W and L

We're taking a short pause from live poker right now. There are several reasons for this, including the one very important project - filling out tax returns.

Poker players filling out U.S. federal returns may notice one big change this year. You still have to report "gambling winnings" as income. But it's harder to deduct the losses, because the threshold for itemizing deductions has increased sharply. Unless your deductions top $12,000, it doesn't pay to itemize them at all.

That means the wins stand out more on your tax form - and while that might cost you money, it also might make you feel a bit better. Don't you wish everything worked this way?

But they don't always work this way. In fact, you could be losing and not realizing it....

What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? - Luke 9:25

You could grind away at cash games for hours, hoping to strike it rich. But in exchange, you could actually lose a lot of money. You might even lose your family or a sense of empathy toward other people, by becoming addicted or detached.

The better approach is a balance between the "work" of poker with its physical gains and something higher - something ultimately better:

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. - Luke 9:24

The "me" here is Jesus Christ. He said these words. And He wants you to change your focus away from big wins at the table, to a focus on Him. Put another way....

The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. - John 12:25

Few poker players love to lose. For that matter, few of anybody loves to lose. Yet trading your priorities for a relationship with Jesus can win you eternal life in the kingdom He soon will bring. In fact, your "won-lost record" in terms of sin can be changed completely:

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ.... not counting men's sins against them.... - II Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus was a big winner, by living a sinless life and overcoming the devil. He wants to help you win the game of life as well.

Mo' Money, Mo' Money?

After some recent disastrous nights, we decided to hit the "pause" button on poker tournaments this past week. The timing was ironic, because of a book we've been studying lately. It's a book that talks about acquiring money and wealth (among other things). Consider these words from a wise man:

Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. - Ecclesiastes 5:10

Ecclesiastes is a Biblical book which comes right after Proverbs - and King Solomon is commonly considered to be the main writer of both. That king of Israel could write knowledgably about wealth because he had plenty of it:

The weight of the gold that Solomon received yearly was 666 talents, not including the revenues from merchants and traders and from all the Arabian kings and the governors of the land. - I Kings 10:14-15

Our NIV Study Bible says "666 talents" came to about 23 metric tons of gold. That's 23,000 kilograms, or more than 50,000 pounds. With the price of gold this weekend at about $1,184 per ounce, that computes in modern terms to more than $900 million per year! This makes the WSOP Main Event almost look like chump change.

Yet King Solomon came to realize all that wealth eventually comes to an end....

I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool?.... - Ecclesiastes 2:17-18

We've never seen a safe buried alongside a wealthy person. It wouldn't be "safe," anyway, because people would be tempted to steal it.

Our point is that if you're playing poker simply to run up a bankroll, that can be fleeting. Even if you keep setting earnings records, you'll lose it all when you die (Proverbs 27:20). That's why it's better to make something else your top pursuit....

But seek you first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. - Matthew 6:33 (KJV)

The Bible promises God's Kingdom will last forever. That's where our "treasure" focus needs to be (verses 19-21). Is that where yours is - in the poker room, and outside it?

Remember As You Play....

...Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. - Ephesians 4:22 (New Living Translation)

Poker players like to joke during tournaments about how "truthful" they are. The real truth is that sometimes, players resort to deceptive moves to win pots. We did something like that, with an all-in moment in our last tournament. A man did it several times to Phil Hellmuth at this year's World Series of Poker Main Event, leading to one of Hellmuth's most famous rants in years.

Does the verse we quoted mean poker players should end all that? Not necessarily. The New International Version translates the last part by saying, "Your old self.... is being corrupted by its deceitful desires." The desire is deceitful, more than the person or his actions - although the two certainly can combine:

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? - Jeremiah 17:9

What does your heart desire, when you play poker? If it's simply a good time with friends or an entertaining evening, that's one thing. But if you're hungry for money or fame, be careful....

Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. - Ecclesiastes 5:10

Some things really are worth desiring - and they're things which require no deception at all. In fact, they depend on you being truthful.

Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. - Hebrews 13:18

That desirable life can lead to eternal life in God's kingdom - but it depends on having a "clear conscience." Have you checked yours lately? Are you really living a life that God would accept - in the poker room, as well as outside it?

He Works Hard for the Money

It's a classic debate in the poker world, and even in government buildings: is poker a game of luck, skill - or both?

A recent book by a successful player and coach seems to have a surprising answer: both. While we have not read The Myth of Poker Talent by Alex Fitzgerald, the review we read today indicates he accepts the "luck" notion more than a lot of people.

But Fitzgerald goes on to argue that "talent" in poker is a myth because success is due to hard work and practice. Our response to that would be: is that a false choice? Can't practice and hard work on your game make someone talented?

Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. - Proverbs 10:4

We're reminded of the story of Kobe Bryant, who would take hundreds of extra basketball shots after practice. No doubt he had the basic skills. But he kept working on them diligently, to become one of the best athletes of his era.

Extra diligence in poker can teach things to apply in a tournament. That diligence can be as simple as watching weekly telecasts or playing pretend cash games online. But keep something else in mind....

Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. - Psalm 127:1

Why would that work be "in vain?" We think it's because God has the final say over everything people do. You might think you have the greatest poker idea ever - but if God says no, He can stop it whether you like it or not.

Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. - II Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

Study what others are doing, in poker or other aspects of life - but make sure God approves of your conclusions. Away from the table, that can mean studying the Bible to make sure your will matches God's.

We welcome your comments and thoughts on this. How much of poker success is work? How much is simple and plain lucky cards? Whatever your view, may you take time to study what matter most - a proper walk with God, both in and out of poker rooms.

After 500: Counting the Cost

In a recent post, we mentioned we've won more than $3,000 in prizes playing 500 live poker tournaments. That's admittedly small change, compared to big-time poker pros - but we don't claim to be one.

Yet there's one thing we've always wondered about the "career earnings" of top poker players: how much did they lose along the way? After all, no one wins every tournament they enter - and buy-ins at big events can be huge.

So this week, we sat down and did some complex math - trying to figure how much all the live games have cost us. In the early years of "free poker" nights at bars, the price was cheap: sodas only cost $1.50-$2. In poker rooms, of course, the cost goes up; our highest buy-in was $150 for a Heartland Poker Tour event last year.

By our rough estimation, our total entry fees in 500 tournaments has been $3,800. So over the long haul, we've lost about $700 in ten years. It's not a big loss, when you figure it year-over-year - about the price of 1 1/2 buy-ins at Kansas Star Casino.

(We're not counting cash game wins and losses in this; we realize poker pros go to cash games and grind out an income when tournament play falls flat.)

This is something we think poker players should do often, to see exactly how well they're doing. And a famous "man" recommended such a thing long ago....

Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. will he not first sit down and estimate the cost [KJV "counteth the cost"] to see if he has enough money to complete it? - Luke 14:28

Jesus Christ is getting very practical here. The Lord was a carpenter by trade before going into full-time ministry (Mark 6:3), so He probably had first-hand knowledge of how this worked. It's only logical to want to make money from a business project.

For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, "This fellow began to build and was not able to finish." - Luke 14:29-30

We've had some projects away from poker over the years which began with good intentions and dreams, but collapsed in a hurry. When we saw the downward trend, we tried to minimize our losses and get out quickly. This approach is good in poker hands as well.

But Jesus doesn't stop there:

In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. - Luke 14:33

Whoa - the Lord pushes His disciples all-in! Jesus wants "complete surrender," as one commentary puts it. Yes, that's a big commitment. But disciples in the Bible thought it was worth it:

What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for who sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.... - Philippians 3:8

Our financial losses in ten years of poker don't matter much to us, because we have a different motive for our tournaments. We do ministry and share the things of God. If you're losing a lot at the table, maybe God is showing you it's time to go "all-in" in a different direction - toward Him. If you need help with that, leave a comment and let us know.

After 500: All About the Money?

June will mark ten years since we played in our first live poker tournament. We won for the first time in our 13th game, four months later - and took either first place or a "divided first" in four of our first 22.

In the wake of Sunday's 500th live tournament, we took a count of our winnings today. We keep accurate records for tax purposes, and found we've won $3,138 in money and gift certificates from live events. We're not counting money from cash games, which is quite small. And we're not counting the small pieces of candy thrown our way at Yvie's Bar and Grill.

Before we moved to Kansas, we played primarily in bars where the prizes were small - no more than $50 for first place. Thanks to two strong nights at a Florida poker room, the total winnings in the South were $906. But since coming to Kansas and regular poker room trips four years ago, the winnings have jumped to more than $2,200.

But to be honest, we've probably lost money overall in ten years at poker tables. While bar nights in Georgia might cost you no more than a two-dollar can of soda, big-time poker rooms have buy-ins of $30 or higher. We'll figure that actual cost when time permits.

So if making money is our ultimate goal, we've probably failed. But we remember what the Bible says about such things....

Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. - Ecclesiastes 5:10

These words were written by arguably the wealthiest person in the world at his time. King Solomon of Israel had ridiculous luxuries; read I Kings 10 for a list of his possessions. But he came to realize something:

As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them?.... Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand. - Ecclesiastes 5:11, 15

An old stage play and movie put it correctly: You can't take it with you. What should you do instead?

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. - Matthew 6:20

It's better to prepare for eternity with God. We'll talk more about doing that as this commemorative series of posts continues.

The Winner Takes It All

In a recent post, we presented a choice - a choice that can seem very difficult:

Does not wisdom call out?.... "Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold." - Proverbs 8:1, 10

These Bible verses might give the impression that you should never enter big-money poker tournaments. Simply open the Bible and put your nose in it all day - right?

Well, no. That's going to a religious extreme. But then again, maybe spending every waking hour playing online poker and touring the world for the next high-stakes cash game is an extreme as well. We think the key is in finding a balance....

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven....  - Ecclesiastes 3:1

We think wisdom is not really wisdom unless you apply it in daily situations. Otherwise it's simply knowledge.

...But wisdom is proved right by her actions. - Matthew 11:19b

You can know how to play pocket Aces. But doing it properly at the table takes wisdom - and you could be rewarded handsomely for that. That's why we said in the previous post that if you seek wisdom, you could get nice extras.

So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart.... Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for - both riches and honor - so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings." - I Kings  3:11-13

King Solomon asked God for wisdom and discernment (verse 9). God granted him so much that Solomon is credited with writing Ecclesiastes and much of Proverbs. And he had a lot of wealth to boot (I Kings 10:14-29).

So it seems to us the choice is clear. Seek God's wisdom first, as opposed to poker riches. Search for it in the Bible. Pray for God to provide it. And you might actually become wise enough to stump the table and get the riches, too.

A King on the River

Today is a holiday in the U.S., marking the birthday of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Do a search for his name and "poker," and you might find "bonus points" offers at casinos or special holiday tournaments.

If you really want to "honor King" by playing poker, you can order a King Memorial deck of playing cards online. For only ten dollars, he can stare at the other players for you. And if you really wanted to have a holiday theme, we suppose you could have a poker game where Kings are wild.

People old enough to remember Dr. King's causes and campaigns probably would find these things tacky at best, and insulting at worst. But some people invoke Dr. King's name in support of poker cash games and similar gambling. One casino website put it this way several years ago:

The Reverend spoke of equality, and the freedom of every American to have choices. Gambling is a choice that Americans should have the right to decide whether they want to take part or not.

If Dr. King made a direct statement on gambling in a speech or sermon, we could not find it. (If you know of one, please let us know in a comment.) But that website strikes us as turning words out of context. In fact, Dr. King's semi-rival of the time Malcolm X gave up gambling because he thought white people had "forced" it on black people to keep them economic slaves.

Yet the website has a valid point about choices. As a minister by trade, Dr. King might have said God gives humans choices. For instance....

This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.... - Deuteronomy 30:19

God does more than offer a choice. He tells humans the right answer. For instance, "choose life" - a phrase we're sure would get the late George Michael in some trouble, if he wore it on a T-shirt in a music video today.  But back to our point....

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable for you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. - Joshua 24:15

You can serve "the Lord" - the God of the Bible - or some other god that is fake and false. Joshua chose to follow the Lord which led Israel into a land of promise. We face that same choice today. If you make poker your "god", as in the thing you worship and idolize more than anything else, consider this...

Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold.... - Proverbs  8:10

Will you pay attention to what God instructs, or your desire for money and riches? In reality, living God's way could lead you to all these things. We'll develop that concept in an upcoming post.

The First Trump

We used to write jokes for a living (well, at least we tried). So we offer this riddle:

Q: Why are Democrats switching their card games from poker to bridge?

A: In bridge, you can bid "no-Trump!"

But seriously, a lot of people who made wrong predictions about Donald Trump winning the U.S. presidential election now are making predictions about what he'll do as President. And the guessing game even extends to poker.

One analysis posted Wednesday night says the President-elect may face competing ideas from Republicans. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who's leading the government transition team, supports online poker. But Nevada billionaire Sheldon Adelson does not.

Of course, Mr. Trump has a history when it comes to gambling. He owned the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City - except it shut down four weeks before the election. It led to one of the most famous questions of the 2016 campaigns, as opponent Hillary Clinton asked how a casino can go bankrupt.

In fact, one religious magazine cited Mr. Trump's bankruptcies as a sign that he "fall[s] short of biblical character standards...." The implication is that if you file for bankruptcy, you've committed some kind of sin. Since the article doesn't give any Bible verses to support that implication, we'll take a guess....

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sits not down first, and counts the cost, whether he has sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. - Luke 14:28-30 (KJV)

These words of Jesus contain a classic Biblical principle - "counting the cost." But read on, and you'll find the principle extends to something far bigger than building a "Trump tower"....

In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. - Luke 14:33

Now hold on here. Jesus said to be His disciple, you have to "give up everything" you have. Doesn't that sound a bit like declaring bankruptcy? At least to the things of this world?  Jesus was consistent on that point....

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." - Luke 18:22

A ruler who heard this and had "great wealth" was saddened by this advice (verses 18, 23). Other Bible accounts indicate he went away from Jesus (Mark 10:22).

In poker, "going bust" is a bad thing. In a tournament, you're out of chips and out of the running. But in spiritual terms, giving away the "stack" can be a good thing:

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way.... - II Corinthians 9:10-11

Be willing to give up your seat at the table - whether in a poker room or otherwise - and God may bless you with much more than you ever dreamed. We'll talk more about Donald Trump in a future post.

The Real Story: 2015 in Review

Some people may be ready for 2015 to end.  But when it comes to poker, we're really not.

We entered the year having won money in live tournaments 25 times over eight years - with no cash for ten prior months.  But 2015 turned out to be our most successful year.... ever!

LIVE TOURNAMENTS: 18 final tables in 22 games (81.8%), 6 cashes.

That percentage is ridiculously high, because a lot of the tournaments we played only had enough people for one table. But our records show in multi-table tournaments, we still reached the final table seven out of 12 times (58.3%).

The cashes included two streaks.  One in late July and early August found us winning $1,000 in three consecutive events across Kansas. And we ended the year with back-to-back cash wins between Thanksgiving and "Christmas Eve."

LIVE CASH GAMES: One - loss of C$85.

We realize this is not our strong suit, so we don't do it much anymore - only during our Canadian "church convention" vacation.

OTHER CASINO GAMES: Ultimate Texas Hold 'em - Up $12.50.  Computer machine heads-up - Down $17.  Blackjack - Up $62.50.

Considering we lost $280 at Ultimate in 2014, this was a nice reversal. Blackjack had a small increase from the year before. The Texas Hold 'em "heads up" machine at Hollywood Casino may have been removed after we visited there in March; we couldn't find it in August.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER: Regular - none.  No-River Hold 'em - 1 final table in 4 games, one cash win.

That $10 win came in February. We had a tenth-place tournament at another tournament in mid-December, but that's not a final table because NLOP has gone to a "six-per-table" format there.

POKER STARS: Play money cash games - Up $20,183.

That huge boost came in only 24 sessions, primarily because of two huge hands. One in late July at a 50/100 table led to a $20,700 profit (our live table streak started the next day) - and another in late August at a 25/50 table earned up close to $7,000.

So to sum up, 2015 was the best poker-playing year we've had - and it happened even though we didn't play often, compared with recent years. Could there be a lesson in that for you? We'll leave that question open. In the meantime, we realize....

But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth... - Deuteronomy 8:18

Some people "produce wealth" through hard labor, or smart investing. But we think God can help you make money in a variety of ways - as long as your focus and thanks is aimed toward Him.

The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it. - Proverbs 10:22

May God's blessing be upon you, as you play poker. But we think that blessing is much more likely to come to if God is in the center of your life.

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. - Isaiah 26:3

No Limit? Or Know Limits?

Phil Ivey has seized the chip lead, as we write this entry about the World Series of Poker Main Event.  Nearly 6,700 people have entered this year -- and unless you won a seat through a tournament somewhere, the price is steep: $10,000 to buy in.

We know a man who's put up the money to play in the Main Event for the second time in three years.  We're glad he has that much "money to burn" -- because, as with most big tournaments, only the top ten percent of the players will win money.

We personally don't have $10,000 to plunk down at this point.  We didn't go begging for donations to get it, either.  We're thankful to play in smaller tournaments -- if only because it beats losing everything and going broke.  Besides, we're reminded of a proverb....

Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. - Proverbs 23:4

There's a delicate balance, when it comes to counting your riches.  Try too hard to hit the jackpot, and you could wind up penniless.  On the other hand....

And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years.  Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."  But God said to him, "You fool!  This very night your life will be demanded from you.  Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?" - Luke 12:19-20

This is part of a parable of Jesus, about a "rich man" who had a good farming year.  It ends this way:

This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God. - Luke 12:21

Moral of the story: If you don't have a lot of money, that's OK.  Be thankful for the blessings God gives, and consider carefully any opportunities to earn more.  If you do have a lot of money, don't overlook giving some of it to God through your church.

But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.... - Deuteronomy 8:18

Is Anything Else Better?

The website that lets us practice Ultimate Texas Hold 'em for free also allows you to try out other casino poker-like games.  This weekend we did -- and here's what we found:

Caribbean Stud deals you five cards, then shows you one of the dealer's five.  You make one bet based on that -- and if you don't have much, we found you're likely to lose a good bit.

Let It Ride deals you three cards.  Then you bet on letting those three ride, or "pulling" bets on a fourth "community" card and a fifth similar one. The online game pays for a pair of 10's or better -- and in our brief play, we lost about 85 percent of the time (especially if our three didn't amount to much).

Three-Card Poker deals you three cards.  Then you make one bet about whether you can beat the dealer's face-down three cards.  We won a bit more there, but not much.

Mississippi Stud provides you two cards.  Then you bet on "community cards" one at a time, trying to make at least a pair of 6's.  Our winning record there was about the same as Let It Ride.... but with one notable exception:

We were dealt pocket 9's, bet the maximum three-times on every "street" -- and wound up with quad 9's!  It meant a big pretend payoff of $6,000.  We didn't come close to that in following hands.

There's a little skill involved in these games - but not a lot.  Perhaps that's why we win more often in Ultimate Texas Hold 'em.  And it's all about winning money - right?

Well, "hold 'em" a minute.  We've been reminded in our Bible study over the last few days that winning a big stack can be deceptive:

And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.... Then he said, 'This is what I'll do.  I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods'.... But God said to him, 'You fool!  This very night your life will be demanded from you.  Then will who get what you have prepared for yourself?' This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." - Luke 12:16-21

You can build a small fortune playing poker, or other casino games.  But you can't take that chip stack with you beyond the grave.

Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it. - Psalm 39:6

Not even a well-written will can guarantee your wealth will go where you want it to go after you die.  So we think it's best to be "rich toward God" now -- giving to your church or worthy charitable causes.

The most common question of big winners on TV game shows is: "What are you going to do with all that money?"  Do you have a good answer ready - a godly one?

No Ifs, It's Real: One-Year Report

This week marks one year since we moved to a new city.  We moved from a place where we were unemployed to a place where we have full-time work.  We're thankful to God for that.

In fact, it's more than full-time work -- as we're busy so many hours a week that our poker playing has dropped considerably.  So has our blogging about poker, as regular readers may have noticed.  But our poker environment also has changed in Kansas.  Instead of playing a lot of free tournaments in bars hoping to win a little prize money, now we play almost all our games in poker rooms and casinos with entry fees and bigger stakes.

So how have we done?  We added up the score, and found we've only played 17 live tournaments in the past year.  They break down this way:

WPT AMATEUR LEAGUE: One final table in two games.  That "one" was a second-place finish, with first only earning points toward a bigger tournament later.

POKER ROOMS: Eight final tables in 15 games (53.3%), 4 cashes, 1 outright win.

Those stats are rather stunning, considering we aren't playing a lot.  And our poker room performance admittedly dropped in the last six months, to two final tables out of seven.

But have we made any money doing it?  By our figuring, no.  We paid $395 in buy-ins (only a couple were more expensive than $20).  We won $220, so we had a net loss of $175.

As we mentioned in a recent post, this past year also allowed us to play in more casinos than ever before -- and also play more variations of Texas Hold 'em.  We only played one full tournament in a casino, and missed the final table there.  Otherwise, how did those do?

CASH GAME POKER: One session, down $60

ULTIMATE TEXAS HOLD 'EM: Eight sessions, down $217.50 (we were up $77.50 after two)

HEADS-UP MACHINE HOLD 'EM: Three sessions, down $19

BLACKJACK: Two sessions, up $35

Ouch!  What does it say when our most profitable game is the one which arguably has the most luck involved - blackjack?

Our online poker playing hasn't stopped completely, but it's also been reduced by our new situation:

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER TOTAL: Full tournaments - two "cashes" (top ten percent) in 10 games.  No-River Hold 'em - Six point wins (about top ten percent) in eight games; four final tables, one win paying cash.

The No-River success rate is an astonishing 75%!  Perhaps we've found our "niche" specialty game there.

POKER STARS.NET TOTAL: Pretend cash games - $88,531, up $4,031.

So overall, we're winning online a great deal.  We're winning on occasion in person, but losing overall (the total loss is about $436).  But anymore, our poker playing is less about money and more about ministry - sharing the things of God and Jesus Christ wherever we go.  After all....

Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. - Proverbs 11:4

"Lifetime winnings" make for nice statistics and healthy discussion at the table.  But once your lifetime is ended, what will you ultimately gain?  May your goal be the same as the apostle Paul:

I press on toward the goal for of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:14 (NASB)

Five-Dollar Come Along. Part 2

So we sat down at the Ultimate Texas Hold 'em table -- but not the one we wanted.  The $5 table was full and seemed to have several people waiting.  So we went to the $10 table and turned in our lottery coupon.

We took only $60, and had to plunk down $20 at the start of every hand -- $10 for the blind, $10 for an "ante."  We made an early gain with two pair.  Then came this hand....

IN THE POCKET: K-3 offsuit

Unlike the other players at the table, we have NOT put down an extra $10 on the "trips" option.  If you make three of a kind or better, you win money no matter what the dealer shows.  We're choosing to follow the old advice of financial counselors and "build wealth slowly."  There's little reason to think we'll build here, so we check with these cards.

ON THE FLOP: A-10-3

A pair of 3's isn't bad -- especially considering we're only playing the dealer, whose cards are face-down and cannot be changed.  Even though it's bottom pair, we decide to be daring with a surplus.  We bet $20 more, locking in our hand.

ON THE TURN/RIVER: 3-7 (last card may not be precise)

Three times three equals win for me?!  We feel very good about this.  But if we had put $10 on "trips," we'd feel even better -- because that option alone would have assured us a $40 payout.

Now comes the showdown, and our dealer turns over.... 10-10!

That's a heartbreaking full house, which tops everyone at our table.  That's the peril of everybody playing any two cards -- although in regular Texas Hold 'em, the dealer probably would have raised pre-flop with his pocket pair and chased us away.

.We had a surplus for awhile, but would up quitting when out $60 dropped to $30.  It was a small loss, with a five-dollar lottery ticket offering hope for winning some of it back.

"I won $10," another person at our table said about his lottery ticket.  But alas, we did not.  None of the five games had matching numbers to win money -- although most of them came tantalizingly close.

What can we learn from all this?  Many things, probably.  We're reminded of how fleeting riches can be....

For riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations. - Proverbs 27:24

A church elder told us years ago he considered the stock market gambling, every bit as much as a casino trip.  Stock prices indeed can go up and down every day.  We've found there are long-term gains in the market, as long as you don't panic at the low points.  And even if they drop....

He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate.  He provides food for those who fear him; he remember his covenant forever. - Psalm 111:4-5

God can meet your needs, even in tough times -- especially the spiritual ones.  We can speak personally of God doing that for us in recent years, during job trials.  Are you trusting in a savings account to help you through -- or in a God who can provide all that, and the even more valuable gift of eternal life?

The First Part

A recent post noted a tax lien placed on professional poker player Phil Laak, because he owed back taxes in California.  We checked news websites this morning, and there's no update on whether he paid off or not.

But we noted a statement of Jesus that people should "give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's" (Matthew 22:21).  What should poker players (and, for that matter, everyone else) give to God?

Jesus was talking in Matthew 22 about money -- and the Bible challenges readers to give some of that to God:

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.  Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." - Malachi 3:10

Some poker players put together or compete in charitable tournaments, and there's nothing wrong with that.  But God expects a tithe to go to him -- a donation of ten percent.

Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.  But you ask, "How do we rob you?"  In tithes and offerings. - Malachi 3:8

God's talking tough here -- saying if you don't pay Him a tithe, you're robbing Him.  Yet He also says you're robbing yourself of blessings.

So where is this storehouse where the tithe should go?  In ancient days, the "house of our God" had storerooms for grain and other offerings (Nehemiah 13:4-5, 12).  Since there's no main house for worship in our world today, we think it's acceptable to pay the tithe to the place where you're worshiping.

But of course, this assumes you are worshiping God.  If you're not.... well, you're robbing God there as well.

But the Lord, who bought you up out of Egypt with mighty power and outstretched arm, is the one you must worship.  To him you shall bow down and to him offer sacrifices.... and do not worship other gods. - II Kings 17:36, 38

Why worship God?  Because without Him giving you life, health and a working mind, you can't play poker in the first place.

But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.... - Deuteronomy 8:18

Note also God expects an offering over and above the tithe.  The amount of that is up to you -- but ask yourself: how much has God done for you?  How much has He blessed you in poker, and other areas?

One fringe benefit of paying tithes and offerings is that in the U.S. (and perhaps other countries), many ministries allow you to deduct the gifts at tax time.  It's too late to make such gifts for your 2013 taxes -- but it's not too late to give God His share of your poker success.

Ryan's Hope

The Detroit Lions haven't won a pro football title in almost 60 years.  Could it be that someone wearing a Lions jersey will break some kind of curse?

 Michigan native Ryan Riess won the World Series of Poker Main Event this week.  He went to the final table in fifth, and overcame a chip disadvantage at the start of heads-up play -- all to win more than $8.3 million.

Riess's Twitter feed includes some X-rated language about his anticipation of the final table.  But today he wrote this:

Well that was a profitable trip to Vegas. Thanks again to everybody who helped make this possible #blessed

Riess uses that hashtag often -- and we hope he means what it says.  We should all realize our blessings, and give thanks to the One who provides them:

The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it. - Proverbs 10:22

A traditional church song says, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow."  But there's another verse in Proverbs which might cause a quandary for poker players:

A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished. - Proverbs 28:20

At its core, poker is all about "getting rich."  Riess couldn't claim the WSOP bracelet until he possessed all the chips on the table.  So what gives here?

Perhaps the key word in the verse is eager.  The Contemporary English Version translates it as "get rich quick."  While building a big stack of chips early can be helpful, the Main Event isn't a one-day tournament.  It took hours of table grinding over several months to decide a champion.  Get overanxious to win big in a hurry and you may wind up making mistakes which cost you everything.

The first part of that verse actually is the key part for us.  God promises to bless a person who is faithful.  Are you faithful to God in the way you live - including how you conduct yourself in a poker room?

From Rags to Riches

This year's "November Nine" is now in place for the World Series of Poker Main Event.

The final table has quite a contrast of players.  Chip leader J.C. Tran has two bracelets and a TV poker reputation.  But a couple of finalists are listed with career tournament earnings of under $5,000.  That can be misleading, of course, due to players entering big-money cash games -- but for those two, the final table is a career breakthrough.

If poker playing has put you in a "poor house" financially -- a lot invested but only a little returned -- think carefully about what you're doing.  You might need to stay away from the table, for the good of yourself and your family.  But you could be close to what those two WSOP finalists have done:

Who is like the Lord our God, Who dwells on high.... He raises the poor out of the dust, And lifts the needy out of the ash heap, That he may seat him with princes -- with the princes of his people. - Psalm 113:5-8 (NKJV)

God can lift people up in His timing.  If He's done that in your life, be sure to thank God for it -- and walk in a way fitting of that thankfulness.

If it hasn't happened, ask God in prayer to reveal what kind of message He might be trying to show you.  But keep in mind: the Bible does not guarantee wealth and riches for everyone.  Instead Jesus reminds us....

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 5:3 (KJV) 

Based on the Bible's description, the coming Kingdom of God promises to be lavish and peaceful beyond compare.  Those are the "true riches" Jesus mentions elsewhere (Luke 16:11) -- and that we all should strive to have.

The Purse and the Posse

We had forgotten about 2011 World Series of Poker Main Event champion Jonathan Duhamel -- until we came across an update on what happened after he won the title.

You may recall Duhamel's home in Quebec was robbed as he slept, and the thieves took his Main Event bracelet along with cash.  But you may not have heard his former girlfriend has pleaded guilty to the crime.  The girlfriend apparently conspired with at least one other man to do it; two other suspects await trial.

This case is a sad reminder that success in anything -- whether it be poker, athletic sports or business -- can come with a risk.  King Solomon apparently knew that well, because he wrote....

The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends. - Proverbs 14:20

Wealth brings many friends, but a poor man's friend deserts him. - Proverbs 19:4

King Solomon had it all, at least for the time when he lived.  His stash of gold alone might have rivaled Fort Knox (I Kings 10:14-29).  But in addition....

He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray.... So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done. - I Kings 11:3, 6

How many of those 1,000 ladies were faithful to God?  We don't really know -- but it appears too many of them were not, and King Solomon paid spiritually for it.

Some people cling to the wealthy like mosquitoes to your skin -- sticking around only for what they can draw away.  If you're successful in poker, consider that carefully.  Times of trial reveal who your real friends are -- but the time to evaluate those friends probably should come much sooner.

Remember As You Play....

Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth. - I Corinthians 10:24 (KJV)

 If ever a Bible verse seemed perfect for poker, it's this one.  After all, isn't the object of the game to seek other people's poker chips -- and make them yours?


Well, hold on - that may not be exactly what this verse means.  Our King James Bibles show the last word as "wealth".  It's in italics - which means it was added by the translators 400 years ago, and not in the original Greek.  Let's see what other translations say:

New King James Version: "....each one the other's well-being."

Revised Standard Version: "Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor."

New International Version: "Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others."

Moffatt: "Each of us must consult his neighbor's interests, not his own."

This tells us two things.  No Bible translation is perfect - and the real intent of this verse is for us to think about other people, more than ourselves.  That's certainly what Paul meant elsewhere in the Bible:

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.  Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. - Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)

Show up at a poker table acting selfishly (beyond trying to win pots), and other players might label you a jerk.  You might be able to think of some poker pros with this reputation.  It's better to show outgoing concern toward the people around you.

So let's open this up for comments.  What are some things you've done in a poker room to care about the good interests of other players?  Or perhaps wished you had done?

If It Was Real: End of an Era

Trying to make a living by playing poker certainly isn't easy.  Even top players can have slumps for a year.  And we've found out how challenging it can be, merely playing free tournaments in our home area.

The "Georgia-Alabama era" for our live poker games ended this week, after more than 400 trips to tables.  Before we explain our next chapter, let's wrap up our scoreboard here.

Since the 380-game mark in early January, we've scored three top-five finishes: a third (which won us money in a settlement), a tie for fourth and a fifth.  Plugging those into our pretend buy-in/payout formula for real tournaments, the grand total looks like this:

BUY-INS: 402 nights x $50 = $20,100

First -- 6 x 500 ($3,000)
TIE for first: 1 ($450)

Second - 9 x 400 ($3,600)
TIE for second: 1 ($350)

Third -- 10 x 300 ($3,000)
TIE for third: 1 ($250)

Fourth - 16 x 200 ($3,200)
TIES for fourth:
7 two-way ($1,050)
1 three-way ($67)

Fifth -- 17 x 100 ($1,700)
TIES for fifth:
7 two-way ($350)
1 three-way ($33)

TOTAL -- 77 for $17,050

We should note a few of those 402 games took place on road trips outside the local area -- including two nights in Florida where we made the top five and won hundreds of dollars in prize money.  But all in all, we would have lost 15.2 percent on our "investment."

So after a strong start, we've found we can't make steady income in local tournaments.  And that leads us to the big news: we've moving in the coming days to our home state for full-time employment.  The job is in our chosen field of journalism -- and based on the Bible's advice, we plan to make good work our top priority:

Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work -- this is a gift of God. -- Ecclesiastes 5:19

We've been blessed with some small degree of wealth, which has helped us through more than a year of unemployment.  We also have a lot of possessions (which has become very obvious as moving boxes pile up around us).  But it's hard to be "happy in your work" when there's no paying work to do, and efforts to make a living on your own wind up continually unsuccessful.

For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." - II Thessalonians 3:10

We're convinced God wants His followers to do "work" for Him -- whether it's a 40-hour-per-week job on an assembly line, or spreading the good news of the gospel in some way.

And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he comes shall find so doing. - Luke 12:42-43 (KJV)

Some people have asked us if this blog will continue.  As of now, it will -- but we don't have any idea at this point how much poker we'll be able to play, and when.  We're going to an area which seems to have a strong local amateur poker circuit, and casinos with poker tables will be only a short drive away.

So while we move, this blog will be on hiatus.  Keep checking here from time to time for when our posts resume.  In the meantime, thanks for your interest - and keep looking for signs of the "King of Kings," even when you're playing Aces.