Dutch Boyd Has One of Poker's Most Interesting Stories



Q: What Happened to Dutch Boyd?

A: Dutch Boyd has always been, in my opinion, one of poker's most fascinating characters.

His life has certainly not been a dull one.

A near-miss in the World Series of Poker main event. Multiple World Series of Poker bracelets. The Pokerspot scandal. A public battle with mental illness. A legal battle with Two Plus Two. "The Crew".

If you grew up in the time of "Rounders" and Chris Moneymaker and the rise of sites like Pokerstars/Full Tilt Poker, you undoubtedly know who Dutch Boyd is.

-

The question: what happened to Dutch Boyd?

Dutch Boyd is smart. Very smart. Smart enough to have graduated law school at a very early age. And also smart enough to realize that the poker world likely wouldn't provide stability for his growing family, as Boyd and his girlfriend, Michelle, were welcoming a new addition to the world.

In 2019, Boyd decided to use his poker knowledge to secure a job dealing cards at the Wynn.

According to reports, Boyd was very good at his job.

At some point, Boyd decided that he wanted to use his law degree to complete his 180 pivot away from the poker world.

After passing the bar, Boyd accepted a job at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP as an associate lawyer, where he does civil defense work.

Boyd is now engaged to his girlfriend and is raising his newborn son, Kurt.

-

Boyd was recently pulled back into the poker world after he sued his former friend, Joe Bartholdi.

According to Boyd, the two men placed a bracelet bet in 2006 that Bartholdi never fully paid up on.

The winner of the bet would be the person who won the most bracelets over a 10-year period, and this person would receive $10,000 from the other.

Boyd alleges that Bartholdi only partially paid the debt, which is why he went to court.

The courts ruled that the agreement was not in writing, so it could not be enforced.

Bartholdi, for his part, has said that he plans on paying off the debt.

-

The poker world is filled with unhappy endings.

The Dutch Boyd story, however, seems to be bucking that trend.


Back to Answers