Change in an Instant

Many people dream of hitting the lottery jackpot, and becoming instant millionaires. For others, it takes a bit more time.... say, six hands of poker.

Courtesy The West Australian

Nigel Williams of Perth, Australia only played six hands at a casino last week. But ohhhh, that sixth one. Williams had the 10 of diamonds. The flop was Ad-Qd-Jd. Then came the turn - the King of diamonds!

Williams hit a royal flush, and won a progressive casino jackpot of $2.7 million. Considering he made a $10 bet on the flop, it was a bit overwhelming. It showed in a TV interview about his success.

First Williams called his wife, who said bluntly: "What are you doing at the casino?" Then he admitted being a "workaholic," and sobbed at the thought of reducing his workload from seven days a week to five to "spend more time with my children."

There are many lessons we could take from this story. The biggest one for us is how a big payday may change this man's priorities. Williams seemed to admit being detached from his children - which reminds us of this:

Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged. - Colossians 3:21 (NLT)

We think one way to cause aggravation is to be "missing in action" - and it can happen by being a poker-holic, every bit as much as a workaholic. A father who's not close to his children risks losing their love - as well as the opportunity to build an even more important loving relationship:

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. - Proverbs 22:6

The best way to go is God's way - following "the way, the truth and the life" otherwise known as Jesus Christ (John 14:6). But then, there's the reaction from Williams's wife to where he was.

Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. - Colossians 3:19

We've never been married, but we've heard wives appreciate nice surprises. A check for $2.7 million would be one - but to learn your husband is in a casino may not seem like the nicest thing to learn.

If a wife objects to "punting" (as the Aussies say), a loving husband should respond by not doing it. Your family ought to come before your pastimes and hobbies - especially if they could cost your family a lot of money.

 We wish Nigel Williams well, and hope you learn from his example. Why wait for a playing card to motivate you to do what you know you should be doing already? Take time to make your family a success - because a "flop" there probably won't be in your favor.

Be Fair, But Firm

So what would you have done with David Williams's flopped full house?

We think he smooth-played it too much. Instead of checking, we would have put out at least a small bet right away. That would have allowed him to feel out the opponent's hand a bit -- and maybe scared him away. A bigger "I'm serious" bet would have come on the turn, after a little 3 showed up. (But we admittedly doubt that would have chased Sammy Farha off the pot.)

Ecclesiastes 3:8 declares there's "a time for war and a time for peace." With a big hand, it's time to go to battle -- but carefully, lest everyone else declare a time of peace and run their chips into hiding.

NBC's Ali Nejad is right when he talks about poker sometimes being unfair. Life is the same way, as President Jimmy Carter once said to a reporter. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't care about fairness.

Solomon wrote most of Proverbs, as well as Ecclesiastes. It was written in part "for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair." (Prv. 1:3)

Be fair to others, and they might actually be fair in response to you. It's an offshoot of that famous "golden rule."

Heads-Up Week 5: No Fairness Doctrine

For awhile, the first hour of the NBC Heads-Up Poker Tournament was a downright yawner. Neither match went above the first round of blinds, and it was like a "meat loaf" hour with the network filling the time with whatever it could find.

But as they say, one hand can change everything. It happened when David Williams faced Sammy Farha.

WILLIAMS: Q-6.

FARHA: Q-10.

A bit of raising occurs.

ON THE FLOP: Q-Q-6.

Williams makes a full house -- but both players merely check it.

ON THE TURN: 3.

Ditto.

ON THE RIVER: 10.

Now Farha hits a bigger full house. He bets $15,000. Williams raises to $35,000 -- and Farha re-raises. Williams goes all-in, and is visibly stunned by the outcome.

Ali Nejad summarizes it all by saying poker is NOT always fair.

Before we comment on this hand.... your thoughts?!