Interview of Barry Greenstein
Jon Eaton
May 27th, 2005
Full Name: Barry Greenstein
Date Of Birth: 12/30/1954
Birthplace: Chicago, IL
Now Resides: Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Family: Six children
Favorite Poker Game: none in particular
Started Playing Poker: seriously in 1967
Major Accomplishments: Tournament Wins - 2004 World Poker Open $10,000 No-Limit Hold ‘Em WPT Main Event, 2004 Bellagio 5-Star World Poker Classic $2,500 No-Limit Hold ‘Em, 2004 World Series Of Poker $5,000 2-7 Draw Lowball World Championship
Q: You’re one of the few players who are successful in cash games and tournaments. I myself cannot say the same. What parts of your game do you have to adjust to when you go from a cash game to a tournament?
A: I think this has been overstated. I have done well because I have had the opportunity to play in both tournaments and cash games. There are many good cash-game players who would do well in tournaments, but they are busy making a living, either playing poker or with their day jobs. Tournaments aren’t that tough. Having enough available time and money to finance a tournament career is not an option for most players.
Q: One of the more amazing hands from your World Poker Open win was the widely discussed hand when Chip Reese bluffed with K-3 all-in, and the gentlemen on your right flat-called. You re-raised all-in with A-K suited. What was your thought process behind pushing all-in? Would you have played it differently if you had to call his all-in instead?
A: First of all, Chip wasn’t bluffing. He was short chipped and pushed in with King-Five suited. After James Tippin called, I thought I could move him off his hand and get heads-up with Chip. I wouldn’t have called if James Tippin had moved in, but after he finally called my raise with his two Queens, he was the favorite to win the tournament. But luckily, I won the race.
Q: The most talked about issue in tournaments today seems to be players trading percentages of each other and sometimes buying out large portions of players, and the possible collusion as a result. What are your thoughts on this subject? Are there any ways to rectify the situation?
A: Players will always stake other players or trade pieces. Some players will dump chips, but most are ethical. People see one questionable hand between two players who have a common interest and decide something was going on. Frequently, the history of all the hands shows that not to be true. You have to do a thorough analysis which allow for players making a wrong decision.
Eventually, there will have to be a panel of top players who will arbitrate in these situations. If players are proven to play as partners, they should be penalized and suspended, or completely barred if it is obviously egregious.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing to adjust to in tournament play since the poker boom?
A: There are so many tournaments and, as a top player, I feel compelled to play in most of the big televised events. The exposure is fun, but sometimes I would rather stay home or go back to my previous job: professional poker player who plays in cash games.
Q: When you play cash games, you’re playing for yourself; when you play tournaments, it’s for charity. Do you feel more pressure to perform in cash games or tournaments?
A: I have been a professional poker player for many years. I don’t feel much pressure in either case, but I feel more responsibility when I am playing in tournaments. That is true unless I am playing in a side game and I am having cash-flow problems.
Q: I’ve read a lot of your player profiles on your website. Has any player been upset over your comments on them?
A: I have tried to be gentle. I have occasionally been persuaded to change a few things when there have been complaints. There have also been players who were upset because another player who they thought was inferior to them was rated better than they were in a certain category.
Q: I’m assuming that given your status in the poker world and your obviously large bankroll, people ask you for money all the time. What was the strangest request for money you’ve received?
A: Why is my bankroll obviously so large? It’s funny that people have decided I am extremely rich because I give money to charity. When I no longer need to make money, I will stop playing in side games. I hear stories about me making lots of money in the software business. I took a huge pay cut from my life as a poker player when I took that job to help get custody of my step kids, but I had to quit because I couldn’t afford to work at a normal job.
I get asked for money on a daily basis. Often people ask for help because of medical problems. People don’t realize I still work for a living - I just give my tournament winnings away. The strangest request was from a guy who said he didn’t enjoy his job, so could I please send him $60,000 to make his life easier.
Q: What goals for the future in poker do you have for yourself?
A: The only thing that would be a nice addition to my poker resume would be winning the main event at the World Series of Poker. As the number of entrants increases each year, that becomes more unlikely.
