The Bernard Lee Poker Show 11-28: 2019 WPT LAPC Champion, David "ODB" Baker

Bernard Lee
Contributor
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In this episode of The Bernard Lee Poker Show on the PokerNews Podcast Network, Bernard Lee interviews the recent World Poker Tour LAPC Main Event Champion, David Baker.

With this title, David achieved three goals with this win: first cash over $1 million, first major no-limit hold’em victory, and first WPT Main Event title. Additionally, David discusses his successful poker career including his 2012 WSOP bracelet win ($2,500 8-Game Mix), his early poker days, and his prowess in mixed games.

Show Time Stamps

0:00Welcome to this week’s The Bernard Lee Poker Show.
0:30Bernard announces the winners of the WPT LAPC (David Baker), Gardens (Frank Stepuchin), and Borgata Winter Open (Viny Lima). All three final tables were played at the Luxor Casino inside the HyperX Esports Arena in Las Vegas.
2:15Bernard announces the 2019 WPT LAPC champion, David Baker will be his guest on this week’s show.
2:41Erkut Yilmaz outlasted 280 entries to capture his second WPT Main Event title this season at Thunder Valley Casino, just outside of Sacramento, California. Erkut now leads the WPT Player of the Year Standings.
4:00Bernard announces the winners of the recent WSOP Circuit Main Events held at the Bicycle Casino (Sean Yu) and Harrah’s Atlantic City (Ryan Eriquezzo). Both players had previously won bracelets in the WSOP Global Casino Championship and are now both headed back to that tournament held in August 2019.
6:18RunGood Gear Ad
7:01Bernard welcomes the recent 2019 WPT LAPC champion, David Baker, to the show.
8:14David joins the show.
8:43David discusses how satisfying it was to win this title. “It’s kind of overwhelming.”
10:21David recalls making a WPT final table in October of 2006 and was fearful that he might never return. “I don’t think I really understood how precious the opportunity was. I just assumed I would be back many times. And that I would have many titles when all was said and done. They just all kind of alluded me.”
12:33David explains why he considers The Commerce, possibly even his first home. “I’ve stayed at Commerce pretty much for the last 15 years, probably 150 to 200 nights a year. That’s my home.”
14:28David discusses that he wasn’t originally planning on playing in the 2019 WPT LAPC event. “I very rarely travel for tournaments these days. And I only played because I was there playing cash games.”
16:36David describes the stacked final table led by four-time WPT Main Event champions, Darren Elias. “(The final table) was all about Darren, and it allowed me to do my thing and get in my own head.”
23:36David discusses the importance of his rail which included John Racener, Cord Garcia, Ray Henson, and Josh Arieh. Entering the final table, David formulated a strategy with them and “it played on exactly like we planned.”
26:47David discusses how the 30-minute delay of the live stream, created a unique dynamic at the table.
29:51David explains how he and others at the final table utilized the time extension during the WPT LAPC final table.
35:42Share My Pair Ad
36:13Bernard continues his interview with the 2019 WPT LAPC Main Event, David Baker.
37:05David describes how RunGood Gear designed his final table t-shirts and how he prepared for the final table.
42:16David explains how he got the nickname “ODB” which stands for “Original David Baker.” “I was playing on the circuit for a while and then this guy got deep in a Bellagio event. I was getting all these texts (wishing me luck)… And then, he took over the poker world and everyone else said “ODB.” It just kind of stuck… It wasn’t forced or contrived and it kind of works now.”
44:33David discusses his typical games, usually mixed games, at the Commence, including betting limits. “We range anywhere from a 5-game to 20-game mix of mostly draw games and a few stud games with some big bet games mixed in… That’s my bread and butter.”
45:55David reveals that badugi, limit single 2-7 draw and razz are his strongest games. “I’ve turned into kind of a draw specialist.”
51:03David discusses his schedule from now until the WSOP, including any additional WPT events.
55:27David congratulates Bernard on having his show for 11 years. “Congratulations. 11 years having your show is pretty impressive.”

Let us know what you think of the show - tweet about the podcast using #BernardLeePokerShow, and be sure to follow @BernardLeePoker on Twitter or Instagram.

You can follow David Baker on Twitter @audavidb.

The Bernard Lee Poker Show is now available on iTunes.

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Bernard Lee
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