WSOP Player Profile – Barry Greenstein

Posted by James on November 7, 2008

Barry Greenstein attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he studies Computer Science. While at college, he would host various poker games where he would offer to teach people how to play poker. The only stipulation was that they must play him in a poker game after the lessons. His games attracted various students and professors. Upon graduating with his Bachelors Degree, Greenstein became a regular in the California card rooms, where he honed his skills

One of the players that Greenstein played with frequently was Larry Flint, who was the owner of Hustler Magazine and owned the Huster Casino. In 2003, Flint put together a 7 Card Stud event with several of the top names in poker and himself. Flint wanted the event to result in only a single winner, but in the end Flint and Greenstein wound up chopping the prize money and Greenstein took home his first large score in poker at $770,000.

Later in the year, Greenstein earned his nickname “The Robin Hood of Poker” during a WPT event in Tunica, MS. Greenstein made the final table of the World Poker Open and eventually took down the top prize. He then donated the prize of over $1.2 Million to charity. Greenstein also took a WPT title in 2006. He placed first in the WPT Invitational held in Los Angeles, CA. For a long time Greenstein donated all of his tournament winnings to charity, but he had to slow down and only donate his overall profit from tournaments.

Barry Greenstein also holds three bracelets at the World Series of Poker. He won an lowball bracelet in 2004, and won a Pot Limit Omaha bracelet in 2005. His third bracelet came in 2008 when he won the Razz event. Greenstein also has made two final tables at the WSOP in the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. World Championship. In both 2007 and 2008, he made the final eight, finishing 7th and 6th respectively.

When not playing at the tables, Greenstein is a member of Team Pokerstars. He is a regular ambassador for the site and is featured prominently on their site. Greenstein also authored the book Ace on the River. This book is primarily his autobiography, but it also delves into the pro poker lifestyle. He frequently autographs a copy of his books and gives it to players that knock him out of different tournaments. Greenstein is a high stakes poker player and is featured on shows such as High Stakes Poker and regularly plays in the “Big Game” at the Bellagio. Greenstein also is extremely respected by his peers. He is even called upon at times to settle disputes amongst professionals.

Greenstein has been around the poker community a long time and has adapted as the games switched from lowball and stud to Texas Holdem. He is skilled in all forms of poker and continues to compete at a championship level. His bracelet in 2008 was just one of many great accomplishments in his career and Greenstein looks to be a successful member of the poker community for many years to come.

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Tags: Barry Greenstein, Larry Flint, World Series of Poker, WSOP, WSOP Bracelet

WSOP Legends Profile: Jack Straus

Posted by James on November 1, 2008

A stately figure, 6’ 6” tall, ‘Treetop’ Jack Straus had a long and storied career. He played college basketball in 40s when he was at Texas A&M. He graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in Business Administration but preferred to be a teacher.

The manner in which he was attracted towards poker remains unclear. But he is often spoken along the same lines as Doyle Brunson, Johnny Moss, Amarillo Slim. Equally fascinating is the fact that was showed great creativity in bluffing at the poker tables. Once he was playing a hand blind after a rush. Raising the states he glanced and found he had just 7-2. But the flop was 7-3-3 and Straus had the prospect of a raise. After his opponent made the call, the turn fell a 2 and he boisterously made a big bet. Naturally the opponent was perturbed and it is said that Straus told his opponent that he would let him see one of his hole cards for $25. The opponent obliged and saw the deuce card. The opponent put Straus on pocket deuces and eventually folded his hand. This earned him the distinction of being a great bluffer.

He is remembered for two great events in the World Series of Poker. In 1973 he won his first WSOP bracelet when he won the 2-7 Lowball bracelet with take home earnings of $16,500. The second one is significant not for the achievement as such but the way it was done.

It took place on the first day of the Main Event in 1983. Jack Straus placed moved all of his chips to the middle and was called. He in turn lost the hand. Naturally he was preparing to leave the place when one chip said to belong to him was discovered either under a chair or under a napkin. It so happened that the floor authorities allowed him to continue with the single chip. In a while he made a remarkable comeback. This is the origin of the phrase “a chip and a chair” in the poker world. His progress was phenomenal that day and on the following day he found himself at the final table. A galaxy of big names like Dewey Tomko, Doyle Bruson and Berry Johnston were there as well. Eventually it was a toss between Straus and Tomko and in the end he walked away a world champion. He went home with the bracelet, not to mention the $520,000 in prize earnings.

He was a regular in many subsequent tournaments. Although he played in a lot of tournaments, his game was much more suitable to cash game. The reason was obvious. His capacity to bluff was much more useful in cash games back in that era as tournament play was much more conservative. There were a number of small time events where he fared well but his best were in his WSOP finishes.

In November 1988 while a high stakes cash game was in progress he died suddenly due to unexpected massive heart attack. One cannot assert with authority how his game would have stood up to the modern era of poker. He likely would have continued to play cash games and endured. Whether this would have come about or not his fame as a legend in the game lives on.