Our Real Story: 2016 Review

The "year in review" reports aren't quite over yet. Since we last played live poker, we'll summarize 2016 for us now.

In live tournaments, we made the final table eight times in 33 games in the last year - not far from 25 percent. We earned money in five of those tournaments (more than $650 total), and would have earned cash in a sixth if Yvie's Bar and Grill paid money for second place instead of league points. That sixth would have matched our money-win count for 2015.

But 2016 was a difficult year for poker players in our area, as police moved to shut down all "card rooms" for not operating legally. Due to our work schedule, practically the only place where we can play tournaments now is a casino south of town, and the competition there admittedly is stiff.

Yet we made two final tables (winning money at both) in 17 tournaments at Kansas Star, coming close to a third this past Friday. It was a breakthrough year for us there.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER: One "top-ten percent" finish in 17 tournaments. Grand total: 285 point wins (top 10%) in 1438 games, 93 final tables, 10 wins, 13 cashes.

We were able to get into a regular Thursday night tournament habit with NLOP this past year. So far, it admittedly hasn't gone well. But NLOP has added "ring games", earning tokens in a cash-game format. In three tries there, we've gained 140 tokens; our best night was playing Omaha.

POKER STARS: 420,871 play money chips - up 84,159 at the table

We have to specify "at the table" because Poker Stars became a much more expensive place to play in 2016. Games with 1/2 blinds are gone; the minimum now is 50/100 with a 10,000-chip stack to start. But the site also became very generous in handing out free chips; we received 225,000 due to special promotions and a "free chips" button you can click simply for logging on.

MINISTRY MOMENT: As we write this summary, we're reminded of a question that sometimes comes up when we play. It came up again Friday: Isn't gambling a sin? Something believers in God shouldn't do?

If you look strictly from the accountant's view, you might say 2016 showed we're a gambling loser. The Kansas Star tournaments cost $850 to enter, and we only won $337. Yet what we're trying to do is more than that....

He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." - Mark 16:15-16

In many ways, this is a big world. People have a wide range of interests. Jesus told His disciples to go into that world with a gospel (also known as "good news") message. Even poker players need to be introduced to that message - so we take it there, and talk about it here. We pray God will use what we do to bring people to Himself:

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

We know what we can afford to do, and we keep a limit on our spending on tournaments at casinos. For instance, you'll notice no live statistics for 2016 cash games - because we didn't play any. We consider the tournament buy-in an "entry fee," much as someone would pay to enter a golf tournament or pie-baking contest. If we win something back, we thank God for it.

By the way, here's one final set of statistics: this blog had more than 700 views in December alone - which computes to perhaps more than 8,000 this past year. People searching for something about poker may be finding more than they expect. We pray it's a spiritual spark in their lives - yet not one person left a comment this past year. You're always welcome to offer some, either positive or negative. If we can bust out early at tournaments, we can take it. Really.

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.)

The Real Story: 2014 In Review

Our work schedule seems to get busier and busier -- and as a result, our time for playing poker gets smaller and smaller.  But here's how the past year went for us.

LIVE TOURNAMENTS: 11 final tables in 21 games (52.4%), 1 cash.

Critics might call those numbers deceptively high.  Several tournaments wound up having only one table, so we "made the final table" simply by showing up.  And we cooled quite a bit after making our first five finals of the year.

LIVE CASH GAMES: None.

OTHER CASINO GAMES: Ultimate Texas Hold 'em - Down $280.  Computer machine heads-up -
Down $59.  Blackjack - Up $55.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER: Regular - 0 for 4.  No-River Hold 'em - 1 final table in 9 games.

POKER STARS: Play money cash games - Down $2,762.

Our conclusions?  First: much to our surprise, maybe we're playing the wrong game.  We did shockingly better at blackjack than anything else, with three gains in four sessions - especially in terms of making money.  (We also earned 95 cents with "free play" at casino slot machines.)

All those final tables in poker rooms didn't make us money, because most of them had entry fees -- and our single $40 win in February didn't make up for all of that.

So second: unless you're really sharp at playing poker or hit a big jackpot somewhere, you're liable to lose money more often than you win.  If you can afford that in small chunks and not become addicted, that might not be bad; stock traders see ups and downs as well.

But with some people, the dream of "beating the system" can turn into a downward spiral of financial and personal trouble.  We'd recommend those people stay away from poker, and probably any casino gaming.  Find something better to do.  As the Bible recommends....

...Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. - Philippians 4:8 (NLT)

The way this world is going, those standards seem to set a very high bar.  But there's Someone who is a great One to focus on....

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne. - Hebrews 12:2

If you've never considered the life and example of Jesus Christ, there's no better time to start.  Go through the first four books of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  Take your time - perhaps a chapter or two a day.  Take notes on what you see Jesus saying and doing.  And ask how those points can apply in your life.

We're thankful we had some extra money to spend on poker (and doing poker ministry) during 2014.  We're also thankful for all of you who read this blog and offer comments.  We're planning to continue on in 2015, as our schedule permits -- but perhaps picking our tables and locations more carefully.

Is There a Game Tonight?

You could be in a "big game" right now, and perhaps not even realize it.

And the game doesn't have to be poker, either.

A blogger we read from time to time makes some good points about what we're "playing" -- at the table, and away from it. (Please tell him we sent you.)

Win, Lose or Hang

Let's play a little pretend poker.  You're in a 100-person tournament.  Only the top ten earn money.  There are 12 players remaining at two tables.  A player ahead of you raises enough pre-flop to put you all in.  You check your cards and see  10-10.  What do you do?

 

Your response to this situation may say a lot about you and your intentions.  If you're trying simply to "make the money," you might fold this rather promising hand.  But if your goal is to win first place and the top prize, would you call?  Would you go all-in -- even if it means risking everything, and perhaps winning no money at all?

 

The sports world has a phrase which might apply to the people who fold - they're "playing not to lose," instead of playing to win.

 

We heard a thought-provoking church message this weekend about that very concept.  The speaker said some people can take that approach to their lives -- and by doing so, they allow the devil to get to them.  Instead, he said we should focus on winning because....

 

....In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. - Romans 8:37

 

The "things" Paul mentions here are much more stark than an all-in moment at a poker tournament -- everything from tribulation to famine to a deadly sword (v. 35).

 

Perhaps you're saying you've "gone for it" at the table many times, only to wind up at the rail over and over?  Well, the speaker went on to say we should NOT focus on our past failures.

 

How much more, then will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God? - Hebrews 9:14

 

Shift your focus, the speaker said -- away from earlier stumbles, to follow the One who already has overcome all trials.  That makes us think of these words of Jesus:

 

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world. - John 16:33

 

How do we do that, to overcome the world?  It takes the infusion of God's Holy Spirit....

 

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. - II Timothy 1:7 (KJV)

We've admittedly followed the "hang in there" approach many times in poker tournaments -- as our standard has been based on making final tables, as opposed to going all the way and winning prize money.  The thinking has been: "Just get me there, and give me a chance."  But come to think of it, we don't often reach the final table in a dominant chip position that way.

 

So tell us -- what's your strategy at a tournament?  And do we need to make some adjustments?

 

Want to win?

Maybe Vince Lombardi was wrong. Winning isn't everything -- or even the only thing.