Dutch Boyd

Dutch Boyd is an American professional poker player and lawyer from Columbia, Missouri, with over $2.9 million in live tournament earnings. During his career, Dutch has won three bracelets at the 37th, 41st, and 45th World Series of Poker events, respectively. His biggest live cash came in June 2006 when he won $475,712 along with his first WSOP bracelet.

He is also the author of “Poker Tilt” (2014).

Dutch Boyd: Early Life

From a young age, he was recognized for his extraordinary abilities. At 11, he was moved up to seventh grade and participated in the gifted program, where he took the ACT as part of a Duke University talent search. His score of 23, while not a perfect 36, was still better than most high school seniors’. His mother, seeing his potential, suggested he try college classes. Boyd began as a part-time student, quickly advancing to full-time, earning an associate’s degree by 13. He continued his studies at Central Missouri State University, completed his bachelor’s degree, and by 14, had already taken the Law School Admissions Test, scoring high. By 18, Boyd had earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri-Columbia, becoming the youngest in the school’s history.

His first taste of the poker world came in June 2002 at the Battle of the Bay in San Francisco, where Dutch made an impressive debut, finishing 15th. This would be just the beginning of his connection to poker, as he spent several years honing his skills as a dealer at some of the world’s most prestigious casinos, including Bellagio in 2019 and Wynn, where he worked until 2020.

But Dutch weren’t done exploring new paths. In November 2020, he pivoted again, becoming an associate attorney, a role he embraced until September 2021. That experience set the stage for his next adventure: co-founding Neon Dreams Studio, where he worked until 2022. Now, as a Founding Attorney, Dutch continues to forge his own path, bringing together his diverse background and passion for challenging the status quo.

Prop Bet Dispute

He had a long-standing prop bet dispute that went to court with poker pro Joseph Bartholdi. In 2006, the two made a $10,000 bet over who would win more WSOP bracelets over 10 years. Boyd claimed that Bartholdi owed him money for the bet, but the court ruled against him. The bet was verbal, not written down, and Nevada law requires certain agreements to be in writing if they span more than a year. Since the bet was set to last 10 years, it was invalid under the law. As a result, Boyd lost the case and was not awarded any money from Bartholdi.

Despite the legal loss, Bartholdi has stated that he is paying Boyd what he owes but was slow to do so, prompting the lawsuit. Boyd has hinted at possibly appealing the decision, though he’s learned a valuable lesson. He also mentioned that this situation has turned him off from making prop bets with friends in the future.

Dutch Boyd: Live Tournament Participation

Dutch Boyd’s first recorded live cash occurred in June 2002 at the Battle of the Bay in San Francisco. He finished in 15th place in a $300 + 30 No Limit Hold’em Championship, cashing $800.

In June 2006, Dutch entered in a $2,500 No Limit Hold’em Short Handed at the 37th WSOP in Las Vegas. He finished in 1st place, winning his best live cash of $475,712.

Then, in June 2007, Dutch participated in a $5,000 No Limit Hold’em 6-Handed at the 38th WSOP. He ended up in 5th place, taking home $169,369.

Later that year, in November, Dutch joined in a $2,500 + 120 No Limit Hold’em at Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic. He made first-place finished, winning $237,685.

Following this, in June 2010, Dutch engaged in a $2,500 No Limit Hold’em 6-Handed at the 41st WSOP. He claimed his second bracelet, adding $234,065 to his winnings.

In June 2014, he played in a $1,000 No Limit Hold’em Event #33 at the 45th WSOP. He finished in 1st place, winning $288,744.

In June 2023, Dutch competed in a $10,000 Mixed Games – Dealer’s Choice Championship Bracelet Event #10 at the 54th WSOP. He ended up in 2nd place, earning $192,479.