First-Century Gambling

When you hear a Baptist preacher say the word "gambling," you might think he's about to go on a tirade against poker and casinos. But we heard a radio sermon the other day which used that word in a very different light.

The minister talked about two "heroes" in the Bible who took a big risk. OK, it wasn't for a poker hand - but it was something bigger. One risked his life to help an apostle in the early church....

But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow workers and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger…. he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me. - Philippians 2:25, 30

The radio preacher put it this way: "God honors people like that - people who are willing to gamble it all away, risk it all, for the service of Christ."

Anytime a poker player goes all-in, his "life" in the tournament or cash game is at risk. A loss means elimination, or at least a trip to the ATM for more money. But that man with a long name risked everything "for the work of Christ." What sort of service is that? You might be surprised....

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance form the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. - Colossians 3:23-24

"Whatever you do," the verse says. If you're working for Jesus, be diligent about it. Can that include a poker night, which might not really be "work?" We think it can, if you focus on serving the Lord instead of your own desires of the flesh.

For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. - I John 2:16-17

The point is to go all-in for God, not yourself. Be an example and a witness for Jesus. And if you can have some fun along the way, enjoy it. That's what Epaphroditus did. Are you willing to take the same sort of gamble?

False Alarms, True Sense

Our last post mentioned the moment of fear we had driving to a poker night. A tire warning light started flashing as we crossed a high bridge. The last thing we wanted was a flat tire there - especially on a cold winter evening.

Thankfully, a tire store was still open on the other side of the bridge. There we learned a flashing light really means a "sensor battery" to monitor the tire had failed - not the tire itself. So we could drive on to the poker room with that knowledge.

Have you ever faced something liked that, when playing poker? You sense trouble in the middle of a hand - perhaps by how an opponent is betting or a "tell" you're perceiving. It could be right. Or you may discover it was all a bluff, to scare you out of a big win.

Some people say you should run at the first sign of danger. Others say you should "curse the torpedoes - full speed ahead." We consulted a famous book filled with wisdom for the best approach you should take....

For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have.... pierced themselves with many sorrows.... man of God, so run from all these evil things.... - I Timothy 6:10-11 (NLT)

This is interesting - if your "spidey sense" (to borrow from an old cartoon) indicates trouble, you should check yourself. Why would you plow on? Because you're greedy for a big pot, or want to get even with someone for an earlier pot? If that's the motive, the Bible recommends running the other way.

Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts... - II Timothy 2:22 (NLT)

(For some people, this could mean not playing poker at all - but that's not really our topic here.)

But you may be convinced that moving forward is the right thing to do. (For instance, it's easy when you have a nut flush.) If so, move ahead:

And the Lord said to Moses, "Why do you cry to me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward...." - Exodus 14:15 (NKJV)

At this point, God was intervening to pull a nation out of Egypt - even splitting the Red Sea in two to do it (verses 21-30). He can back your wise decisions as well. He can even come to your rescue when a decision appears wrong; we've seen this happen in tournaments more than once.

In the case of our warning light, we stopped for advice from an expert. Obviously, that's not allowed in the middle of a poker hand - but we've seen blackjack dealers offer some from time to time. And after a hand or tournament, it's worth pursuing....

The godly offer good counsel; they teach right from wrong. - Psalm 37:30 (NLT)

So feel free to comment - what was the biggest moment you've ever had in poker where your sense of trouble was right, and you had a "great lay-down"? Or even a bad one?

From Porn to Poker (and Vice Versa)

Most bloggers are thrilled to find people visiting their pages. We are, too - but for us, the thrill depends on what sort of visitors they are.

We've discovered in recent weeks we're getting a lot of visits from people on a pornography site. (No, we won't name it.) Maybe they're coming here to clean up their minds, after watching X-rated material. Or perhaps they've bookmarked us for changing the screen, if a boss or spouse is coming.

Some people might say poker and other casino activities lead down a path to porn. The reasoning comes from verses like this one:

For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the Father but from the world. - I John 2:16

Casino drink servers always seem to be female - and some of them admittedly can wear suggestive clothing. If men are not very careful, that can lead to lust. And that lust simply is not of God.

But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. - Matthew 5:28

These words of Jesus come after a reminder of the Biblical command against adultery (verse 27; Matthew 19:18) - and He noted even the wrong desire for women can be a sin.

If you happen to be here after browsing Internet porn, we urge you: repent of the porn habit. Develop a "God habit" instead. After all, God's word warns....

….for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. - I Chronicles 28:9

Visiting this blog regularly can help you develop that God habit. But it's even better to read the Bible daily. Think carefully about what it is. Then do what it says, as best you're able. Put the God habit even above a poker habit. It's much better for you, and normally doesn't require hiding anything.

(For more on developing a God habit, check this article we wrote several years ago.)

Quick In, Quick Out?

The first hand of the day brought us 7-7.  By the river, two more 7's had shown up - giving us quads!

It could have been a big jackpot hand -- and in a way, it was.  We were playing a computer in heads-up poker, on our last trip to a Kansas City casino.  We inserted $40 to start, and that first hand brought our total to $88.

We were trying to win back money we lost in a casino tournament, and pay for our trip across the state.  We could have cashed out immediately, taking only a small loss.  But we decided to play another hand.  And lost.  Then another.  And lost.  And then....

Well, we had a small winning streak recovering to about $50.  But we pressed our luck too much against a computer programmed to be wily -- and in a few minutes, our $88 was down to zero.

"Why don't we ever get out?" we recall a man asking with a bit of a sigh during a poker room discussion months ago.  That's a great question not only in cash games, but other aspects of our lives.

But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.  Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death  - James 1:14-15

A small first step which looks successful can lead down a slippery-slope into big trouble.  That's why it's important in poker to sense the tide is turning -- and have the wisdom to get out when it does.  Even famous characters in the Bible had to learn that lesson the hard way:

One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace.  From the roof he saw a woman bathing.  The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her.... Then David sent messengers to get her.  She came to him, and he slept with her. - II Samuel 11:2-4

The look alone was not enough.  Being told the woman was married (verse 3) was not enough.  King David had to "go all the way" with Bathsheba.  Read the rest of the chapter and you'll discover that lustful and covetous act led to an unexpected pregnancy, and a plot to have Bathsheba's husband killed.

But the thing David had done displeased the Lord. - II Samuel 11:27

We've heard ministers on Christian radio put it this way: Sin will take you farther than you want to go, and make you pay more than you wanted to pay. 

We think the same is true in poker.  Don't simply play with emotions or "gut" feelings.  Play with your brain active and functioning.  It might save you money, and even some heartbreak.  Believe us - because we've been there.

Poker Day 415: One Card Too Many?

Even though the name has changed, the first Sunday of every month remains the "Big Sunday" at River City Poker Room -- with a $50 buy-in, and a shot at a $1,000 top prize.  Still stinging over our big casino loss, we wondered if this might be a "third chance" to refill our envelope.  Tests would come early, even though blinds were lengthy and small at first:

BLINDS: 100/200

IN THE POCKET: Q-5 of clubs (suit may not be precise)

The tables are full, but the action at ours has been relatively tight so far.  We've tried to be active and play sensible hands, but our starting start of 20,000 has dropped by about 3,000.  Our notes don't show the suit of these cards -- but we assume they were suited, because we'd like to get in for the minimum in the Dealer position.  Except a woman in the Big Blind raises to 700.

"You realize it's only 200," we jokingly suggest.

"She wants your 200," the man in the Small Blind answers in her behalf.  Clearly.  So we call, and about half the table is in.

"Now she wants your 700," Mr. Small Blind notes.

ON THE FLOP: Q-5-3

She may want it, but this flop could make it hard to get it.  We have top two pair.  The table checks, but we don't.

"All right, then, we say - and bet 1,000.  The woman folds -- but then comes a surprise from a man across the table.  He raises all the way to 5,000.  This gives us a pause.  But we conclude he only has one pair - certainly not something like 3-3.  We call.  Everyone else steps aside.

ON THE TURN: 4

There's no flush threat showing.  But our opponent now fires again, betting 5,000 more.  Now we're concluding he has pocket Aces.  But if he does, we're still ahead.  It's a "lump in your throat" moment, but we call this big bet again.

ON THE RIVER: 2

This is absolutely the last thing we want to see.  If our opponent has an Ace, he just hit a straight -- and if he bets big again, we might face an early all-in moment of truth.

He thinks for a moment, then does something which happily surprises us.  He checks.  We check as well.

"Two pair," he says -- showing 2-4.  He made running pairs, but misses the open-ended straight draw.  We show our Q-5, and are thankful!  The lack of an Ace wins us a huge pot -- and we're well above the starting line, at 28,100 chips.

Our day went up and down that way -- a few good pot wins, a few losses.  The wins outnumbered the losses to the point that we reached a high of 52,000 chips.  But rising blinds and shrinking tables eventually did us in.  After a couple of all-in escapes, we tried again with A-10 -- but ran into Q-Q.  The board didn't save us, and we finished close to the semifinal table in 18th place.

MINISTRY MOMENT: A-K in the Big Blind brought us a "double-up" late in the tournament, which kept us around a few extra minutes.

"PTL!  I'd write if I was online right now," we said to the table.

"What does PTL mean?" the dealer asked.  We're glad she asked.

"Praise the Lord," we said.

Look through the Psalms of the Bible, and you'll find all sorts of reasons to praise God.  For instance:

I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. - Psalm 16:7

Uh-oh -- we have to treat this verse with care.  God can provide counsel, if we study His Word and listen carefully to people who preach and teach it.  But what about David's heart in this case?

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? - Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV)

We think Jeremiah is speaking in general terms here about the human condition.  So should David have followed the instruction of his heart?  Not always -- because at times he committed serious sinful mistakes, such as lusting after another man's wife and having that man killed to claim her as his own (II Samuel 11).

So how do you know when your heart is talking, as opposed to the counsel of God?  This can matter at poker tables, as well as other places.  Offer a comment if you'd like; we'll look at this more deeply in an upcoming post.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 145 final tables in 415 games (34.9%) - 24 cashes.

A Friendly Game

Awhile back we mentioned the dilemma we faced over what to say when we eliminate an opponent.  We were challenged online for writing "sorry."  So recently we've tried something else.  From a National League of Poker chat....


Dealer:  flopblogger wins Main Pot ($3,345) with Four of a kind, fives
dukerdot:  nice
Me:  Good try friends
Me:  Thanks
Dealer:  flopblogger wins Main Pot ($45) with High card, ace
drummer266:  who said anything about friends
drummer266:  lol
Me:  :-)

We know, we know -- some people take poker very seriously.  Their reactions to losing big pots at the river can make that obvious.  But we try to be friendly in our approach to tournaments.... or should we?

You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God?  Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. - James 4:4

At first reading, you might conclude a Christian is supposed to cut off all contact with non-believers.  In fact, we know a few sects which practice that -- even to the point of children separating completely from unbelieving parents.  But what does "the world" mean, exactly?

Do not love the world or anything in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For everything in the world -- the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does -- comes not from the Father but from the world. - I John 2:15-16

We don't have to look far to find items (or even people) which spark sinful cravings and lust in people.  But notice how Jesus explained this in a prayer for His disciples....

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.  They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. - John 17:15-16

There's a distinction between living in this world and being of this world.  We also think there's a distinction between friendly with "the world" and its sins, compared with the other people living and playing poker around us.  After all, Jesus also said this:

Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for."  Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. - Matthew 26:50

Jesus called the betraying disciple Judas Iscariot a "friend," even though the Lord knew a plot against His life was unfolding.

So we consider other poker players "friends," whether they're Christians or not.  But to borrow from Facebook, we consider fellow believers to be "close friends."  How close are you to Jesus - the Savior who desires to be your friend?

Poker Night 330: Of Flush and Flesh

While one of our relatives played for millions of dollars in Las Vegas tonight (still in as we write this), we played in the poker tournament we could afford.  In fact, we saved a couple of dollars at Uptown Wings -- because another player generously paid for our soda.  So this really was free poker, and blessings seemed to keep coming....

BLINDS: 50/100

IN THE POCKET: J-10 of spades

We won a pot early in the game.  Now we have suited connectors at a table that's playing relatively on the quiet side.  We limp in, with no one raising.

ON THE FLOP: 4h-5s-8s

A flush draw looks nice to us.  The fact that everyone around the table checks is even better.  "That got all the way around?!" a surprised woman right before us in the order says.

ON THE TURN: 9s

Don't worry -- the checking wave won't get all the way around this time.  We not only make a flush, but we have an open-ended straight flush draw.  So when the checks come to us, we bet 500.  Several players fold in response, but a man across from us raises to 1,000.

The woman who was surprised says -- well, several of us thought she said "fold."  We call the raise to 1,000 and see....

ON THE RIVER: 8

But hold it -- the woman now objects.  She declares we called out of turn, and this card should not count.

"I thought you said fold," we explain.

"I said, 'Flushy flushy,'" the woman clarifies -- and she said a couple of other things as well, which we apparently never noticed.  But she still held her cards (something which happens often in local tournaments, even after folds).  Eventually she decides to call, and the 8 is placed back in the deck for a reshuffle.  That's OK, though; we have a second chance at that huge straight flush.

ON THE RIVER II: 5

Oh well -- when our turn comes, we'll bet anyway.  We offer 1,200.  A man to our left calls, while the woman folds.

"Flushy flushy," we repeat as we show our spades.

"That's good enough," the opponent says.  We wind up gaining several thousand chips -- but are reminded of how importance it is to double-check what other players say during a hand, especially when they're next to us in the order.

It was a night of big hands for us, but also big chances missed.  A lowly 2-5 in the Big Blind led to a winning straight.  A-J brought top two pair on the flop, which we converted into a gain of more than 4,000.  Yet we folded 10-10 after raising 500, when players around us decided to go all-in.  A man who did that with 7-4 was busted by a man who simply paid a pair of 3's.  And we folded K-K at the one-hour break with an Ace on the board and two players all-in -- only to find they both had pocket Queens.

We reached the second hour with 12,500 chips -- but the stack dropped from there.  The big push for us came at the semifinal table with A-Q.  It brought two pair on the flop -- but a man across from us wound up with a winning straight.  He took another player out along with us, and we finished tied for 14th place.

MINISTRY MOMENT: Uptown Wings has a full bar, but it's technically considered a restaurant.  That means no smoking is allowed under state law -- and the woman we misunderstood longed at one point for a smoke.

"It's better that way," we said.  "The air is clean."

"Who needs clean air?" she answered.  "It's just a bar."

"Wouldn't you rather have a clean bar than a dirty bar?"

"Naw -- I expect a dirty bar.  You obviously have never been to...." The woman then named a nightclub with a history of nude dancing.

"I never have been there," we admitted.  "And I never plan to."

Why do we draw this sort of boundary line?  Because the New Testament reminds us:

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. - I John 2:16 (NASB)

Why do clubs offer women (or for that matter "Chippendale" men) dancing in the nude?  In our day and age, it's not because of hot and humid summer weather.  It's designed to appeal to desires.and longings which need to be contained to a marriage relationship.

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. - II Corinthians 7:1 (NASB)

God made humans originally out of dust (Genesis 2:7).  But He wants a people which is clean in every way -- not muddied and defiled by sin.  People who spend all day sweating in the summer sun should be able to appreciate cleanliness.  Or do you really think "mud runs" are better?


UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 117 final tables in 330 nights (35.45%) - 19 cashes.

Poker Night 286: The Last Resort

When the cards don't come and the players around you bet big, it cane make for a long quiet night at the poker table.  That can be depressing -- or it can be a test of your sense of timing.  Our test of the latter came tonight at Lil Kim's Cove....

BLINDS: 1,000/2,000

IN THE POCKET: Ace of spades - 4 of clubs

We won a hand in the first hour, when we had an Ace which paired on the flop.  But that's all we've won, as small pocket pairs were overwhelmed by big bets by opponents and missed flops.  Now we're in the small blind, starting the hand with 2,500 left.  Our blind is 1,000, and no one at the table of five raises ahead of us.

"I'm all-in," we decide after checking our cards; "500 more." (Over the blind, that is.)

The big blind throws in 500 to call.  But the dealer to our right decides that's not enough.  "I'll go 4,000 more."  Those are chips we can't win, but they put the big blind all-in with us.  That man calls, and a dealer who took two players out in the first hour by turning K-10 into a straight could take out two more.  He shows 9-9.

"An old-fashioned race here," the big blind notes.  And the cards are dealt quickly to match....

ON THE FLOP: Jc-7c-4s

We make a pair, but not the one we wanted.

ON THE TURN: 3c

Still in trouble....

ON THE RIVER: 8c

"I've got a club!" we point out.  The dealer's nines don't include one.  The big blind shows K-8, with no club.  So runner-runner keeps us alive with the main pot of 7,500, while the dealer takes a side pot and eliminates only one player.

"Good game," we try to say to the big blind -- but we gets up and leaves without acknowledging us.  And he wore a big cross around his neck, too.

That advanced us to the semifinal table, but the cards weren't much better there.  The next big blind there gave us 6-9, and we were forced to go all-in with our last 1,500 when 7-8 appeared at the turn.  But the river was J, and we missed our straight draw while another man did not.  We did shake his hand -- walking home in 12th place, and with our three-week final table streak snapped.

MINISTRY MOMENT: "What could be more wrong than cheating on another man's wife?"  A player said that out of the blue during the one-hour break.  We're not sure why, but it led to a little "guy talk" around the table about married women (primarily) increasingly engaging in infidelity.

"People aren't being faithful," we said.  And that's sad -- for the sake of their families, and also because God takes a marriage covenant seriously.

If a man commits adultery with another man's wife -- with the wife of his neighbor -- both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death. - Leviticus 20:10

That punishment may sound straight out of Saudi Arabia or the Taliban -- but it was part of the broad Old Testament law called the "Torah."  Instead of loosening the rules, Jesus had this to say:

But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. - Matthew 5:28

But wait, you may be saying -- didn't Jesus forgive a woman who was caught in adultery?  Yes, He did.  We'll consider that in an upcoming post.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 105 final tables in 286 nights (36.7%) - 17 cashes.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER TOTAL: Full tournaments - 184 point wins in 798 games (23.1%), 63 final tables, 7 cashes.  One-table sit-n-goes: 8-13-9-3-3.  We haven't played at NLOP much in recent days, due to a busy schedule and the site's transition to a new system.

POKER STARS,NET TOTAL: Pretend cash games - $65,624, up $2,980.

Winning at Love

Some players in online poker have outrageous screen names -- and that can lead to some downright bizarre heads-up matches.  We couldn't resist commenting on this recent clash....


pornking: nothin ever laid in stone
Me: Porn vs. love
Dealer: love1more wins Main Pot ($2450) with Full house, jacks full of fives
Me: Love prevails.
Me: (as it should)

Yes, you read it correctly -- "love1more" defeated "pornking."

We're not sure why anyone would want to attach "porn" to their name.  But casinos sometimes come close to the pornographic line in their advertising, with pictures of attractive and seductively-dressed women.  We've never been in a poker room where the dealers looked that sexy.  But the appeal with women has something in common with the appeal for men to gamble....

You lust, and have not; you kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain.... You ask and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts. - James 4:2-3 (KJV)

Lust is a bad-sounding Bible word -- and the Bible shows nothing really good about it.  In the original Greek New Testament, this word refers to a "longing" for something.

Not all longings are bad, but some of them can be dangerous.  Long too much for (or lust after) a payday at a poker cash game, and you could wind up broke.  Lust after displays of pornography, and you can ruin a marriage or healthy romantic relationship.

We think it's better to have a longing for love -- as in the love of God.  In fact....

Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment." - Matthew 22:37-38

How do we do that?  The Bible offers several ways:

This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome. - I John 5:3
Each man should give what he had decided in his heart to give.... for God loves a cheerful giver. - II Corinthians 9:7

We invite you to search through the Bible and add to this list.  (Leave a comment with what you find.)  Then do what the apostle Paul recommends.  Instead of lusting or longing for destructive things, or even people....

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children, and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. - Ephesians 5:1-2

Sunday Rewind: Guarding the Borders

"For someone who's a Christian, you have a dirty mind," a man said to us as he tried to show us a video on his cell phone the other night.

"Be wise as a serpent, but harmless as a dove," we responded as we turned away. We quoted the words of Jesus in Matthew 10:16 (KJV). The apostle Paul explained it a different way:

Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you: but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. -- Romans 16:19

We don't need to watch sinful behavior (even if it's a fake-out) to know it's out there. We've noted before how a lot of free poker tournaments occur in bars -- places known for alcohol, smoking, profane language and more.

The Bible is filled with lists about things believers should avoid. In this case, we chose to protect what fundamentalist preachers like to call the "eye gate."

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. -- I John 2:16 (KJV)

Your blogger happens to be a single man, who chooses to save his body for marriage. It's a daily choice, and we don't need even suggestions of pornographic images to get in the way of that.

If we err on the side of caution in what we see, that's OK. Come to think of it, that's a lot like playing poker. Stick around in a hand to see one card too many, and you take a big risk -- potentially a disastrous one.