Enough is Enough

We don't like to say it, but tonight may very well have been the last straw for us with National League of Poker.

We qualified for the Sunday night weekly championship for the second week in a row, and the fourth week in the last six.  When game time came, we were shown in the small blind to start the first hand -- and then the system froze.  Again.  We couldn't even connect to the table after that.

We pulled out of NLOP, and went back in.  The game was seven minutes old when the screen for our table came back up -- but then the server spent 23 minutes "attempting to reconnect" without success.  After 30 minutes, we gave up -- certain we'd already been forfeited, since "ten minutes in post and fold" is all it takes to get tossed.

The NLOP game server can't seem to handle any outside friction.  A McAfee update admittedly began at the 27-minute mark, and we know from experience it beings to take control of our computer about 30 minutes earlier without officially showing it.  An e-mail to us from NLOP several days ago admitted all browsers should be closed for optimum play.

But the poker site's advertising servers don't seem to have any problems.  Ads kept changing and updating during our long wait, like nothing ever happened.  NLOP admits its game and ad servers are separate.

The website clearly needs advertising dollars to offer prizes in a "free play" format.  But poker players are "customers," too.  If the connection quality of the two is obviously different, players are bound to reach the conclusion that they're only a secondary consideration.

I Thessalonians 5:14 advises believers to "be patient with everyone."  But when we're patient to a fault -- to the point where we can't do what we'd like to do -- a limit on patience eventually is reached.

It pains us to write this, because we've won a nice sum of money playing online poker with NLOP.  But at this point, we're looking for alternatives -- preferably outside the Zen gaming group, which includes NLOP and other free poker sites.  Do you have any suggestions, which are legal and financially rewarding?

Start a New Game

We mentioned an online meeting with a player named "IICor5_17".  It didn't last long and we didn't confirm it, but we suspect the name came from this Bible verse....

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! - II Corinthians 5:17

 What does it mean to be a "new creation"?  It has nothing to do with reincarnation, where souls are thought to have multiple human identities over thousands of years.  Let's let the apostle Paul explain what he means....

 For Christ's love compels us.... And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. - II Corinthians 5:14-15

It's easy for a poker player to live for himself or herself.  Unless you're part of a team in a local league format, it's a very individualized game.  But in a spiritual sense, believers should live for Jesus Christ.

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. - II Corinthians 5:21

How do we become "the righteousness of God"?  The book of Proverbs offers some hints....

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. - Proverbs 14:34

The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but he loves him that follows after righteousness. - Proverbs 15:9 (KJV)

So righteousness means avoiding sinful, wicked actions.  And it also means....

And be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ -- the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. - Philippians 3:9

Merely avoiding tobacco, booze and dirty talk at the poker table isn't enough.  We need faith in Jesus Christ.  Is your faith in yourself -- or Someone greater?

Poker Night 282: Little Becomes Much

One of the most-talked about Christian movies of the year is Courageous.  While we admittedly haven't seen it, the game of poker can offer plenty of opportunities to test your courage (as well as other things).  We faced a few of those moments tonight at Lil Kim's Cove -- and the results were mixed.

BLINDS: 100/200

IN THE POCKET: 4-10 of clubs

We're in the big blind, at a table with a couple of empty chairs being played "as if."  We had a three-way split of an early pot, then won another one.  So we're comfortable checking here with about 11,000 chips, when no one raises ahead of us.  Most of the table is in.

ON THE FLOP: Q-8-4 (as best we recall, the Q was a club)

We have bottom pair in lead position (the small blind is one of the empty seats), and make a safe check.  But a long-haired man across from us bets 500.

"He bluffed on the last hand," another player recalls.  In fact, he won with that bluff after chasing other players away with a huge bet.  But this bet is modest and we do have something, so we call.  Four players stay in the hand.

ON THE TURN: 7 (not a club)

The flush dream fades, but a pair remains.  So we check again and hear, "500 again" from the long-haired man.  We decide to hang tough and call once more.  The other players do, too.

ON THE RIVER: 10

That's a good card for us -- so good that we decide to take control right away in lead position: "One-thousand."

The man to our immediate left responds much as we thought, and even wanted.  He's stunned.  He never saw this bet coming.

"You can't have a straight," he says to us.  (Except it's possible.)  "Have you got two pair?"  We stare back and forth at him and the board, saying nothing.  "You can't have a flush."  (That's true; there's no more than two of any suit showing.)

"He might have a Queen," the player next to our guesser speculates.  "Slow playing that [censored]...."  Both of them fold, leaving the long-haired man with a decision to make.

"Fifteen hundred more," he announces.  Something tells us he's trying another acting job, so we don't hesitate  and call.

"All I've got is a pair of 10's, man, " he admits.  He hit the river -- but we hit it better!  "Nice hit," he admits as our two pair brings a gain of about 6,000 chips.

We reached a high of 19,000 chips at the one-hour break.  But then our aggressive pre-flop nature began to miss flops.  And when a pre-flop bidding war began at another table, we dared to go all-in with A-J.  Trouble was, this raising opponent was not bluffing.  He showed J-J, and caught the missing Jack on the flop to win with three of a kind.  We joined another player on the rail, finishing tied for 15th place.

MINISTRY MOMENT: An online tournament during the afternoon had an even better finish.  We were sixth out of 119 players, to qualify for the monthly Senior Championship -- and along the way, we met a player named "IICor5_17".  He went all-in almost immediately, so we knew we had to act fast:


Me:  Hi II Cor
Dealer:  oreo1 wins Side Pot 1 ($380) with Full house, aces full of tens
Me:  I;m new in Christ. :-)
Dealer:  oreo1 wins Main Pot ($2355) with Full house, aces full of tens
Me:  Bye.
Me:  That's what that Bible verse talks about.


If you don't understand, that screen name is an abbreviation of this Bible verse....

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! - II Corinthians 5:17

No one online responded to our explanation -- but we invite you to do so.  What does that verse mean to you?  Offer a comment; we'll offer ours in an upcoming post.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 102 final tables in 282 nights (36.2%) - 16 cashes.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER TOTAL: Full tournaments - 179 point wins in 784 games (22.8%), 62 final tables, 7 cashes.

Despite continuing connection problems, we had a very good week at NLOP: two final tables in five tournaments (including that fourth place out of 397), and one spot away from a third.

POKER STARS.NET TOTAL: Pretend cash games - $66,424, down $783.

Winning at Love

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NLOP Weekly Championship 23: Six-Play to Sunday

National League of Poker now offers daily "six-max" tournaments, where every table has no more than six players.  We did exceptionally well in that format Saturday night, finishing fourth in a 397-player tournament.  Alas, only first place won prize money -- but that strong showing qualified us for the Sunday night NLOP weekly championship.  Yet alas again....

:00 IN: Connection problems plague us right off the bat -- again! We're not fully functioning until :10, and use a round of blinds in the process.

 

:10 IN: We have 9-K.  The flop is 9-A-4.  We make a probe bet of 40 with middle pair, and get raised 120.  We dare to call.  The turn is 3.  This time we check, and again dare to call our opponent's bet of 140.  The river is 10.  We check once more, prepared to fold -- but are delighted when our opponent checks.  He only has J-5!  Hanging tough wins us $840.

 

:11 IN: We have 8-5 of hearts in the next hand.  The flop is 9c-Ah-3h, and we call a minimum bet of 40.  The turn is 3s.  A player bets 240, and we try to call with a flush draw -- but the computer doesn't accept our click, and we're timed out!  Yet it turns out that's GOOD, because another player raises and the river is 2s.  This time server problems save us money.

 

:21 IN: We have J-10.  The flop is K-J-2.  We make a minimum bet of 60, and get callers.  The turn is Q.  Everyone checks.  The river is A, and we push all-in with a "Broadway straight."  Our opponents fold, but we win an $800 pot.

 

:23 IN: We have A-8 of clubs under the gun.... and of course, a McAfee update starts on our computer.  We're frozen from play until the half-hour break, although we can briefly see another A-8 in our possession after the blinds that we also can't play.

 

We reach the first break with 1,465 chips - tied for 351st place, with 816 players remaining out of 1,436 who started.

 

:38 IN: We have 10-Q, and call a doubling of the blinds.  The flop is 10-Q-A.... and of course, then we get disconnected again.  We never find out how the hand ended.

 

1:01 IN: After a few potentially good hands fall short at the flop, we have A-5 in the Big Blind.  We go all in, and one player calls with A-J.  Uh-oh.  A lurching connection enhances the drama.... and then come 4-8-8-9-5 right in a row.  We hit the river and somehow stay alive!

 

We stagger to the second break at 1,205 chips.  We're a lowly #289, with 332 players left.  Disconnections return twice after this point, until....

 

1:17 IN: We have K-K, and push with 855 left.  A player calls with 8-7 -- but gets 9-10-6 on the flop to make a dream straight.  The turn and river are 7-J, and we're eliminated in 241st place.

 

NLOP has been offering a Beta test of its new look for several weeks.  Maybe that's what we need to break the cycle of burps and breakoffs, which are making play quite annoying.

Cocky and Loaded

The woman had a fairly good evening playing poker.  But she fell short of the final table -- and she explained part of the reason was a friend playing next to her.

 

"He won that big pot," she told us, "and then he started playing cocky."  The betting of all those extra chips threw the woman off her game plan.

 

Of course, what's "cocky" to one person can be a simple change of strategy for another.  One way poker is like sports is that players have to adjust to changing circumstances during a game -- whether it be rising blinds or the capture of a big chip windfall.

 

Whatever changes you face and endure, it's important to keep some words of Jesus in mind....

 

I promise you that you cannot get into God's kingdom, unless you accept it the way a child does. - Mark 10:15 (CEV)

Accept it the way a child does?!  Your understanding of that phrase may depend on your own family and upbringing.  Some children can be grumpy, throwing temper tantrums if they don't get their way.  But that's not the kind of attitude Jesus means.

 

And he said, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 18:3-4 (NIV; emphasis added)

 

In other words, it's all about humility.  If you win a big pot, you can brag to anyone within earshot about how much you deserve it or how well you embarrassed an opponent.  But the more humble approach takes it all in stride -- and Christian humility really is about giving glory to Someone besides yourself.

 

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. - Galatians 6:14

 

After all, poker is NOT 100 percent about skill and intelligence.  "One-out" river cards sometimes come.  But a mind of humility realizes that, accepting the fact that losses sometimes happen in this life.  That approach can lead to an ultimate victory later, with entry into God's eternal kingdom.

Poker Night 281: High (Card) Anxiety

The pace of a live poker tournament is nowhere close to the speed of online games.  Yet sometimes it can be faster than some players can handle.  Consider what happened tonight at Lil Kim's Cove....

BLINDS: 25/50

IN THE POCKET: K-Q offsuit

We're in the big blind after gaining a big blessing -- as the bartender gave us 6,000 bonus chips simply for our buying diet cola.  But we lost a lot of that early, and now have about 8,200.  And the dealer puts more of that at risk, by raising to 250.  With pretty high cards, we call.  So do a couple of other players.

ON THE FLOP: K-10-4

We reach for 300, as we have top pair and are first in line to....

"You didn't let me bet, man!" says a player to the immediate right of the dealer.  He'd put in 50, but was passed over for the raise.

We put the 300 back in our tray.  The dealer tries to cover the flop cards with one hand, and a short discussion ensues across tables about the rules.  "If you call, the flop goes back.  If you fold, the flop stays out," one player (not the tournament director) advises.

"I wanted to call," says the ignored player.  We quietly hope he doesn't now -- and after some thinking/grumbling, he folds.  Now the flop is official, and we put 300 back out.

"I didn't want you to have a King, man."  Now the dealer is grumbling.  "I've got Jacks."

"Oh.  That's too bad," we say -- then quickly realize what those words might reveal.  "But it might really be good," we add, "because I might have nothing."

"He wouldn't have bet unless he had something," says another man across from us.  (We took advantage of that mindset to win another hand later with a bluff.)  So does the dealer.  A woman to our left calls, and we're heads-up.

ON THE TURN: J

The dealer grumbles a bit louder at the potential three-of-a-kind he lost.  But we press on: "300 more."  The woman folds, and the pot is ours.  But someone wants to see what the last card would have been.

ON THE RIVER (not counting): 9

"I would've had a straight!"  A player shows the Queen he threw away.  We then show our cards -- and we would have split the pot with matching straights.  Instead, we gain around 900 chips.

We won a couple of pots, then tried to hold on from there in the second hour.  But with five players left at the semifinal table and A-9 in our hand with rising blinds, we were compelled to go all-in for our last 1,500.  The board didn't pair for us, and a man on the other side took out another player along with us.  We missed the final table by one hand again, finishing in a tie for ninth (ninth place in Big Dog Poker points).

MINISTRY MOMENT: We showed our "Jesus as your Savior" coin to the woman who took us on early in the evening.  "A man in a motorcycle club gave that to me," we said.

"We had our bike blessed," the woman responded.  It belonged to her and her ex-husband, and it was blessed at a motorcycle rally.

Does that sound strange -- having someone "bless" your motorcycle?  It's a growing trend in some religious groups to hold "blessing" services for all sorts of items, from vehicles to pets.  We have yet to find anything in the Bible specifically about blessing those things -- but Jesus set an example along that line:

He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these".... And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. - Mark 10:14, 16

We've attended many congregations which have "blessing of children" ceremonies at least once a year.  May we dare suggest young people need God's blessing much more than motorcycles?

(Some of you may be saying at this point we skipped over a verse.  Don't worry -- we'll get to that in an upcoming post.)

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 102 final tables in 281 nights (36.3%) - 16 cashes.  This makes four times since mid-September that we've missed the final table by one hand.  Had we made them all, our percentage would be close to 38.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER TOTAL: Full tournaments - 176 point wins in 779 games (22.6%), 60 final tables, seven cashes.

NLOP seems to be eliminating the three-card "knockout" poker tournaments, as UFC sponsorship appears to be gone.  But we'll never forget the first time we played it on a Saturday night -- and won the tournament!

POKER STARS.NET TOTAL: Pretend cash games - $67,207, down $1,045.