Barry Greenstein

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Barry Greenstein

Barry Greenstein in the 2006 World Series of Poker
Nickname(s) The Robin Hood of Poker, The Bear
Hometown Rancho Palos Verdes, California
World Series of Poker
Bracelet(s) 3
Money finishes 44
Highest ITM
Main Event finish
22nd, 1992
World Poker Tour
Titles 2(+2)
Final tables 5(+2)
Money finishes 19
Statistics accurate as of 2009-07-12.

Barry Greenstein (born December 30, 1954 in Chicago, Illinois) is a professional poker player. He was exposed to poker at a young age by his father. After graduating from Bogan High School,[1] he earned a bachelor degree in computer science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He studied for a PhD in mathematics, but never defended his completed dissertation. He worked for Symantec until retiring in 1991 at age 36 when he went back to playing poker full time.[2] Greenstein has two children and four stepchildren, and resides in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. His stepson, Joe Sebok, with whom he started PokerRoad, a poker strategy and entertainment website, is also a professional poker player.

In 2005, Greenstein wrote a book titled Ace on the River. Tuan Le, a WPT Season 3 champion, claims that book showed him how to succeed on the poker circuit. Greenstein is known for giving away a free copy of his book to the player who eliminates him in a tournament, including his autograph and details of the hand. Greenstein taught former girlfriend Mimi Tran how to play poker in exchange for her teaching him how to speak Vietnamese. He also plays online at PokerStars, under the alias "barryg1" and is a member of the cardroom's Team PokerStars. He was also bet $10,000 by the 2+2 Poker Forums to say "lol donkaments" on an episode of High Stakes Poker, which he did after winning a hand against Erick Lindgren. After the initial $10,000, he also received a further $45,000 in donations from other charitable poker players who were amused by the bet. [3]

[edit] Poker career

Greenstein has appeared in each of the first three series of Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament and all five seasons of the GSN series High Stakes Poker. He has also appeared in the first three seasons of the late night series Poker After Dark on NBC. Greenstein has also won two World Poker Tour (WPT) titles: Fifth Annual Jack Binion World Poker Open ($1,278,370), and 2006 WPT Invitational at the Commerce Casino ($100,000). And two other WPT titles in special events: WPT Father and Sons Tournament, 2006 World Poker Finals; and WPT Poker by the Book: Chapter 2.[4] At one time, Greenstein donated his gross tournament winnings to charities, primarily Children, Incorporated, and he is sometimes called the Robin Hood of poker.[5] As of 2008, he began donating his net winnings to charity.[6] At the 2008 WSOP, Greenstein cashed in 6 events for a total of $768,461. He also finished second in the 2008 WSOP Player of the Year standings behind Erick Lindgren.[7] As of 2009, his total live tournament winnings exceed $6,900,000.[8] His 44 cashes as the WSOP account for $2,259,097 of those winnings.[9]

World Series of Poker bracelets
Year Tournament Prize (US$)
2004 $5,000 No Limit Deuce to Seven Draw $296,200
2005 $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha $128,505
2008 $1,500 Razz $157,619

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

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