Barry Greenstein Profile

For poker fans there are few names in the world of poker as readily recognized as Barry Greenstein; as a generous philanthropist as well as a champion poker player, Barry’s name is even more recognized among the workers and recipients of charity. When watching Barry Greenstein in action, reading his book or browsing his website, it is easy to get a feel for the generosity in his nature, and a genuineness as well. Here is a man whose ambition was to become a doctor and do research to cure disease, took a turn as an influential software designer, and turned to poker as a way to make a living in order to be flexible enough to spend time with the family that needed him.

Born in Chicago at the end of 1954, Greenstein spent afternoons after school playing cards with his mother, who was still surprised when he announced at the age of 20 that he was going to become a pro poker player. Her time spent with Barry left an indelible impression on the man who one day become known as the Robin Hood of Poker.

Barry spent years developing his poker game, playing mostly in cash games. When he turned to tournament play, it didn’t take long for him to start racking up the wins. His first place wins include the California State Poker Championship in 2003, the WSOP event, The Fifth Annual Jack Binion World Poker Open and the 2003 Million Dollar Seven Card Stud Tournament at the Larry Flynt’s Poker Cup Challenge. For the most part, when Mr. Greenstein sits down at a poker tournament he isn’t working to increase his personal holdings; instead he gives away what he earns to a variety of charities. The most important charity in his heart is Children, Inc, who help out impoverished children the world over. Barry began doing charitable works as a way to instill the sense of giving and charity in his own children that his own mother did in him.

No profile of Barry Greenstein would seem complete without a mention of Mimi Tran. The two close friends struck up a deal; Barry would teach Mimi how to be a better poker player if she would teach him how to speak Vietnamese; Barry wanted very much to be able to speak with all the Vietnamese players he met and played with on the road and in the casinos. Barry says his Vietnamese vocabulary has reached that of a five year old, while Mimi’ poker skills have rocketed her into the top echelon of poker players; he attributes this to her being the better learner, another example of Greenstein humility.

Barry is also an author, writing his book “Ace on the River” after starting to write a chapter for Doyle Brunson’s much anticipated SyperSystem II. After he set paper to pen and began the task he discovered an outline for a complete manuscript. In an effort to continue the experience of his book with the readers, he launched his website, http://www.barrygreenstein.com/, as way to continue the dialog. The site is a great resource, where, among other things, Barry ranks pros he has played against in levels of Agression, Steam Control, Best Game and the like. For each person he picked a song and provides explination for it, with some hilarious results such as the choice of “It’s My Party (And I’ll Cry If I Want To)” for infamous “Poker Brat” Phil Hellmuth.

When Barry married his wife had three children of her own, whom Barry wanted to adopt. When the officials said he needed a stable job to qualify, Barry turned his back on poker as way of life and found a job working for a software company. He and his wife had two children of their own, and life may have gone on per the status quo, if it weren’t for an illness in the family. Seeking a way to support his family and still find the time to be present when and where he was needed, he turned back to poker to make a living.  After he and his wife divorce, Barry fought hard to win custody of his children, which he did.  His heart for children continues to be evident in his charitable focus, giving not only to the charities that support and care for children, but specifically sending money to those who volunteer for Children, Inc, recognizing that many of them live below the poverty line, and yet still give of what they have to the needed kids in the world. The outpouring of love that flowed back to him in the form of hundreds of letters of gratitude are more than enough reward for this modern day Robin Hood.

The allure of the poker lifestyle is a heady one, especially for the young. The piles of cash that are marched out and deposited on the final tables in the big tournaments, the stories of everyday Joes who win Big Bucks online, and as Glen Fry said in his song, The Smuggler’s Blues; “It’s the lure of easy money; it’s got a very strong appeal.” In the face of all of this, the example of Barry Greenstein is a refreshing one that provides a great deal of balance to the image of a professional poker player.

Contributed by: "Two Aces" Ahnert.