Things you might not know:
- Daut created the StarCraft name "BigBalls" when he was in 7th grade after a measuring contest with his buddies.
- Daut used "Daut44" online when he matured some and moved into poker.
- Daut earned a degree in mathematics and computer science from the University of Richmond in 2006.
- Daut began work on a doctorate in mathematics at Penn State University, but dropped out after one semester to play poker professionally.
- Daut was an active poster and member of the TeamLiquid StarCraft community.
- Daut initially deposited $45 after encouragement from TeamLiquid grinding the smallest games. He slowly built it up to $600 over the course of the year.
- Daut was selected as CardRunners founder Taylor Caby's protege in 2006 which caused Daut to put academics on hold to take advantage of that opportunity.
- Daut played in his first World Series of Poker main event in 2006 when he was only a $100NL grinder, with a $2k roll.
- Daut defeated table chip leader Isaac Haxton heads up to win the 2007 WPT-PCA despite having a 3-1 chip deficit to begin. There were 937 entrants that played in the main event in the Bahamas.
- Daut helped his retired parents pay off their home with some of his WPT winnings.
- Daut's next best tournament finish was that same year taking sixth in the WPT $15K Doyle Brunson Classic for more than $190K.
- Daut got into backing other promising poker players for a while.
- Daut is a big sports fan, who played football, baseball and tennis.
- Daut enjoys mixed martial arts and studies Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
- Daut was a Rubik's Cube specialist in younger days, taking less than two minutes for individual puzzles.
Ryan "BigBalls/Daut44" Daut has played many levels and variations of poker. He has focused at different times at Full Ring, SNG's, heads-up, high stakes games, mass tabling mid-stakes with the occasional tournaments. After a bad episode a few years back where he lost most of his online bankroll when he tried to first start playing PLO, he has advocated a tight bankroll management.
For NL games I would suggest 30 buyins up through 1/2, then starting at 2/4, you need 40-50, and at 5/10+ id recommend at least 75, and for higher limit games if you want to be a serious player at least 100. It’s so nice to be able to make any play and not worry about having to move down after losing 5 buyins.
Daut videos showing amazing river bluff aggression, poker strategy talk, WSOP interview and more strategy talk with Jon Friedberg:
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