If you’re looking for a true tech-guru at your poker table, one who is not shy to say “lol donkaments” at a High Stakes Poker event, chances are it is Barry Greenstein you’re looking for. Then again, if you know what’s good for you, you don’t really look forward to playing against him.
Born in 1954, in Chicago, Greenstein got acquainted to poker at a relatively tender age, courtesy of his father, who was himself an avid poker player.
His academic career led Barry from the benches of Bogan High School to the University of Illinois, where he earned a degree in Mathematics. He got bored with piling up qualifications though, and left school just before his PhD dissertation.
He began working for Symantec and his wealth grew together with the company. For that reason, having achieved financial security, he could afford to retire in 1991 – aged 36 – and devote all his time to his one true passion: poker.
He has befriended Mimi Tran during his poker playing years, and offered to teach her poker in exchange for being taught Vietnamese. Through his book, “Ace on The River” however, he managed to teach poker to a much wider audience too. 2007 WSOP Main Event runner-up, Tuan Lam claims that it was Barry Greenstein’s book that firmly placed him onto the path leading to tournament success.
He won his first WSOP bracelet in 2004, in a $5,000 NL Deuce to Seven Draw event, which netted him almost $300k. His second bracelet was a result of his victory in the $1,500 PL Omaha Event in 2005, which earned him $128k.
2008 brought him another bracelet in the $1,500 Razz event, He made the money 37 times in various WSOP events, his highest Big Dance finish being a 22nd place attained in 1992.
He also scored 3 WPT titles, 5 final table presences and 14 money finishes.
Being as financially solid as he was, Greenstein could afford to donate all his tournament winnings to charity for while. This feat earned him the nickname: The Robin Hood of Poker.
An interesting piece of Barry Greenstein trivia is that Joe Sebok – himself a famous professional player – is Greenstein’s stepson.
Nowadays Barry Greenstein is a member of team PokerStars and you can catch him online under the nickname “barryg1”.