Jan
08

Looks can be deceiving

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When it comes to poker, looks can indeed be deceiving. If you look at Barry Greenstein, dubbed as the Robin Hood of Poker, you will think that he is someone who plays poker just for fun. You wouldn’t even feel threatened by him because he has an ability to be inconspicuous and modest. Only when the two of you are left on the table will you realize that this small person is a force to reckon with. With four first place finishes in various professional poker tournaments and over three million dollars in winnings, there is really something more than meets the eye in this pro poker veteran.

Barry Greenstein grew up in a happy and supportive family in Chicago, Illinois. Born on December 30, 1954, Barry showed potential for being a good card player ever since he was young. In fact, his father was the one who taught and exposed young Barry to card games, particularly poker, rummy, gin, and hearts. Although this poker prodigy was already making big bucks even at the tender age of 12, Barry decided to leave the green felt to pursue further studies. Even if he knew that his great analytical skills and calm demeanor will make him a good professional poker player, he was bent on finding another career that would bring pride and glory to his family.

Barry Greenstein is one of the poker players with a very sharp mind. Aside from skipping one level in elementary school, he also graduated from the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) with a computer studies degree within three years. After that, Barry immediately enrolled in a PhD program in mathematics. While he was studying for his doctorate degree, Barry also used his skills in poker to boost his finances. However, he had to give up his studies and full-time poker career when he decided to get full custody of his children with then wife Donna. In order to win the court proceedings, Barry had to have a steady job. So he and his family went to Silicon Valley to form Symantec with his friends. Among his greatest achievements in the computer group was the Q&A software, which made Symantec a popular software company.

In the 90’s, Barry Greenstein decided to quit his job to become a professional poker player. Although he earned a lot of money from both No-Limit Hold’em and Limit Hold’em games, he got his break when he won Larry Flynt’s $1M Seven-Card Stud. In 2005, Barry Greenstein’s Ace On The River, a book about how to make a lot of money from playing poker, was published.

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Dec
04

Barry Greenstein is the Robin Hood of poker

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Barry Greenstein is a unique American professional poker player as he has donated much of his winnings to charity, primarily Children, Incorporated. Greenstein had his start in professional poker after leaving his corporate job at Symantec at the age of 36, in 1991. His winnings have exceeded six million dollars as of 2008, and he has won 3 bracelets in the World Series of Poker and has had 37 money finishes. In the World Tour of Poker events, Barry Greenstein has had 14 money finishes. Because of his philanthropic approach to his winnings, Barry Greenstein has been granted the poker nickname of The Robin Hood of Poker. He wears this name proudly and uses it to promote himself.

In addition to his professional poker playing, Barry Greenstein is well known for his book Aces by the River, which he gives autographed copies to anyone who eliminates him in a tournament. Greenstein will also explain the details of his hand to the person who eliminates him. Barry Greenstein once taught one of his former girlfriends how to play professional poker in exchange for her teaching him the Vietnamese language. In addition to his tournament plays, Greenstein also plays online at the PokerStars site under the alias barryg1. He once was bet $10,000 dollars to utter the phrase lol donkaments on television during an episode of High Stakes Poker.

Barry Greenstein was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1954 and claims it was his father who introduced him to the game of poker at a very early age. After graduating from Chicago’s Bogan High School, Greenstein attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where he was awarded a bachelor’s degree in computer science. He had intended on getting a PhD in mathematics but dropped out before finishing his doctoral dissertation. It was after college that Greenstein began his career with Symantec before becoming a professional poke player.

Barry Greenstein aka The Robin Hood of Poker makes his home in Rancho Pales Verdes, California. He has two children and four step children. Joe Sebok, Greenstein’s stepson has also followed his stepfather’s career and become a well known professional poker player. His reputation due to his philanthropic deeds is well known and documented as well as, appreciated by his professional poker peers and fans. Barry Greenstein continues to thrive as a professional poker player and is well respected by his opponents as well as tournament organizers.