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.

Clever or Deceptive?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Remember As You Play....

So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. - I Peter 2:1 (NLT)

We heard a preacher read this verse on radio the other day, and immediately thought it had "poker night" all over it.

Can you understand why? Those traits can come up easily at a cash game or a tournament.

The first one is a big one: deceit. Many would say that's a key part of the game. You deceive your opponent into thinking you have a big hand, when you're bluffing with little - and vice versa.

The Contemporary English Version translates it this way: "Quit trying to fool people." And the Bible says that's something Jesus never did:

He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. - I Peter 2:22 (NLT)

So how did a New Testament apostle get away with it? The same Greek root word appears here....

But be it so, I did not burden you; nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile. - II Corinthians 12:16 (KJV, emphasis added)

Is the apostle Paul admitting a sin here? A few Bible translations indicate he didn't - that he was presenting contentions other people made about his ministry. One Bible commentary says there's actually a sarcastic tone to this verse, in a comparison to other ministers:

But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve. - II Corinthians 11:14-15 (NLT)

Those "servants" are called "false apostles" in verse 13.

Our words can deceive. Even a big bet at a key moment can do it. Can you keep that deceitful approach to the poker table? And can you find a way to strain it out of how you play - even if others around you do it?

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; be you therefore wise as servants, and harmless as doves. - Matthew 10:16 (KJV)

We'll be honest: that warning about deceit in I Peter is a challenge to us as well. Have you found a way to avoid that while playing poker? Your comments are welcome - because we could use some help, too.

Creatures of Habit

It's one thing to play poker for fun. It's another thing to play it professionally. But when your love of poker leads to law-breaking, that's another matter.

A Navy lieutenant was sentenced to prison this past week in Virginia, due to what prosecutors call a "high-stakes poker" habit. A defense attorney admitted Randolph Prince had "a terrible gambling addiction," which led to wire fraud and false tax statements resulting from sham companies getting government contracts.

There's a fine line between playing poker frequently and becoming addicted to the game. Here's one big question to ask yourself, in finding the balance: Do I feel I have to play today?

If you're playing poker to get out of debt, please realize the risk you're taking. You might wind up even deeper in debt. As one famous book puts it:

For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. - I Timothy 6:10 (NLT)

The famous phrase embedded in this verse does not say, "Money is the root of all evil." No, the love of it is - the "craving" for it. That puts the blame not on greenbacks or big poker chips, but on you and me. It's about what we desire.

For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. - I John 2:16 (NLT)

Put another way: Do you have a poker date - or does the game of poker have you? Has the game become a "constant craving," to borrow from an old song? If so, it could be time to replace it with something better - something that's "from the Father."

So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.... - I Corinthians 12:31 (NLT)

God wants to fill you with "gifts of the Spirit." Read the entire chapter and Ephesians 4 for an idea of what those gifts are. They're primarily for helping other people, not filling your life with luxury homes and sports cars. And isn't helping people a good habit to start?

Call Me Irresponsble? II

Let's return to a pamphlet we mentioned in our last post, which we picked up at our last casino poker day. It offered three "warning signs that you might be at risk" of a gambling problem. We called the first question unfair. Now let's continue....

2. Have you ever lied to family members, friends or others about how much you gamble or how much money you lost gambling?

We agree that this is a warning sign - especially when it comes to your family. While bluffing and "Hollywooding" are accepted parts of a poker tournament, outright lying should not be a part of a believer's game.

A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering tongue works ruin. - Proverbs 26:28

Let's apply this verse away from the table, to our question. You might think that lying "hate" is really love - that you don't want to hurt the feelings of people close to you, by revealing how big your losses really are. But the opposite is true,,,,

Love should always make us tell the truth. Then we will grow in every way and be more like Christ, the head of the body. - Ephesians 4:15-16 (CEV)

Yes, the truth can hurt. But it's always better than lying about what you're doing, and adding layers of distrust to a relationship. The Bible warns it can also ruin a relationship with God:

But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars - their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death. - Revelation 21:8

Believe it or not, the Bible speaks of two deaths. The first involves our physical flesh (Hebrews 9:27), while the potential second death follows judgment at the throne of Jesus Christ:

Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. - Revelation 22:15

These people are placed outside the "holy city" known as the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:10). It's a truth so important that the end of the Bible mentions it twice - the liars get fire.

If you're lying to other people about gambling, it's ultimately about more than their friendship. Eternal life in God's Kingdom is at stake. So stop it. Tell the truth about what you're doing, as difficult as it may be. It ultimately will benefit you - and hopefully others around you.

(We'll address the third warning sign in a future post.)

Poker Day 479: Final-ly

The first time we entered a poker tournament in our current city, we finished second. The first time we entered a "poker room" in our city (the ones since taken out of business), we were part of a first-place settlement. But success at Kansas Star Casino has been elusive: 11 tournaments entered, no better than two semifinal tables. But then along came Friday....

BLINDS: 1,500/3,000

IN THE POCKET: A-Q offsuit

If we're playing with blinds this high, things probably are going well - and they have all day long. We won four of the first five hands (losing to and winning with pocket Aces), and five out of seven. There was a mix of good cards and timely betting, to put us at 6,600 chips at the first break - then building farther to 36,000 at break 2, removing a few opponents along the way.

Now indeed, it's happened - we've made the final table! We arrived with 43,500. Eight players are winning money, and players are betting like they've had enough for one day. Two players on either side of us go all-in. Seeing these big cards, part of us wants to get out of the way and let them fight. But the day's gone so well and we think the opponent are so desperate, we choose to call for 21,500.

The man to our left shows J-J. Oops. The woman to our right has Q-Q. Double oops. We need something big.

ON THE FLOP: A-6-7

"Yes!" we say with happiness. Aces are high. Now if the cards will stay low....

ON THE TURN: 6

We didn't say it, but yes again....

ON THE RIVER: 5

That's the kind of day it was for us - the best possible day ever at Kansas Star. We knock out two final table foes, and advance to 69,500.

We wound up in the final four, with a big-stacked man across from us refusing to even consider a four-way chop of the money. So we kept playing - and faced another big decision when a woman to our right pushed. We went all-in in response with pocket 10's. But she had pocket Jacks. Even though 10's were good to us often during the tournament, they didn't rescue us this time.

A four-way split could have earned us more than $400. But fourth place still paid $210 - substantially more than the $50 it cost to enter. And that was fourth, out of 86 entries (some of them admittedly players re-buying) - at the place that's become the prime location for top poker in our part of the country. We were thrilled, and thankful to God for a successful breakthrough!

MINISTRY MOMENT: One man folded his hand late in the tournament by lifting his cards high above the table. We sat next to him, and could see one of his cards was the Ace of clubs.

"Now will you accept that I'm not lying?" the man asked.

We've played poker long enough to know better, so we gave a Biblical response. "To borrow from a book I read: 'Put your trust not in mortals, for in them is no help.' From a hymn, actually."

That's a line from a hymn in our church movement. And it comes from a psalm:

Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. - Psalm 146:3

Poker players should know this principle better than most. After all, part of the game involves bluffing - to get your opponent to think you're weak so they raise, or to run your opponent away by pretending to be strong. But the reminder about "mortals" doesn't stop there....

When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. - Psalm 146:4

Many national leaders have had dreams of great conquest - but when they die, they can't take territorial gains with them. In fact, an old church line is that hearses don't tend to have U-Hauls attached. So where should our trust be?

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them - the Lord, who remains faithful forever. - Psalm 146:5-6

The rest of the psalm describes some of the things God can do for you - benefits both physical and spiritual. Our point is that God ultimately is trustworthy. Humans are not - whether they play poker or not. So where are you putting your long-term trust?

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 178 final tables in 479 games (37.2%) - 34 cashes. It's our third cash of 2016, and the first since the end of January (as the poker rooms were going out of business.)

Lessons From a Drop-Out

"Are you doing OK?" the woman behind the bar asked us the other night.

We patted our pockets, then gave a surprising answer. "I don't know."

The problem was that our wallet was not in either pocket. Had we forgotten it somehow?

We quickly retraced our steps, starting in the poker room - and that's where our short search ended.

"I thought you might be looking for that," a man said as we spotted our wallet on top of our chip stack, during the first tournament break. Apparently it dropped out of our pocket at some point.

We thanked the man for his good dead - then added: "It's nice to see there's some honesty in poker."

Poker, of course, is a game known for bluffing. We've done it a few times to "steal" pots from other players. But after almost nine years of playing live poker, in six U.S. states, one Canadian province and aboard one cruise ship, we've learned something which might surprise you: the vast majority of poker players are ethical people. The "stealing" starts and stops at the table.

For the Lord your God detests.... anyone who deals dishonestly. - Deuteronomy 25:16

The context of this verse involves weights and measures. But we think this verse is more than a warning to business owners and farmers' markets. God wants us to be honest in all that we do.

A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies. - Proverbs 12:17

Yes, we think that means speaking true words at the poker table. If an opponent asks probing questions about your hand, you can always keep your mouth shut or dodge the issue.

He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless. - Proverbs 2:7

We don't think this verse is a guarantee of wins in poker tournaments. We do think it's a promise of ultimate victory - advancing to eternal life with Jesus when He comes back to Earth. That will be a life you can't lose. And you might not need wallets to hold cash anymore, either.

The Folks at the Rail

In a recent post we brought up a thought-provoking list of "dont's." If you think the rules in a casino are stiff, consider these....

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. - I Corinthians 6:9-10

Some of the items on this list may seem outdated and offensive, but they're still in the Bible. And you might encounter some of them the next time you enter a poker room. In fact, you might even see them in the mirror before you go in.

For instance, if you're fixated on getting rich playing poker, you could be an idolater:

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

Stay too long in a cash game, and you could lose every penny you have. Stick around too long after making a nice game, and you could qualify for the "greedy" part of that list. Lie about how you're playing, and you could be swindling people out of pots as well -- not to mention disqualifying yourself from God's future Kingdom.

Yet if this describes you, the news is not completely bleak. You don't have to head to the rail and watch the rest of your life as a loser. Go back to that list in the Bible, and read one verse beyond it....

And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. - I Corinthians 6:11

The apostle Paul wrote these words to a church group which had come out of wickedness. The members did it by turning to Jesus:

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." - Acts  2:38

Repentance means turning around from one way of life to another. Pray for God's help in doing it, and He'll not only forgive you - He'll start a process which leads to the Holy Spirit helping you walk in the opposite direction. It might mean giving up poker as you know it. But knowing God and Jesus Christ - potentially for eternity in God's Kingdom - is a lot better.

The Tell Overture

If you can figure out when your opponent is bluffing, you're far more likely to succeed at a poker table. But we never imagined there are so many ways to do it.

One man is making a living by telling about "tells." He has at least 16 videos, along with books about things to spot that could tip off a player's hand. For instance: if a player waits for you to act, it usually "will indicate nervousness and hence weak hands."

Maybe so - but here's our question about this. Do videos revealing potential tells actually make some players more likely to include those "tells" as part of their bluffing strategy? The game becomes more than simply a reaction to your cards - it becomes how well you sell that reaction.

Perhaps this is why some professional actors like Don Cheadle have done well in tournaments. They know all about "Hollywooding", as it's called in poker. Some of us call it an acting job. And it's been used to fool people for a long time:

David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath. So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard. - I Samuel 21:12-13

This occurred before David became the Bible's "King David." He was on the run from the then-ruling King Saul (verse 10), who wanted him dead (chapter 19). David apparently was concerned about King Achish as well, so he did some "Hollywooding" to avoid staying long.  Some might call this kind of acting a form of lying....

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. - Deuteronomy 5:20

....But consider what happened to David. God didn't punish him for what he did. In fact, he gained a total following of about 400 men (I Samuel 22:2) - although we'd note they weren't necessarily the cream of the crop, described as "in debt or discontented".

So we're led to think a little "acting while you're acting," if you know what we mean, is OK. But we'd add this....

Let your moderation be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. - Philippians 4:5 (KJV)

There can be such a thing as "ham acting" - going so far overboard that you're not simply telling, you're screaming.

So what do you think? Are tells that common at the poker table? Have some people "shown a tell" to throw you off the track? And what's the top thing you examine, in considering an opponent's hand?

Right or Wrong? Part 3

We continue our meditations from a radio ministry's sermon on gambling.

3. The vast majority of gamblers lose.

We haven't done research on this, but we suspect it's true. That's how casinos make a profit, after all. We've wondered in recent years why several casinos in Atlantic City have closed. Have more people realized they're losing, so they don't play anymore?  Or are people actually getting better at the games?

But here's our issue with that point. The minister tried to make comparisons with investing in business - yet statistics show most start-up businesses fail as well. They fail at a slower rate than gamblers (ten years vs. a ten-day junket), but 71 percent eventually fail.

But our link had an amazing note about which kind of business has the "best rate of success after [the] fifth year." It's religious organizations. In other words, doing things for God pays off!

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. - I Corinthians 3:6-7

The apostle Paul is referring here to church growth, with new people becoming converted. But there's a principle here that religious organizations should understand better than anyone - that it's only by God's grace and mercy that anything grows. If that's true with church membership, why shouldn't it be true with a business? Or even success at a poker table, for those who believe God?

4. Gambling transgresses honesty. The preacher called it thievery "by mutual consent."

This may be true in back-alley dice-rolling and basement poker nights.  But many poker rooms and casinos take pains to ensure everything is on the up-and-up - like the day we had to take a one-blind penalty for acting too soon in a tournament.

A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies. - Proverbs 12:17

This point really comes to your personal ethics. Are you honest with your words and actions at a poker table? Or do you lie (if that's too harsh, "shade the truth" a bit) to get your way?

It's our policy always to be truthful during poker tournaments. Sometimes that means saying nothing, when an opponent asks probing questions about our hand.

Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. - Ecclesiastes 5:2

We think it's better to say nothing and protect your reputation than tell a lie and risk ruining it.

(NOTE: This is a series of posts; keep checking here for the next part.)

Remember As You Play....

No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others. - Psalm 25:3 (NLT)

One of our most memorable poker hands was the night we sat in the Big Blind, watched K-8 turn into a dream full house on the flop.... and checked it.  A man next to us jumped all-in with A-6, and paid for it.


Some would say our check was deceiving - a "trap" to lure other players in.  Doesn't that hand prove our Bible verse wrong?

For that one hand, it did -- but think it through for a moment.  Didn't the all-in player look every bit as deceptive with his bet?  We never asked about his reasoning, but he bet a lot with relatively little.  It was a bet of overstatement.

By comparison, we came across as quiet, modest and humble.  We never told anyone to bet a single chip -- but someone did, and we benefited from his "jumping offside."  Even a minimal bet on our part could have brought the same result.

The Bible has several examples of characters who acted in deceptive ways.  The first prime example was a "serpent," thought to be Satan....

Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." - Genesis 3:13

That creature blatantly lied to Eve in the garden of Eden about God's character (verses 1-5) -- and Eve bought it.  What if Satan had said nothing?  If the serpent had never appeared?  Would things be much better for the human race today?  Or would human curiosity led to disobedience toward God, anyway?


We're left to speculate about how things would have played out.  But the Bible makes one thing clear: we should avoid harmful acts of deception.

A truthful witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies. - Proverbs 14:5

Be careful with what you say at the table - and to an extent, also be careful with the things you do.

Super (For Us) Sunday

NBC Sports used to show a poker tournament on this day.  But today, NBC actually is showing that big U.S. football game with a trademarked name.  So it was up to us to have poker fun -- and with errands to run at midday, we skipped the poker room and entered the National League of Poker no-river game.  NLOP lets players register a bit late now....

....and that was good news for us, because we wound up winning the 206-player tournament!  This was the winning moment against "Crazyguy1", as we both made heart flushes on the turn (you're dealt three cards, and there's no river card).  He bet the minimum 6,000; we raised all-in with only 433 to spare -- and he seemed resigned to end the game and move on.  Our "nuts" won the pot, and a $10 prize.

This was our first NLOP win since December 2013 (also a no-river game). And the final table turned on a hand with three players left, where a pair of 2's was showing.  We had a third 2 with a K; a player named Grayzo took us all-in with a third 2 and a Q.  His surprise loss led to this exchange:

Dealer: 　flopblogger wins Main Pot ($195,024) with Three of a kind, deuces
grayzo: 　om *** god
crazyguy1: 　wow
Me: 　PTL!
grayzo: 　?
Me: 　praise the Lord!
grayzo: i don't do church
How interesting.  This player doesn't "do church," yet he/she actually brought up God before we did.

Of course, lots of people bring up God's name every day.  But many of them use it in exclamations and cursing.  The Bible has a warning about that:

You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. - Exodus 20:7

This is one of the basic Ten Commandments.  But a close look at the Bible shows there can be many ways where the name of God can be misused.  For instance....

Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the Lord. - Leviticus 19:12

This can deal with giving false testimony in court - or simply saying "swear to God, I had a flush" when you really didn't.  But Jesus seems to take this a step farther:

But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. - Matthew  5:34-36

Some people "affirm" their words to be truthful in a court of law, instead of being "sworn in.... so help you God."  These verses are a main reason why.

It seems to us the overall lesson is to be careful with every word we say.  Be truthful. Be accurate. When you can, be loving.

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. - Proverbs 18:21

Poker Day 434: Clash of the Titans

The manager of Arrowhead Poker admits Sunday action starts slowly.  But there still can be plenty of action, even in a one-table tournament.  We faced some big hands today, but we're deferring to one where we simply watched:

BLINDS: 2,000/4,000

IN THE POCKET:  Q-10 offsuit

To be honest, we don't absolutely remember what we had in this hand.  But we know we still had 9,000 chips in the fifth round of blinds, after winning several pots.  And we folded pre-flop, so it must not have been very impressive.  We know Q-10 came up at some point late in the tournament, and it seemed too marginal to play with our chip stack so precarious.

ON THE FLOP: 6h-5h-4h

We murmur noisily at the sight of this - three suited cards in a row.  Seven players are still in the running, including the manager.  As we recall, he made a bet which chased all but one player (the only woman at the table) away.

ON THE TURN: 7h

The plot thickens further - with four suited cards in a row.  Now both players check.

ON THE RIVER: 8c

So there's a straight on the table, but that may be the least of our issues.  The manager now goes all-in.  The woman thinks about it for a moment or two.  Is that a big bluff?  She decides it is, and calls.

The manager turns over.... 8h!  It's not a bluff; he has a straight flush!

The woman shows.... 3h-Ah!  She had the Ace for an old-fashioned "nut flush," and the 3 gave her a straight flush of her own -- but not the winning one.  She's eliminated in seventh place, with a true bad beat.

It was our turn to go all-in a few hands later, as we faced the Big Blind with our last 10,000 chips.  We had K-J, but a man called with A-J.  Two Aces on the board settled the matter, and we were ousted in sixth place -- better, but not in the money.

MINISTRY MOMENT: We showed our "Lord's Supper" card protector to a man on our right -- the one with an artist's depiction of Jesus on the flip side.  "I don't really think he looks like that," we said of the depiction showing a long-haired Lord.

"I don't know," the man said.  "Maybe they weren't able to cut hair back then."

We didn't tell the man this, but that theory doesn't match the Bible at all.  Consider one of the most infamous haircuts in recorded history:

So he told her everything. "No razor has ever been used on my head," he said, "because I have been a Nazarite set apart to God since birth.  If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man." - Judges 16:17

These are the words of Samson - a man who had his hair in seven braids.  When Delilah put Samson to sleep and her friend shaved off those braids, indeed "his strength left him" (verse 19).  In fact....

Then she called, "Samson, the Philistines are upon you!"  He awoke from his sleep and thought, "I'll go out as before and shake myself free."  But he did not know that the Lord had left him. - Judges 16:20

Not only did Samson's strength go away -- the Lord went away.  It's curious to us that Samson bluffed (as in lied to) Delilah three times earlier in this chapter about the source of his strength.  When Samson finally told the truth, God responded by leaving him!

What sort of lessons should we learn from this?  In terms of poker, we think there's one obvious lesson -- don't lie in pressure situations.  Samson may not have realized he was in one, with his invincible strength at stake.

Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value a man who speaks the truth. - Proverbs  16:13

We think this especially applies to the "King of Kings," Jesus Christ.  Would Samson have kept his strength, had he told the truth to Delilah right away?  We're left to guess -- but in poker, we think it's better to say nothing about your hand before showdown, instead of lying and breaking God's command against offering a "false witness" (Exodus 20:16, KJV).

NOTE: There's more to the conversation with that man at the table; we'll get to it in a future post.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 154 final tables in 434 games (35.5%) - 25 cashes.  Until more players show up, the final table count will keep piling up.

The Truth Squad

"Poker is a game that was created by liars, played by liars...."

So begins an online article about "ten lies" poker players use during games.  But we have a problem with that claim.  While we're not sure who created the game of poker, not everyone who plays it is a liar.

Actions in a poker hand can send all sorts of signals -- some of them true, some of them deceiving.  But your words at the table don't have to do that.

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. - Ephesians 4:15

We believe this should be done in a poker game, every bit as much as in a worship service.  And no, it doesn't have to reduce the fun of the game.  But it might challenge you to be more creative in the words you use.

Let's say the board shows A-K-J.  You have Q-10.  Someone figures out you have a straight, and asks directly if you have it.  You don't have to lie by denying it.  And you don't have to confess you have it.  Here are some answers we've used, and have heard others use:

• "Maybe I do.  And maybe I don't."
• "You'll have to pay to find out." (Said to an opponent facing a tough decision to call.)
• "Wow, it was cold outside today."  This is the most absurd response of all, and might leave your opponent feeling overconfident about his guess.  But it might give the table a good laugh -- and make the atmosphere a bit more fun.

But then again, there's this verse to consider....

Let God be true, and every man a liar. - Romans 3:4

What do you think that quote means?  Offer a comment if you'd like, and we'll offer our thoughts in a future post.

The Real Deal

Tim Giardina is off the hook -- a little, at least.  Prosecutors in Iowa have decided against filing state charges against him, for allegedly playing poker at a casino with counterfeit chips.

But Giardina isn't completely in the clear.  He's the man we mentioned in our last post: still a Vice-Admiral in the U.S. military, a top officer in the Strategic Command -- and his alleged "vices" could get him demoted or fired.  He could face federal charges, for using bogus chips.

We've never tried to play poker with counterfeit chips.  We've assumed the places where we play are smart enough to know the difference between the genuine chips they hand out and the fakes.

But this case raises a bigger question to us.  Are you trying to live a counterfeit life? 

"This is the only life I have," you might say.  OK, but are you living it in a counterfeit way?  Many people do....

You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth.  Selah.  You love every harmful word, O you deceitful tongue! - Psalm 52:3-4

Counterfeit words at a poker table can throw other players off the track about a hand.  Counterfeit words away from the table can ruin relationships -- for instance, telling family members you aren't gambling with their savings when you really are.

Sadly, there even can be counterfeit Christians.  Some people who are turned off by God see them as hypocrites.  But here's the refreshing thing -- Jesus Christ saw through such people, too.

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men.  I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. - Matthew 6:5

God doesn't want people who are counterfeits.  He wants real people, who really live a godly life:

...The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. - I Samuel 16:7b

If you're trying to win at poker through counterfeiting or cheating, please stop it.  If a top military official could be caught in the act, do you really think you can keep getting away with it?  And if you're living a counterfeit life, admit your falsehood and fakery to God in prayer.  Repent of it -- then starting living by the truth, as Jesus is the truth (John 14:6).

They Saw It Coming

"Nine!" a man said firmly as we dealt a turn card at a poker tournament the other night.

Sure enough -- the card was a 9.  We suggested the man "tip the dealer" if he won the pot.  He never did; in fact, we don't recall now if he won the hand or not.

Some poker players have a sense/hunch/knack of knowing when "their cards" are coming.  It's what keeps them in a hand with a "belly-buster" straight draw, or chasing after a flush when they need running diamonds.

A previous post mentioned how the Bible warns against fortune-telling -- or using spiritism to predict the future.  Yet the Bible also has cases where people forecast the future, even predicting events at the end of the age.  They're known as prophets -- and there's a difference in what they did:

For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. - II Peter 1:21

God's prophets speak under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  And during Old Testament times, several of them foretold the coming of Jesus Christ.  Even Jesus realized that....

He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!:.... And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. - Luke 24:25, 27

If you have a "cross-reference" Bible which lists other verses in connection with one verse, we invite you to read the passages connected with verse 27.  A large number of Old Testament writings came true and were verified when Christ walked the earth.

But we need to add a disclaimer -- one Jesus warned, in a conversation with His disciples:

....And many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. - Matthew 24:11

In fact, we've mentioned a couple of them here in recent years -- people who thought the world would end in 2011 or 2012.  It's important to verify what "prophets" say, in relation to the Bible.  If their words don't match God's "holy word," put God first.  Or as one apostle put it:

....Let God be true, and every man a liar.... - Romans 3:4

Poker Night 395: Looking for Something?

Did you ever search and search around the house for an item -- only to discover it was sitting right in front of you all along?  That can happen at a poker table, too.  Look carefully at this hand from tonight's tournament at Lil Kim's Cove:

BLINDS: 25/50

IN THE POCKET: Queen-7 of diamonds

As best we remember, we haven't won a pot yet -- but we haven't bet much, either.  From a starting 13,000 chips (3,000 extra for soda, 5,000 for arriving on time), this is a safe inexpensive hand to play.  We call, and no one at the table of six raises.

ON THE FLOP: 10x-Kd-6x

A third diamond offers hope of a flush.  We're helped by the fact that the table checks.

ON THE TURN: J (not a diamond)

There goes the flush -- and our interest in this hand.  We're ready to fold to anything.  But the table checks again.

ON THE RIVER: A

As they say in hockey, now the gloves come off.  A woman who calls herself a "newby" player bets 3,000.  A man across from her raises to 10,000.

"I'd better get ready to fold this," we say -- but then with our cards above the table, we suddenly see it.  Hey, there are four cards for a straight on the board!  And we have the Queen for a "Broadway" straight!

The cards come back, and we're glad we didn't simply say "fold."  We call the bet of 10,000.  The new player next to us struggles to figure out her chips, but she calls as well.

"I've got a Queen," we say as we show.  And it turns out the other two big bettors did, too.  It's a three-way split of the pot, and only a modest gain for us.

The lesson for us here: keep watching a hand carefully until you're completely out of it.  Surprising "runner" cards came to give us a straight -- and we almost missed it, by assuming the worst.

We won a couple of pots outright in the first hour, including an 8-9 which turned into two pair on the flop and took out an opponent.  Then a longtime Tournament Director quit the game with a huge stack of chips, and we gained about 5,000 more in a six-way split.  Our high was 23,500 -- but then good cards quit coming.

An attempt to make something happen with a pair of Jacks fell victim to a flush we didn't have.  Finally at the start of the third hour with only 10,000 chips left and the blinds at 5,000/10,000, we folded 7-10 -- only to watch cards come which would have given us a winning straight.

The next hand was a forced Big Blind with J-6.  The river brought a 6 -- but a man across from us had A-6, and his kicker topped us.  We again fell barely short of the final table, finishing 10th.

MINISTRY MOMENT: "I read a passage from the Bible every day," the new female player told us before the game began.  That led to a short discussion around the table about sin.

"Everyone sins," a man across from us said.  "There are little sins and big sins."

Big and little to us, maybe.  But in the eyes of God, we're still.... well, "all sin."

For whoever keeps the whole law and stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. - James 2:10

The discussion reminded us of a Bible passage we'd read earlier in the day....

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. - I John 1:8

Are you claiming that?  If so, take another look at the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 or Deuteronomy 5.  Have you gone throughout your life without ever telling a lie -- even once?  Have you never longed to own something one of your friends has?  That can be coveting.  Yet here's the good news....

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. - I John 1:9

After you seek God's forgiveness of your sins, ask for His help in coming out of sin.  His Holy Spirit can help you resist and win, if you let Him live within you.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 136 final tables in 395 nights (34.4%) - 20 cashes.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER TOTAL: Full tournaments - 283 point wins in 1,388 games (20.4%), 92 final tables, 10 cashes, 12 wins.  No-River Hold 'em - 28 point wins in 108 games (25.9%), 23 final tables, 2 cashes, 1 win.

It appears we were wrong about NLOP ending the monthly Senior Championships.  Qualifying is underway for the March event -- but we'll have to miss it, due to another commitment.

POKER STARS.NET TOTAL: Pretend cash games -  $85,649, down $747.

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 390: The 5-K Race

It was the night of Presidents' Day, and The Red Barn was packed with poker players.  But strangely, most of the people we met didn't seem to realize it was Presidents' Day.

"I'm not a President," one man said skeptically when we mentioned the holiday.  He went on to dismiss all U.S. Presidents as "crooked," because they lie to people.  We're led to think some poker players would fit in well with them.  But would they pull a fast one when a lot of chips were on the line?

BLINDS: 200/400

IN THE POCKET: J-10 of hearts (suit may not be precise)

The evening was a disappointment until only a few hands before this.  We had K-9, looked at K-Q-9 on the flop, went all-in and scored a double-up plus a 5,000-chip "Rodney hand" bonus.  Now we're feeling better with around 14,000 chips.  No one raises before the flop, so we're happy to call with suited connectors.

ON THE FLOP: 10-10-3

Now we're even happier -- but only for about five seconds.  A woman down the counter from us (we're playing on a counter top again) bets 5,000.  She did this on the K-9 hand, which put us all-in.  She had Q-9 then.  We're puzzled by what she has now -- perhaps a second high pair?!  But there's little question about the right move: we call with three of a kind.  Everyone else gets out of the way.

ON THE TURN: 5

The respect level seems to be mutual at this point.  The woman checks.  So do we.

ON THE RIVER: J

Wow -- now we want our opponent to make another bet.  But instead, she checks.  We will not.

"Five-thousand," we say as we bet.  The woman calls.

"I've got a 10," she tells us -- and then she sees our 10-J.  It gives us a winning full house, as her kicker card is a 6.

"You got it on the f**king river," she says in frustration.  "You did it to me twice!"

"No way either of you were going anywhere, with a 10," a man between us comments.  He's right.  We're happy.  We simply smile, as our stack of chips jumps to around 29,000.

Those two hands were the only ones we won all night, as we became very "card dead" after the one-hour break.  Pocket 8's and pocket 5's were trumped by big cards on the flop and big bets which followed.  But our two big wins were enough to reach the final table, then hang around through some drama involving other players.

With seven players remaining, we were forced to go all in for our remaining 10,000 chips with J-8.  The flop brought an 8.  The river brought a Jack.  Trouble was, that Jack put four spades on the board.  We didn't have one, while a man on our right did (Qs).  He sent us home in seventh place.  But on a night with about 30 players and lots of huge stacks, we were pleased.

MINISTRY MOMENT: "There's the man with that little pencil again," a man said at the semifinal table.  We've recorded hands for this blog with a small pencil and paper for a long time.  But in the last couple of weeks, that pencil has become a card protector as well.

"I bring it to remind me," we said across the table, "that my name is written in the Lamb's book of life."

This reference appeared to puzzle several people.  But it's mentioned near the very end of the Bible:

Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. - Revelation 21:27

You may be listed in the telephone directory.  But this "book of life" is much more important -- because if your name is there, you're in the running for a reward which may sound like only a dream:

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming out of heaven from God. - Revelation 21:10

"But wait," you may be asking; "isn't Jerusalem on Earth now?"  Yes, there's a city in the Middle East with that name.  But this is a new one, which God will bring down from heaven to Earth after Jesus returns (verse 2) -- and the incredible scene described through Revelation 21 indicate it will be forever pure, for God and Jesus Christ will live there (verse 23).

But that leaves a big question: how can you get your name in this "book of life"?  What's your answer to that question?  Feel free to leave it in a comment, and we'll offer our thoughts in a future post.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 135 final tables in 390 nights (34.6%) - 20 cashes.  This was our first live final table since the end of January.

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.