Where Talk Isn't Cheap

"Two hundred," a man said at our table as he announced a raise the other night.  Then he set out 250 chips.

With the blinds at 25/50, he admittedly meant to go 200 above the Big Blind.  But by saying 200 and nothing more, some players thought the total bet was "200 straight" (to borrow some poker slang).

"Verbal overrides the physical," a man next to us said.  That is, a player's words are final -- even if he pushes forward a lot more chips than he says.

The "verbal" explanation struck us as interesting.  "Your words matter more than your actions," we pondered out loud to the man at our left.  "Very few things in life work that way."

"Poker is an exception," he agreed.  An exception to an old phrase: "Actions speak louder than words."  Which approach does Jesus accept?

Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord," and do not do what I say? - Luke 6:46

The Watergate scandal of U.S. politics brought us the phrase, "Don't watch what we say; watch what we do."  God wants our doing to match our saying.  Otherwise, look at the example you're following....

You believe that there is one God.  Good!  Even the demons believe that -- and shudder. - James 2:19

James goes on to write a believer's faith should be accompanied by good deeds (or "works" in the King James).  So does that mean the words we say never matter?  No - Jesus would disagree with that as well.

But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.  For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. - Matthew 12:36-37

In poker, your "walk" has to match your "talk."  May your life do the same thing -- and move carefully in both areas of your life.

Poker Night 347: If It Feels Good....

People come across this blog for all sorts of reasons.  We met a man tonight who said he found out about poker games in the Columbus, Georgia area through our blog.  He sat across the table from us at The Red Barn, and he won a few pots through aggressive betting.  But would that approach work for us?

BLINDS: 500/1,000

IN THE POCKET: A-10 of clubs

The first hour of play went fairly well for us.  A high pocket pair gained us one pot.  Then K-9 right before the break brought a winning pair of Kings and a "Rodney bonus" of 5,000.

We began Hour 2 at 18,000 chips, but lost a good bit chasing big hands after that.  Now we're in the Big Blind with 12,000.  Only five players are at our table.  Others are coming, to make it a semifinal table.  No one has raised in front of us.  Even though these cards are high and suited, we choose to lay low and check.

ON THE FLOP: 9s-Qd-Jd

This is a tempting flop, as we have a "gutshot" draw for the top straight.  (We don't even notice an 8 would work every bit as well.)  We check in lead position, but a man to our immediate left offers 1,500.  He's bet into several hands with mere speculation, and we have this feeling a big hand is coming.  So even though two players call in front of us, we call as well.

ON THE TURN: Jh

Close, but not quite.  We check again.  The man to our left offers 1,500 again.  This is low enough to keep us in the hunt.  So we call, as do the other two players.

ON THE RIVER: Kd

Jackpot!  Our hunch is proven right.  So we don't hesitate.  "I'm all-in," we declare -- plunking down our remaining 9,000 chips.

The man who had been betting is taken aback by this.  He ponders a moment, then shakes his head and folds.  The woman next to him folds as well.  The dealer calls -- but we still feel good, and we've got our clinching line ready to go.

"You can call me...."

"I've got a flush," the dealer says without listening to us.  He flips over two diamonds.

"....the Rivercenter, because I'm on...."  We fade out the reference to Broadway before the sentence ends.  To our surprise, our straight is topped and our night is over in 16th place.

Yet the dealer isn't satisfied.  "I was one F****NG card away from a royal flush!"  One of his diamonds was the 10.  So he doesn't get a 5,000-chip bonus for that, but he still gets the win.

Of all the Kings to come out of the deck, the one which landed on the river was the worst.  And to be honest, we never realized that card put three diamonds in play.  We loved the letter, but didn't notice the suit -- although if we had, we probably still would have risked all our chips had the dealer forced it.

MINISTRY MOMENT: "What do you have over there?" that winning dealer asked us a couple of hands earlier.  Did he mean the size of our chip stack?  The 4-4 in our hand, with 5-5-6 showing on the flop?

"I've got a Life Saver," we said holding up our wrapped card protector.  That answer was meant as comedy relief.  But we then explained to a woman sitting to our right, "It reminds me Jesus is my lifesaver -- my hope of salvation."

We didn't ask the woman what she thought of that statement, but she seemed to understand.  It's a desire believers expressed long before Jesus came to Earth.

I wait for your salvation, O Lord, and I follow your commands.... I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight. - Psalm 119:166, 174

Did you notice what's connected to salvation in Psalms?  There's commandment-keeping, and delight in God's law.  A poker tournament admittedly can test your loyalty to that law.  For instance....

You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.  You shall not set your desire on your neighbor's house or land, his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. - Deuteronomy 5:21

This tenth commandment is why we're admittedly reluctant to play cash games for real stakes (even though we've done it several times).  There's a desire for gain.  But it comes with a price -- as other players have to lose money for that gain to happen.  Financial markets work differently; people who buy stock could pay enough to leave the seller with a profit.

As Constitution Day approaches in the U.S., we ask: how much do you delight in law?  Not only the laws of the land, but the ones God established long ago?

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 123 final tables in 347 nights (35.4%) - 19 cashes.

Mr. Know-It-Some

We'd barely walked in the door of the poker tournament when a young man came alongside us with an unusual request.  Would we go to a certain part of town and buy him some "spices"?

We sensed it was a trick question, but we didn't know exactly what he meant.  So we took the humorous route in responding.  "Like cinnamon?"

No, that wasn't quite it.  The young man then asked if we'd ever been to one particular part of town -- an area which admittedly doesn't have the best reputation.  Yes, we had been there several years ago.  "I went to church with a couple of men, who had Bible studies in their homes."

That wasn't quite the answer that man expected, either.  He moved on -- and then we asked someone sitting nearby if "spices" was a slang term for marijuana.  He said it was not, but explained the word can refer to other things people smoke.  (We found a very different use of the word online.)

So we're admittedly not up on the current drug and pseudo-drug slang.  And to be honest, we don't mind that.  It means we're following some Biblical advice....

Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.  Touch no unclean thing and I will receive you. - II Corinthians 6:17

We know some Christians who refuse to go to certain locations to play poker, because they have a "bad reputation" -- for illegal drugs or other reasons.  We understand their concern.  Others say you should go "all out," and not visit poker tournaments at all.  But we think Jesus advised a more balanced approach:

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.... As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. - John 17:15, 18

Jesus left a "sin-free zone" at God the Father's right hand, and came to a sin-scarred Earth to deliver us from our sins.  In a similar way, believers should go out and tell other people about what Jesus has done -- and what He can do for them.  But in the process, be careful....

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

Don't let yourself get lured or trapped into something which will cause regret (or even sin) later.  Follow Jesus's instructions to be "the salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13) - not necessarily the spice.

Poker Night 346: Looks Can Be Deceiving

Maybe it was due to the DNC (Democratic National Convention).  Maybe it was the VMA's (Video Music Awards).  But the poker turnout was sparse at Lil Kim's Cove tonight -- not even enough to fill two tables.  Making the final table should have been easier.  Yet we still had to earn it -- so we were looking for letters, with a different pattern.

BLINDS: 25/50

IN THE POCKET: A-J offsuit

We used to call this combination "Allmendingers" -- before the NASCAR driver with A.J. in his name was suspended for drug use.  They're still good starting cards, early in the evening.  But we decide to limp in with them, waiting to see if others at our table of six raises.  No one does.

ON THE FLOP: 2d-4c-8d

We don't exactly recall the suit of the 4, but we know we don't have diamonds.  Or a pair, for that matter.  We check, and are helped when the entire table checks with us.

ON THE TURN: 9d

Now three diamonds are showing.  But when the players ahead of us check, we sense an opportunity: "200," we say and bet.  A couple of men are wary of us and fold; two other players call.

ON THE RIVER: Jc

Some might say we were bluffing before the river.  Now we really won't, as we've made top pair.  So we increase the bet to 400.  Our remaining opponents apparently were chasing something and missed, so they fold.  We win the pot -- and the only people who know what we really had are reading this blog now.

Other cards paid even bigger dividends for us during the first hour -- as a suited Q-9 turned into three 9's, followed by A-8 leading to triple-8.  But then hands such as A-6 and A-4 went sour, as flops were missed and others bet big.  Our stack dropped from a high in the 19,000 range to about 8,900 at the one-hour break.

Things looked bleak in the second hour when A-K failed to pair on the flop, and we had to fold to big bets.  When we dropped to 4,500, we went all-in with K-K -- but thankfully, they prevailed.  Then we took the very next pot with Q-10, when both cards paired on the flop!  That rallied us to 27,500, providing enough cushion to make the final table.

Once we arrived there, we took a big loss when A-Q failed.  Then we tried another push with 10-10 and 6,500 chips left.  But a player to our left made his own two-pair flop with Q-8, and that was enough to win.  We wound up tied for fifth, as another player was ousted with us.  If that counts as a "top-five finish," it's our second in a row at Lil Kim's.

MINISTRY MOMENT: A surprising compliment came our way during the second hour from a man across the table.  "I've never seen you get mad."

"I realize it's just a game," we answered.  But then we added:  "You haven't seen me when I'm playing online, and my Internet connection fails."

The praise actually belongs to God, if we're able to keep our emotions in check during tournaments.  A "poker face" during a hand is one thing -- and that can be nothing more than a good acting job.  We think an even disposition throughout an evening takes more than that.

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment.... Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. - I Peter 3:3-4

Peter actually directed these words toward wives.  But we would ask: is God's Spirit sexist?  Aren't the traits of gentleness and quietness good for men to have, as well as women?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace.... gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law. - Galatians 5:22-23

Peace of mind can lead to a calm quietness, even when the storms of life attack us.  For an example of how Jesus displayed this, read Mark 4:35-41.  Then when you pray for peace -- whether in world events or your family -- pray for God to give you a peaceful Spirit first, to deal with it all.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 123 final tables in 346 nights (35.5%) - 19 cashes.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER TOTAL: Full tournaments - 266 point wins in 1,135 games (23.4%), 82 final tables, 10 tournament wins, 10 cashes.  No-River Hold 'em - 10 point wins in 47 games (21.3%), 9 final tables, 1 win.

We came close to victory in a No-River tournament on Labor Day, finishing fourth out of 108 players.

POKER STARS.NET TOTAL: Pretend cash games - $82,168, down $172.

Poker Night 345: Paul Revere and the Pot Raiders

The Dallas (Arlington?!) Cowboys and New York (Jersey?!) Giants had the attention of pro football fans tonight -- even those who gathered to play poker at Soho Bar and Grill.  In fact, the Tournament Director became so caught up in the opening night action that he was seven minutes late in calling one blind increase!

We went to Soho due to a change in our weekly routine.  But New England Patriots sprang to our mind at one point -- and not the football team....

BLINDS: 200/400

IN THE POCKET: 9-9

Did you ever have one of those nights -- when you can't even catch cards with a fishing net?  That's been our lot tonight.  A-K came early, but we had to fold it due to a missed flop and a player betting big with two pair.  Hands such as A-6 have fallen short as well.  Now we're dealing, the one-hour break is approaching and we finally have a fairly nice pocket pair.

Pre-flop raises have been common at our table of six, and a woman across from us raises to 800.  Players to our left start throwing out chips to call -- but as dealer, we have to tell them to wait.  Why?

"I'm going all-in," we explain.  There aren't many chips to count, but the total comes to 1,775 -- which reminds us of a classic poem an old church buddy used to recite by memory:

On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-five;
Hardly a man is now alive Who remembers that famous day and year, of the midnight ride of Paul Revere.

We think we puzzled other players by repeating that bit of U.S. historic literature about the year 1775.  A couple of them don't care; they're calling anyway.  We stand to "triple up" at least, if our pair stands.

ON THE FLOP: 7-Q-8

Two players to our left check.  But the woman who raised pre-flop goes all-in herself -- with a chip stack much larger than ours.  We smell big trouble.  So do those other players, who fold.  The woman then confirms it, by turning over a Queen.  We need help.

ON THE TURN: 7

"Two pair," a man to our left says hopefully.  But we're still losing.

ON THE RIVER: 5

Our "patriot game" is over.  The woman makes us walk the plank and out the door -- finishing sixth at our table of eight.

MINISTRY MOMENT: For several weeks we've taken a wrapped Life Saver candy to poker tables.  But only tonight did a good opportunity arise to refer to it -- when that winning woman responded to a raise by saying "Jesus!"

"He's my hope of salvation," we said holding up our card protector.  "He's my Life Saver.  Is he yours?" we then asked a man sitting next to her.

The man agreed with our statement, albeit a bit reluctantly.  "Who else is there?" we then asked.  Before you try to come up with an answer, consider these words of Jesus....

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

This verse reminds us of a TV evangelist who appealed for money 25 years ago by implying God would kill him if the funds didn't come.  "Won't you save my life??" he pleaded at one point in his telecast.

No, we didn't -- and considered that program a terrible Christian example.  As hard as scientists try and we might watch our weight, death is inevitable for all humans.  (Even the minister who made that appeal died in 2009.)  The only way to have a life beyond this one is to give yourself over to Jesus, accepting Him as your Savior.

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God -- that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. - I Corinthians 1:30

I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth, And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. - Job 19:25-26

For the believer, seeing Jesus face-to-face with an immortal body will be sweeter than any roll of candy.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 122 final tables in 345 nights (35.4%) - 19 cashes.

Liar, Liar, Deck on Fire

It's admittedly an article about romantic relationships.  But when we found an article online today about how to spot a liar, we couldn't help thinking about poker.

So spill to us: when you're at the table, what tips you off to someone bluffing - or outright lying about a hand?  You can be confidential if you wish.

Double Your Fun?

This time it was NLOP's fault.  The poker site's computer had some kind of hiccup during a tournament, and everyone was locked out.  National League of Poker suspended play for about 30 minutes, then resumed where things stopped - an Internet poker version of a "rain delay."

But when we returned to the action, suddenly we faced more action than we expected.  Somehow we were entered into not one sit-n-go table, but three - and a separate "point play tournament" on top of that.  We left one game, and came back to about five!

We decided to forgo the sit-n-goes, but kept trying in the two tournaments.  That meant we were at multiple tables simultaneously, which we never had tried before.  This is nothing for some online poker pros, who have computers set up for four or five games at once.  But that would be an easy day for some chess masters; we've read about exhibitions where they go from table to table, taking on 20 opponents or more at a time.

There's a reason why we've tried to avoid MPD - what we jokingly might call Multiple Poker Disorder.  Believe it or not, it's found in Scripture....

A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. - James 1:8 (KJV)

 No servant can serve two masters,.  Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.... - Luke 16:13

It's better to stay focused on one thing at a time, if at all possible.  That may sound old-fashioned in an era when "multi-tasking" is common and almost expected, but it's what the Bible recommends.  But the verses we quoted actually go far beyond that.  To finish the words of Jesus:

....You cannot serve both God and Money.... What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight. - Luke 16:13b, 15

Some poker games include "straddling," where players post double the big blind before the flop -- often without looking at their cards.  It might make pots more interesting, but it's an approach God will not allow when it comes to spiritual matters.  We can't straddle the fence; we must come down on one side or the other.

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to 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

Joshua came down on the side of "Jehovah," the Lord who led Israel out of Egypt.  That's the side we recommend as well -- because when the day of judgment comes, there still will be no straddlers.

All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. - Matthew 25:32-33

Read on through the end of chapter 25 to see what a difference it makes to be a "sheep" or a "goat."  The difference is enormous.

So how did we do on our two-tourney night?  Better than we expected, actually.  The point play tournament had 83 players, and we almost won points by finishing 12th.  But our top priority was the game for money we originally entered -- and a couple of Tuesday nights ago, we went all the way to second place out of 398 players to win cash!

So yes, we could engage in a little MPD and be successful at it.  But it's not what we recommend, and not what the Bible seems to recommend.  Besides, what if the games have different break times and you need to use the restroom?