Barry Greenstein

Name: Barry Greenstein

DOB: 30 December 1954

Nationality: American

Tournament winnings: $7,014,488

Nickname: The Robin Hood of poker, The Bear

Greatest moment: Three WSOP bracelets and two WPT titles

There isn’t much Barry Greenstein hasn’t achieved in a long and illustrious poker career. Despite being the owner of three World Series bracelets, two WPT titles and over $7m in tournament earnings, Greenstein is most respected for his cash game prowess in the Bellagio’s Big Game.

Greenstein is a former computer programmer but turned poker pro when he realised he could make a lot more money at the table. One of the original stars from the televised World Poker Tour Greenstein earned the nickname ‘Robin Hood of poker’ after he vowed to donate every penny of his tournament winnings to charity – a luxury Barry could afford due to his huge win rate in the high stakes cash games of Las Vegas and his native California.

Greenstein’s three WSOP bracelets were won in three different games – No-Limit Deuce-to-Seven Draw, Pot-Limit Omaha and Razz – and demonstrate the versatility with which he’s built a career. Greenstein also released a critically acclaimed strategy/autobiographical book in 2005 called ‘Ace On The River’. All players lucky enough to eliminate Greenstein from a tournament now receive a signed copy of the book.

Barry is also a staple of TV poker appearing on Poker Superstars, Poker After Dark and High Stakes Poker, memorably tangling with Tom Dwan in the fifth season. In the second largest televised pot of all time Greenstein got it all-in with Ad-Ac versus Durrrr’s Ks-Qs on a 4s-2s-Qh flop. Opting to run it once, the Qc hit the turn leaving Greenstein to see the staggering $919,600 shipped Dwan’s way.