SpadeClub Interview: William ‘DALLAS3K’ Baird
SpadeClub Awards Exclusive Member the Seventh of Eight Free WPT Boot Camp Seats
Oct. 4 was SpadeClub’s seventh of eight WPT Boot Camp Giveaway tournaments, and Exclusive member William “DALLAS3K” Baird was awarded his free seat in a WPT Boot Camp of his choice. Baird teaches Ballroom and Latin dancing for a living, “Dancing with the Stars-type stuff,” he said. He also deals poker part-time on the weekends at a local poker room.
Baird has been playing poker since he was 12 and has always loved the game but became interested in SpadeClub when some friends told him about SpadeClub.com while he was dealing in his poker room. When asked what his other goals are on SpadeClub, he said, “To win the Mega Monthly, for sure! I plan to accomplish this by going to the Boot Camp I won and getting a little hands-on training from some pros [laughs].”
SpadeClub got to ask Baird a few questions about his poker skills and what his strategies are when going into a tournament.
SpadeClub: Can you tell me how you won the WPT Boot Camp Giveaway tournament? What kind of strategy prevailed?
William “DALLAS3K” Baird: I would say that I was paying close attention to the players at my table and what kinds of hands they were winning and raising with. My strategy, to take the pot down when you have it and bet enough to not get drawn out on, prevailed.
SC: How did the early stages of that event go?
WB: Early stages went well due to the Yahtzee players betting just to bet!
SC: Was there a particularly key hand that you played in the tournament that helped lead you to victory?
WB: Yes, two hands particularly, and, oddly enough, they were the same hand. I flopped a full house twice late in the tourney for big pots.
SC: What is your method to go about piecing together what kinds of hands your opponents could be holding?
WB: That’s an easy one, simple math and odds. I’m no Negreanu, but I can hold my own!
SC: What do you think is the key to success when a tournament gets down to heads-up poker?
WB: Not over-betting hands preflop and trapping!
SC: Who was your toughest opponent in the event and why? What aspects of their games made them tough to play against?
WB: Everyone at the final table was tough. If I had to choose one, I would say CRcokeman. He is a well-rounded player, in my opinion, and has a very good heads-up game.
SC: What is a common mistake people make when playing heads up?
WB: Over-betting preflop! There are too many X-factors before the flop!
SC: What advice can you give to other SpadeClub members who are looking to go deep in these tournaments?
WB: Don’t be greedy, take the pot when you have it, or you will without doubt be outdrawn!
SC: Do you have any general advice to share with our readers about succeeding at SpadeClub?
WB: I can only wish them the best of luck! The game of hold’em does not play favorites!
SC: What was the most important thing that you did to get your game to where it is today?
WB: I became a dealer part time to watch hundreds of thousands of hands and situations turned over!
SC: Anything else you would like to add?
WB: I would like to add that it has been a while since I enjoyed all of the players at the final table on these poker websites, and in that Boot Camp tourney, everyone at the final table was a group of good, classy people who I wouldn't mind playing with again and again.
