The Greatest Player You've Never Heard Of - A player who just may become more well-known to the public

For those who don't know me, here's a quick introduction. I'm 42 years old and have been playing poker professionally since before I was old enough to legally enter a casino. I started out playing five-card draw and lowball in the casinos in Gardena, California, while I was still in high school. In the early days of my career, I was overly aggressive. Wait, that might be a bit kind. Yeah, well, I guess adrenaline junkie is a better choice of words. I played every hand I could make the weakest excuse to play. Slowly and painfully, I became a winning lowball player. That in no way means I was ready to be a winning gambler.

I was a consistent winner in small-limit games in Gardena (usually deal-yourself $3-$6 lowball games with a full kill). A kill meant that if you won two in a row or looked at two good cards, you'd put a $6 blind in and double the stakes of that hand. Now, I was beating those games, but I was quite the degenerate gambler for other forms of gambling.

Horses, sports, boxing, cockfights, dog racing, jai alai - you name it, and I'd bet on it (well, I never actually went to or bet on any jai alai matches or cockfights). I would have if someone dared me, though. To make a long story short, I've learned to fight my self-destructive impulses and become a moderately successful poker player, a husband, and father of three. I've learned a few new games along the way, and even won a tournament or two. I'm now in the twilight of a mediocre career, but I have a mentor who has steered me in the right direction.

With that out of the way, let's get to the good part. The greatest player you've never heard of has been traveling around and taking everyone's money from the dog tracks of Florida to little old Oceanside, California, playing big-bet poker, laughing, joking, and generally raising hell for the last 40 years or so. His sense of humor is very dry, so until you get to know him, you're not 100 percent certain if he's being serious or yanking your chain. Until recently, he played only cash games, no tournaments. That may be why the general public has never heard of him. However, among poker players, he has a great reputation. He traveled around to the tourneys for the side games. He's busted many players, but don't worry, he also has put many back in action because he's a big softy.

Recently, a couple of his 15 grandkids asked him, "Hey, Grandpa, if you're such a great poker player, how come we never see you on TV like Daniel Negreanu?" He just laughed and yelled with his big, loud Boston accent, ""Cause I'm too busy playing to win enough cash to keep you all happy." This, confidentially, is no small task. That inspired him to start playing some tournaments.

Considering that cash games and tourneys are about as different as baseball and cricket, it will take some fine-tuning, but our guy has done quite well in his limited tourney experience, thank you very much. It seems that pot-limit events have given him a little better control than the no-limit events that have become so popular. If he sticks to tourneys, I predict you'll be seeing a lot of him very soon.

His name is William Duarte. He is better known as Billy D. or Boston Billy, and I consider myself quite lucky to have him as a friend. The reason I'm telling the world of my best-kept secret is not to scare everyone away from his game, but more for promotional reasons. There is no fame in poker unless you make the TV final tables. Winning for a lifetime in the cash games won't make you a celebrity, especially when you keep a low profile. So, if any poker TV producers read this column, remember Billy's name, and don't overlook his name when you are deciding who plays in invitationals. He is a true gentleman who makes everyone feel comfortable when they play with him, whether it's a movie star like Tobey Maguire or Ben Affleck, a pretty girl, or a complete live one. He knows how to charm them, and they always enjoy their poker session, win or lose. Billy is the type of personality who needs to be featured on TV. I have been trying to convince him to write a book about his years on the road, but he is too busy winning.

In my years in poker, I've made lots of casual friends, but very few have been admitted to my inner circle. By reading my column, I'm offering you free admittance to my most precious group of family and friends. I hope you enjoy what I have to say. I'm a bit of a free thinker and nobody's "yes" man. If I see something wrong, I'm going to try to fix it. Hopefully, I'll grow on most of you enough that you'll join me once a month.