WSOP Player Profile – Billy Baxter

Posted by James on October 23, 2008

Of the greatest lowball poker players the name Billy Baxter would shine in fine splendor. Even at a very young age he took to gambling as a career, to begin with in the ambiance of a pool hall. When he was 18, Baxter was attracted towards poker and as many poker players concentrated on Stud or Holdem; he had great skill in Lowball poker.

The World Series of Poker in 1975 was the launching point for Baxter as he won his first bracelet in 2-7 Lowball. In 1978 he proceeded to win the $10,000 Lowball event as well. He repeated the feat in 1981 in the same event. The same year he won Ace to Five Lowball Event. He seemed to make it a habit to win 2-7 Lowball Event bracelets as he did so in 1987 and 1993. It was not until 2002 the he would win something besides lowball by winning the $1,500 Razz event. Though this game is a lowball variation of Stud, it provoked Max Shapiro to warn players against doing two things, and those were tugging on Superman’s cape and playing Baxter in a lowball game.

Apart from 7 bracelets, Baxter has to his credit 9 cashes in lowball at the WSOP. Of the 16 total cashes, two were final table and two were runner-up slots. Even the recent 2008 WSOP lowball saw him cash though he lost by a whisker to make it to the final table. But his virtuosity is not limited to Lowball as he has shown exceptional skills in No Limit Holdem as well. It must be remembered that his skills in NL were subsequent acquisitions. This year alone he has bagged two NL events and had been in the finals for two more events. His consolidated earnings in tournaments have exceeded $1.7 million. It is likely that the actual amounts could be more because full figures not connected with World Series are unavailable. He reached the peak of glory in 2006 when he was ushered into the Poker Hall of Fame.

It is interesting to recall that though a champion poker player, Baxter’s gift to the game came from outside the ambit of the game in the form of a lawsuit. Professional gambling earnings were subjected up to 70% tax prior to 1986 when William E.Baxter Jr. v. United States case ruled that it could attract just 50% as a business. The judgment of a Nevada Court enables professional gamblers to have the same tax structure as small businesses.

A permanent place is assured to Billy Baxter in poker with lowball. This should be seen in the light of his 7 world titles. He gauged the direction of the many changes in poker and remained a powerful figure. It is no exaggeration to say that his fierce advocacy has changed the status of professional gamblers. He is quite active in poker at the age of 68. With his ability to adapt and expand his knowledge of poker, there would be no surprise if Baxter did not win another couple of titles before the end of his illustrious career.