Sunday, June 28, 2009

Poker Journal for 6/27/09

Poker Journal

8:57 PM - mypalal: is ready to play some poker after a long day of errands. - (Twitter)

10:35 PM - mypalal: Played horrible in 3 SNG's. Lost a MTT with Aces vs 7's. Now I'm down to my final MTT and I'm in 5th place with 14 players left. poker - (Twitter)

10:37 PM - mypalal: I wound up losing all 3 SNG's knowing I had the worst hand when going all-in. - (Twitter)

10:40 PM - mypalal: 3 to cash and I have a medium stack. Be patient. poker - (Twitter)

10:42 PM - mypalal: two more to cash. I think I'll make it. knock on wood. poker - (Twitter)

10:42 PM - mypalal: One more to go and they moved me again. poker - (Twitter)

10:43 PM - mypalal: I'm now down to 10 bb's. the chip leader is bullying up around. poker - (Twitter)

10:45 PM - mypalal: There are 3 short stacks and I can't do any. Am i going to have to fold aces? - (Twitter)

10:47 PM - mypalal: Here's we go. I'm in the money. poker - (Twitter)

10:47 PM - mypalal: I've got 5 bb's. Check out Full Tilt 97002909 - (Twitter)

10:48 PM - mypalal: I have 10's. I guess I'm shoving. poker - (Twitter)

10:49 PM - mypalal: against QJ. I have trips and win it. poker - (Twitter)

10:53 PM - mypalal: Just jumped up two spot. 6 players left and I'm in last with 10 bb's. - (Twitter)

10:54 PM - mypalal: 5 left. poker - (Twitter)

10:54 PM - mypalal: Folding 2-6s on the button. poker - (Twitter)

10:54 PM - mypalal: shoving 54 on sb - (Twitter)

10:55 PM - mypalal: Doubled up vs A2. poker. Caught a 4 on the flop. - (Twitter)

10:58 PM - mypalal: What a dumb move. Q7 vs AA. Not involved but 4 players left. - (Twitter)

10:58 PM - mypalal: Now I'm in 3rd. poker - (Twitter)

10:58 PM - mypalal: I have 25k vs 2 players with 100K. poker - (Twitter)

10:59 PM - mypalal: 6's in the bb. I believe I'm going to go with it. poker. - (Twitter)

10:59 PM - mypalal: vs. 9's. i'm done in 3rd. poker - (Twitter)

10:59 PM - mypalal: I'll take the $31.50. Looks like i'll be walking away today an overall winner. poker. - (Twitter)

11:01 PM - mypalal: I made 9 dollars today. Not bad for 2 hours of play. poker - (Twitter)

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Poker Journal for 6/24/09

Poker Journal

12:17 PM - The Twitter Poker Tour Plays at Full Tilt Poker!
Full Tilt Poker has a lot to offer to the wide range of skill levels that make up the players of the TPT. So the Twitter Poker Tour, the online version of a weekly home game, will play Season4 exclusively at Full Tilt! - (Digg)

Monday, June 22, 2009

Responding to the Christian Critic

If you're new to my blog, I wrote an article on the Christian's Perspective on Playing Poker. I recently got this message from someone who disagrees with me. It's really interesting. I'm posting the entire thread here:

Your article is interesting. However, it would seem to me that you have
overlooked some principles laid down in Scripture, some of which are found in:1
Corinthians 6:12

"Everything is permissible for me"-- but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"-- but I will not be mastered by anything. (NIV) You may not be mastered but others may who follow your example. How can we face the judgment knowing we could be the cause of another's downfall because we have indulged in questiionable practices?1 Corinthians 10:23 "Everything is permissible"-- but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"-- but not everything is constructive.

(NIV)1 Corinthians 8:13
Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.

(NIV) We are not to live unto ourselves but to be a living witness to the power of Christ. I can't envision Christ sitting at a gamblers' table, taking another's money,
giving the Sermon on the Mount to those he was gambling with. Can you?

So I sent a nice polite response:

Thanks for the note. Your right, in a way. If you look at poker as gambling, then yes, you’re correct. As I mentioned in my blog about gambling, if you’re relying on fate and chance to win, you are sinning.

But in my perspective poker is a game of skill, unlike blackjack, roulette, keno, etc.

Do I see Jesus sitting at a poker table? That’s a pretty far out question? Do I see
Jesus sitting at a table and playing crazy eights, Uno or bridge? Did Jesus play
any kind of game?

My poker is limited to a $5 tournament. I play to better my game play skills and to come in first. If Jesus were to play any game, would he play to come in 1st. Would he play to less than his ability to let other’s win?

I used to play softball. I paid $30 a season in hopes of winning a cheap trophy and a t-shirt. Is this gambling? Would Jesus do the same? Honestly, I paid the $30 to be with my friends in a competitive environment and we did play to win.

Friend, I don’t want to come across as sarcastic, I know your heart’s in the right place, but what I do what to do is challenge your position a little. Believe me, I have a lot of friends, who agree with you. I also have a few friends who have succumb to the
Gambling Addiction. In fact, I had to pull a friend out of a casino that I frequent, because he should not have been there because of his addiction. I don’t take this lightly.

Hope this helps.
Alan.

Here's the fun response that I got back:

Thanks or your reply. Is how I look at a matter what counts or is it the
influence it extends that counts. The Scripture tells us that we are to
avoid even the very appearance of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:22
Abstain from all appearance of evil.) (KJV) Also, we have Exo. 20:17 to steer around if we want to gamble,or to make excuses for any other sin and vice.

I see from your blog that you claim to be an Evangelical Christian. I
am not interested in discussing that point but I am interested in knowing if you
have been "Born from above" -- truly transformed by the work of the 'Spirit
in your heart. If not, this would answer a lot of the questions as to why
you look to justify this questionable practice. this is the answer Jesus gave to the
searching Nichodemus.

I don't think this person really wanted to have a discussion about poker, so I wrote back:

Simply, Yes, I am "Born from Above" but probably not by the standards you have
set. I will leave that judgment to God.
I've not hear back from him yet.


Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Poker Journal for 6/16/09

Poker Journal

9:32 PM - mypalal: Gonna play a little poker. Trying to earn enough to have a really really nice wedding anniversary. So far only having a really good night. - (Twitter)

9:34 PM - mypalal: OMG. Full Tilt Poker has a $11,000 Guarantee and there's only 170 people in the tournament. For $20 you could win close to $3,000. - (Twitter)

9:38 PM - mypalal: Playing my usual SNG cock-tail. Two 5 Dollar and one 3 dollar 90 person SNG. poker. I made $25 last night. - (Twitter)

9:50 PM - mypalal: 3rd level and I have not been dealt a hand worth playing. poker - (Twitter)

11:06 PM - mypalal: Placed 2nd in two of 3 SNG's. Now I'm trying to cash in the 90 man. poker - (Twitter)

11:09 PM - mypalal: I'm just one away from the money. poker - (Twitter)

11:16 PM - mypalal: I'm in the money...barely. poker - (Twitter)

11:16 PM - mypalal: I'd like to double up a few times now. #poker - (Twitter)

11:20 PM - mypalal: Just doubled up on the river. KQ vs 99's. poker - (Twitter)

11:21 PM - mypalal: The key now is to be patient and wait for an opportunity. poker - (Twitter)

11:39 PM - mypalal: limped my way to 4th. Now I need to get lucky. - (Twitter)

11:40 PM - mypalal: oops. spoke too soon. poker. - (Twitter)

11:42 PM - mypalal: Two weeks ago I had $200 in my poker bankroll. Now I'm at $380. Money management is the key. - (Twitter)

Poker Journal for 6/16/09

Poker Journal

9:32 PM - mypalal: Gonna play a little poker. Trying to earn enough to have a really really nice wedding anniversary. So far only having a really good night. - (Twitter)

9:34 PM - mypalal: OMG. Full Tilt Poker has a $11,000 Guarantee and there's only 170 people in the tournament. For $20 you could win close to $3,000. - (Twitter)

9:38 PM - mypalal: Playing my usual SNG cock-tail. Two 5 Dollar and one 3 dollar 90 person SNG. poker. I made $25 last night. - (Twitter)

9:50 PM - mypalal: 3rd level and I have not been dealt a hand worth playing. poker - (Twitter)

11:06 PM - mypalal: Placed 2nd in two of 3 SNG's. Now I'm trying to cash in the 90 man. poker - (Twitter)

11:09 PM - mypalal: I'm just one away from the money. poker - (Twitter)

11:16 PM - mypalal: I'm in the money...barely. poker - (Twitter)

11:16 PM - mypalal: I'd like to double up a few times now. #poker - (Twitter)

11:20 PM - mypalal: Just doubled up on the river. KQ vs 99's. poker - (Twitter)

11:21 PM - mypalal: The key now is to be patient and wait for an opportunity. poker - (Twitter)

11:39 PM - mypalal: limped my way to 4th. Now I need to get lucky. - (Twitter)

11:40 PM - mypalal: oops. spoke too soon. poker. - (Twitter)

11:42 PM - mypalal: Two weeks ago I had $200 in my poker bankroll. Now I'm at $380. Money management is the key. - (Twitter)

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Poker Journal for 6/13/09

Poker Journal

8:33 AM - mypalal: is playing some poker before the kid wakes up. - (Twitter)

8:37 AM - mypalal: The flop came 4-T-4. I had the ten in early position. a little hesitant to bet at it but I did and took the pot against 6 players. poker - (Twitter)

8:39 AM - mypalal: Was able to fold top pair. Sometime you have to if you've got players playing too aggressively. poker. - (Twitter)

8:39 AM - mypalal: By the way, I'm playing 2 SNG's at Full Tilt Poker. - (Twitter)

8:44 AM - mypalal: Surprisingly at level 2 and no one is out at either table. poker - (Twitter)

8:58 AM - mypalal: One thing about playing tight, is that i get to steal alot in middle states. poker. - (Twitter)

9:04 AM - mypalal: Just hurt a LAG. It's easy. Just wait for a big hand and make it expensive to play against you and he'll fold. poker - (Twitter)

9:49 AM - mypalal: Lost one and bubbled the other. poker - (Twitter)

7:19 PM - mypalal: Got myself a nice nap and some Top class pizza. Gonna play poker while the wife watches Bride Wars. - (Twitter)

7:49 PM - mypalal: if I don't have an idea how to play a hand, then I should fold it. poker - (Twitter)

7:57 PM - mypalal: Was just pulled out of the jaws of death. Great way to be patient with super short stack. poker - (Twitter)

8:04 PM - mypalal: All in Kings vs 8's and I get 4 flushed!!!! poker - (Twitter)

8:25 PM - mypalal: Got Kings twice. then an Ace on the flop and a shove after my continuation bet. Folded both times. poker - (Twitter)

8:34 PM - mypalal: Should you play a weak ace in the small blind? poker - (Twitter)

9:13 PM - mypalal: that was long, but I finally won that SNG. I had an overly aggressive player to my right. Just have to pick spots to take them out. poker - (Twitter)