Barry Greenstein: One Man's Poker Journey (Part I) : Poker Player

Barry Greenstein: One Man's Poker Journey (Part I)

Just Imagine...
 
You are playing $4000-$8000 limit hold'em, and someone at the table raises your big blind...again? You look down at your cards and see that it's seven deuce offsuit…again. What do you do? How do you feel? What are you thinking? Can you muck your cards without hesitation and return to the conversation you were previously involved in without missing a beat? Could you do those two things while your mind continued to strategically focus, calculating and taking mental notes on the hand being played as well as the eight other players around you, whether they are involved in the hand or not? But more importantly, can do all of that continuously…hand after hand, game after game, hour upon hour? 

Not too many poker players can say, with complete honesty, that they possess the intellect, mental and physical stamina, psychological make and bankroll needed to remain cool, calm, and collected while playing in a high stakes poker game like the one I asked you to imagine. But for professional poker player Barry Greenstein, possessing those qualities – and many more – is what makes him one of the most well-known and respected high stakes cash game and tournament players in the world.

From the "Barry" Beginning
 
Raised on the south side of Chicago, Illinois, Barry's interest in card games began early in his childhood, around the age of four. Both his father and mother influenced and taught him how to play card games like canasta, gin rummy, and bridge, all of which they played together regularly. His interest in poker, however, began at the age of twelve. Possessing a remarkable understanding of numbers and mathematics – combined with an inner drive and competitiveness – young Greenstein already possessed poker skills way beyond his years. He started playing with other teens for quarters, and by the time he reached high school, he was winning nearly $50 a night playing five-card draw and seven-card stud. When he later attended the University of Illinois, his poker earnings became that much more fruitful. While studying for his degree in Computer Science, Barry played against local businessmen in side games and eventually won enough money to pay for his schooling.

Family Before Poker
 
By the age of thirty, Barry was married with three stepchildren he adored, working towards a doctorate degree in math, and earning over $100,000 a year playing poker. But being a successful poker player and enjoying an extravagant lifestyle did not mean that he was living carefree and without concerns.

In 1984, he accepted the fact that he needed to get a "respectable" job if he wanted to gain custody of his stepchildren. With the realization that no courts would grant that privilege to a "professional gambler" – no matter how prosperous he may be – he decided to seek work in the field he went to college for. He traveled to California and signed on as the fifth employee of a computer software company in Silicon Valley - the company was later named Symantec.

Throughout his seven years with Symantec, Barry worked long hours tackling project after project until the end result was a success. While he committed himself and worked hard to help build the company from the ground up, he also continued to play poker on the side when he got the chance. He and his family had become accustomed to the kind of lavish lifestyle that his salary at Symantec just could not maintain. Therefore, poker provided the necessary extra income to accommodate their living needs. As gratifying as his work was, he knew his income as a computer programmer would never be as substantial as that of a professional poker player. In 1991, he left Symantec and once again resumed his career as a high stakes professional poker player.

The Road To Success
 
Over the past fifteen years, Barry has been playing in the biggest cash games all over the world. Although he would never claim it, many believe that he has won more money in his poker career than that of any other professional player. That also may be the reason why some have estimated his cash game winnings to be well over twenty million dollars over the past five years – a figure that continues to climb. 

On the tournament front, Barry has two WSOP bracelets, numerous awards and titles, and has cashed in nearly five million dollars in winnings, three million of which he has donated to various charities and causes.

Though he has long been well known by other top players, the public was not aware of his poker skills and achievements until poker become the "it" of the new millennium. This unforeseen "poker-mania" turned many professional poker players into celebrities and household names practically overnight – Barry Greenstein being one of them. Yet, even with the fame and fortune surrounding him, Barry still remains grounded and grateful. He is still one of the most gracious and approachable professionals in the poker world – signing autographs and talking with fans at all of the events he attends. 

But if the truth is told, Barry does say, "I play poker strictly to make money. It is my job." It is the profession he chose, and his goal is to prosper, excel, and be the best – an accomplishment when pertaining to poker is not easily achieved. Nevertheless, Barry Greenstein has shown the world that it is attainable.  
What's Happening Now
 
As for the 2006 year, Barry has already come into the money in fourteen WPT and WSOP events. He's made six final table appearances and took first place in the WPT Invitational no limit hold'em tournament.

As luck would have it, though, he did not fair well at the recent WSOP main event held at the Rio in Las Vegas, Nevada. With a record breaking number of entries – 8773 to be exact and a total pool prize over $82 million – Barry says, "I'm disappointed that I did not do better. I was all-in with KK and got outdrawn by QQ when [my opponent] caught his card. But that's just how it goes sometimes."

When asked to comment about the recently filed lawsuit against the World Poker Tour by several of the big players, Barry states, "I can see and understand where both sides are coming from." Although he does not have any problem signing the release forms required of players competing in WPT events, he can see why other players may be against it and recognizes the validity of their concerns. But the bottom line for Barry is that the WPT has always been good to and for poker and its players. He says, "Lyle Berman is a friend of mine. If you ask him not to use [your image without consent], he won't, and his word is good."

After a year of turning down numerous "seven figure" offers from various internet poker sites, Barry finally decided to sign with Team Poker Stars. He says the reason he stayed away from endorsing online poker for so long was because he felt that type of poker forum was too accessible for teens. Barry has adamantly stated in several interviews that although he played poker as a teenager, he does not approve of it if it becomes too consuming.

But Poker Stars eventually made him an offer he just could not refuse. Along with the many perks of being on Team Poker Stars, Barry will be able to play in more tournaments, which gives him the opportunity to win more for charity. He will also have a hand in developing a new software program for their site – a project he is looking forward to and extremely excited about. Poker Stars has given him a lot of freedom, and through them, he hopes to accomplish much more for his charities and improve the online gaming experience for others.

Barry isn't the only one in his family on the road to poker success. Barry's son, Joe Sebok is one of poker's newest rising stars, and Barry couldn't be prouder. He says, "I was a little surprised when Joe decided he wanted to learn how to play poker. I sensed it in my younger son Nathaniel. Nathaniel is 18, and he's already asked me to teach him how to play, but I told him I wouldn't until he got his college degree." Barry continues, "But then, Joe's always been competitive and involved in team sports. But up until a few years ago, he didn't show any signs of interest in poker. I believe he was 27 when I first explained to him the ranks in poker—a flush beats a straight, and so on."

But Joe is a quick learner, and Barry is happy with the career choices Joe has made so far. "Joe is using poker and getting the most out of it," Barry contends. He says his son is not only a winning player but already has entered into other business ventures through the game. "Joe is involved in a poker radio show and writes for several poker magazines."

And when asked if he approved of his son's style of play, Barry replied, "Of course. He learned it from me!"

Part 2 of Pwint Zaw's feature article about Barry Greenstein will be published in next month's issue of American Poker Player Magazine.

Written by Pwint Zaw.

Printed with permission from American Poker Player Magazine.