In an exclusive interview with Poker News Daily, poker professional Dutch Boyd disclosed some insights into his upcoming book, “Poker Tilt,” as well as some of his observations on the poker world in general.
“I think I could have written the book earlier,” Boyd stated in the interview. “I could have taken advantage of things after I won my first World Series of Poker bracelet, but I didn’t. I didn’t get a sponsorship with an online poker room…I really tried to go on my own.”
Boyd half-heartedly joked about being a two time WSOP bracelet winner and being broke in promoting “Poker Tilt,” but he admits it took some driving to get him to the writer’s dais. “It wasn’t until I started talking to my co-author (Lawrence Samuels) last year that things really got going as far as the book. Lawrence pushed me hard to getting this book done and, between the two of us; I think we’re going to do a great book.”
In the discussion with PND, Boyd laid out the basis of the upcoming “Poker Tilt” book. “It’s going to be part strategy, part life discussion of the world of poker,” Boyd said. “There are going to be stories about me rooming with Antonio Esfaindiari, my travels with Phil Laak and a few Crew stories in the book.”
In the interview, Boyd divulged a couple of the lessons that will be a part of the book. “As far as a poker lesson, don’t attack a drowning stack,” Boyd advised, but coyly didn’t go into depth. When it comes to life, he also had some advice. “There is a cognitive bias in poker…and in life.”
One of the key books that Boyd looked at in writing his tome was Barry Greenstein’s “Ace On The River.” That book was an inspiration for what I am doing now,” Boyd said. “With the tactics side, I would like to go with Gus Hansen’s ‘Every Hand Revealed…that is one of the best books I’ve read for that.”
Boyd has funded this book though a Kickstarter campaign that originally asked contributors to reach a goal of $5000. That goal was surpassed fairly quickly and it is something that Boyd recognizes. “It allows your audience to get involved with the process and, without it, I wouldn’t be able to move forward.”
The Kickstarter campaign has been able to drive over $8000 in contributions, with some nice rewards for its contributors. For those that contribute $10, a PDF copy of a preliminary edition of the book is available. A $20 contribution gets an autographed copy of the book and a $50 contribution gets two solid copies (autographed), a PDF early version and an acknowledgement in the book.
The writing process between Boyd and Samuels seems to be an ongoing discussion. “I write from the front about the personal stuff, Lawrence writes from the back to the front,” Boyd said in the interview. “We’re working to the middle,” Boyd laughed.
“I fully expect this book to be out by the time the World Series of Poker Championship Event starts,” Boyd said.
Boyd has had an up-and-down life as a member of the poker community. After entering the poker world in 2002, Boyd would rack up seven WSOP cashes (including a deep twelfth place run in the Championship Event in 2003) before winning his first bracelet in 2006. Boyd would win his second WSOP bracelet in 2010 on his way to earnings of $2.1 million as of 2012.
As to where he is now in life, Boyd seems to be at a great point. “My girlfriend Michelle has been a great stabilizer in my life over the past five years and I am at my happiest level,” Boyd said. “I am feeling great about myself and my game and am looking forward to this summer at the World Series of Poker.”
As we closed our discussion for the evening, Boyd did put out another sidelight that may make the book. “Everyone wants to play the game but no one wants to play the game,” Boyd said. Then he chuckled, “Yeah, that’s from Lady Gaga, but it might appear in the book…with many other things.”
