That Ace was the last thing we wanted to see.  Sure enough, a man bets 1,000.  There are callers.  We choose to call, and hope the next card is better.

ON THE TURN: 8

Nope, it's not.  And the man who offered 1,000 before now spreads out 5,000.  That would put us all-in, and we don't dare risk that.  We fold, while a couple of players call.

ON THE RIVER: 8

The betting escalates without us, until one player is all-in for 32,000.  He gets called -- and shows 8-6!  Running cards came for a full house, and our fold winds up being wise.

We erred during the "color-up" which followed -- not noticing one of the black chips we had (worth 1,000) really was blue (worth 100).  Blame the bar's dark lighting.  But the Tournament Director had mercy on us when we offered it for a Big Blind, and exchanged blue for black.  We lost with that hand, too.  And we were down to 2,000 lowly chips.  But then....

"Final table," the Director declared.  On an evening when only about 18 players showed up, despite our mistakes and bumbling, we reached the last table of seven without winning a pot!

Playing carefully and without ego paid off -- but when we saw A-9 in the Small Blind, we had to put our last 500 in.  It failed to pair, while a man paid two pair with Kings and Jacks.  We finished seventh, but thankful to God for wisdom in knowing what not to play.

MINISTRY MOMENT: "Poker used to be fun," a woman moaned to us before the tournament.  She said it's not that way anymore, because some players are becoming "bullies."

We agreed it's not nice to be a bully.  "We should be compassionate," we said in a spur-of-the-moment sermonette; "we should we caring, we should be kind."

There's one character trait we didn't mention in that list -- being godly.  But the traits we mentioned are part of that.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.... And over all these virtues put on love, which bids them all together in perfect unity. - Colossians 3:12, 14

The apostle Paul compares these virtues to putting on clothing.  That's because, as strange as it may sound, they're not the sort of things most people naturally have.

The sinful mind is hostile to God.  It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. - Romans 8:7

Our human nature is sinful.  So we need to put on godly virtues every day.  How can we do that?

You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.  And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. - Romans 8:9-10

Is that Holy Spirit dwelling in you?  Are you sure?  Review Peter's standards mentioned in Acts 2:38, and make sure there's no doubt.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 121 final tables in 338 games (35.8%) - 19 cashes.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER TOTAL: Full tournaments - 257 point wins in 1,090 games (23.6%), 81 final tables, 10 wins, 9 cashes.

We mentioned our fourth-place finish in an afternoon tournament last week.  We haven't mentioned it was followed by a sixth-place finish the very next day!  That means we won NLOP cash two days in a row, after a drought of more than a year.

POKER STARS.NET TOTAL: Pretend cash games - $80,578, up $1,014.

After the Storm

Professional poker players are known for keeping their cool during a game.  But of course, the ones who don't make for "great television" -- in the same way outlandish actions are more likely to appear on the evening news than ordinary trips to dinner.

The shouting match at our poker table this week over a misdealt card didn't have to happen.  Several people could have handled things much better. For instance....


1. The woman who lost the big hand vented all the way across the table at the dealer.  Jesus taught a better approach:

If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you.  If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. - Matthew 18:15

Jesus went on to add a second step you should take, before getting everyone else (in His example "the church") involved -- getting "one or two others" to hear the dispute (verses 16-17).


2. The dealer verbally apologized.  That's good.  But he did it on the loudness level of the complainer, almost trying to shout her down.  That's not so good.

A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. - Proverbs 15:1 (KJV)

In this case, the upset woman probably never would have heard a quiet apology which interrupted her.  So our approach probably would have been to let the woman speak her piece -- and apologize quietly once she was finished.


3.  The Tournament Director heard the argument -- but when he walked over, he told everyone involved to settle it among themselves.  We're not sure if he had anything better to do, but he missed an opportunity:

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. - Romans 14:19

Or as Jesus put it: "Blessed are the peacemakers" (Matthew 5:9).  Many approaches could have been used to bring peace to this argument.  Perhaps he could have let each party speak their piece uninterrupted, then offering guidance.  (If you have a better idea, please leave a comment.)


Someone noted to us during a break this shouting match occurred in a "free poker" game.  Yes, first-place prize money was at stake -- but nowhere close to the millions of dollars at the World Series of Poker Main Event.  So was the loud argument really worth it?  The Bible offers a much better idea:

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. - Ephesians 4:31-32

P.S. Neither party in the argument made it to the final table.  We did -- along with a woman who admitted she intentionally walked away from the table during the spat so she wouldn't have her "blood boil."  Is there a lesson there for all of us?

Poker Night 332: The Pushy Teacher

With two options for Monday night live poker in our area, tonight we went to the less expensive place.  The Red Barn has soda for $1.50, beating Uptown Wings by 52 cents.  But once the game begins, low prices are not the objective for some poker players....

BLINDS: 25/50

IN THE POCKET: A-5 offsuit

The night is young, we've missed on a hand or two, and we're in the Small Blind.  An Ace gets us dreaming big dreams - but that other card leads us simply to call.  No one at the table of six raises.

ON THE FLOP: A-J-10

Now we're in lead position with top pair.  What was that line about big dreams again?  We bet 250.  Two men call; other players fold.

ON THE TURN: K

Uh-oh -- a potential dream-killer.  Four cards are showing for a "Broadway" straight.  We check in caution, and a man to our left leaps into action.  He bets 1,175.  Another man across from us seems to be a newcomer; he has difficulty figuring out the chips, but he calls.  Now it's up to us.

"I was going to call this," we say satirically, "but you bet that extra 75."  We fear the worst, and fold.

ON THE RIVER: Q

Arrrrrgh!  Now a Broadway straight is on the table!  And there's no threat of a flush.  But don't go away -- the drama isn't over yet.

"I'm all-in," the man to our left declares.  The apparent novice is thrown by this.

"You have more than I do," he says hesitantly.

"I'm all-in," his opponent says again.

"But you don't have to fold," a player to our right advises.  He already mentioned in passing the "best hand" was on the board -- but he can't say anything more now, because that would be considered coaching another player.

The novice looks at the board, thinks it over for several seconds -- then throws in his cards!  He didn't realize the only way he could lose part of the pot was surrendering.

But the man who ran us off at the turn has a heart -- and we don't mean in his hand.  "I'm going to split it," he tells the novice.  "Learn a lesson."  As the chips are divided, he explains how the straight could not be beaten.

(It turns out both men held Queens, so they hit straights on the turn while we did not.)

That wasn't the only unusual hand of the night.  The Tournament Director came to our table, laid a hand over our chips and declared we'd win a pot within two hands.  Sure enough -- K-9 of hearts in the Small Blind turned into a winning flush on the second hand!  Then after the one-hour break, we hit a big hand on the river (no further details, please) to win a big pot -- then made it two in a row, when 10-5 became two pair on the flop.


But then came a lapse which proved fatal.  With A-J offsuit, we called a woman's doubling of the blind to 2,000.  She bet 2,000 more on the flop, which we called with mere "overcards."  The turn was J, giving us top pair -- but she bet 5,000.


"With pocket 9's?!" a man to our left asked.  She said nothing.  We smelled a bluff with something like A-K, so we called.


The river card was weak, but she bet 5,000 more.  We called for our last 3,500 with top pair -- but she displayed Q-Q.  We should've known better.  We left in 17th place -- but with an idea from that woman for a future blog post; we'll post it when our schedule permits.


MINISTRY MOMENT: We defer tonight and give credit to the man at our left.  He simply could not claim that entire pot from the novice player.  Instead, he turned the hand into a "teachable moment."  Whether he realized it or not, he showed a Christian virtue -- even if he did run us out of the hand in the process:

Rather, as servants of God, we commend ourselves in every way.... in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love. - II Corinthians 6:4, 6

Some poker players can be downright merciless and ruthless.  They make big bets and raises in tournaments so often that they get labeled "bullies" of the table.  But we offer this case to show not all players are that way during games.  Kind, understanding moments sometimes happen.

In fact, the other Monday night poker option reflected that tonight as well.  The Tournament Director at Uptown Wings offered bonus chips to anyone bringing donations of school supplies.  The writer of II Corinthians might applaud this, too:

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.... for God loves a cheerful giver. - II Corinthians 9:6-7

Some would say this wasn't pure giving -- and that's a valid point.  There was a reward in exchange for the donation, in terms of bonus chips.  But encouraging poker players to give instead of take sets a good example in the community.


UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 117 final tables in 332 nights (35.2%) - 19 cashes.

Cruel to be kind?

"There's no sorry in poker," someone wrote at an NBC Sports tournament the other day. We had just written "sorry" to a player we eliminated.

We've asked recently if it's possible to be nice at a poker table -- something expressed in words such as "sorry." While the word "nice" is not in main Bible translations, we found this in I Peter 3:8-9:

"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing...."

A compassionate approach cares about other people. Yes, the object of the game is to eliminate your opponent -- but you don't have to resort to "trash talk" to do it. Have concern for others and their situations. After all, that's how Jesus operated.

Kindness and goodness are among the fruit of God's spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. They're listed alongside peace and patience, which are valuable traits for any poker player to have. If you've developed the latter two, why not work on the others?