Professional Poker Player. After serving in the military, Boyd began running card rooms in San Francisco. In 1946, he became manager of the Golden Nugget card room, where he introduced a variant of the game he initially called Nugget Hold' em, but later changed to Omaha. Ironically, Boyd never won a World Series of Poker bracelet in Omaha. In 1973, the $10,000 buy-in No-Limit Five Card Stud event had only one entry - Bill Boyd. He "won" the event and his third World Series of Poker bracelet in the only one-player World Series of Poker bracelet event ever. In 1974, the buy-in for the Five Card Stud event was reduced to $5,000 and had eight entries. Boyd won that event for $40,000, the largest cash of his career. Five Card Stud never appeared on the WSOP schedule again, allegedly because Boyd couldn't be beaten. (7-Card Stud events are still offered). Boyd managed the Golden Nugget poker room from the day it opened in 1946 until its closing in 1988. He was dealt the ceremonial first hand at both the Golden Nugget in 1946 and the Mirage in 1989. He was elected to the Poker Hall of Fame in 1981 and retired from poker in 1982.
Professional Poker Player. After serving in the military, Boyd began running card rooms in San Francisco. In 1946, he became manager of the Golden Nugget card room, where he introduced a variant of the game he initially called Nugget Hold' em, but later changed to Omaha. Ironically, Boyd never won a World Series of Poker bracelet in Omaha. In 1973, the $10,000 buy-in No-Limit Five Card Stud event had only one entry - Bill Boyd. He "won" the event and his third World Series of Poker bracelet in the only one-player World Series of Poker bracelet event ever. In 1974, the buy-in for the Five Card Stud event was reduced to $5,000 and had eight entries. Boyd won that event for $40,000, the largest cash of his career. Five Card Stud never appeared on the WSOP schedule again, allegedly because Boyd couldn't be beaten. (7-Card Stud events are still offered). Boyd managed the Golden Nugget poker room from the day it opened in 1946 until its closing in 1988. He was dealt the ceremonial first hand at both the Golden Nugget in 1946 and the Mirage in 1989. He was elected to the Poker Hall of Fame in 1981 and retired from poker in 1982.
Bio by: Paul Smith
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