Where are They Now is a series of an in depth look at all poker players – not just the pros – as they travel through one long game. Some of the players profiled are deceased but not forgotten.

If you’ve kept up with our “Where Are They Now” series you may have noticed that as the topics keep coming, I sometimes surprise myself when I realized I haven’t written about “so and so” yet.  That feeling once again came as I realized I had yet to write about Barry Greenstein, who is far from just a “so and so.”  Greenstein is far and away one of the most recognizable faces in the game along with the most recognizable beards in the game.  If they were ever creating a Mount Rushmore of poker, Greenstein would almost certainly make the cut.  His generosity is known the world, and has garnered him the nickname, “The Robin Hood of Poker.”  From an early success in computer technology, to success in just about every form of poker known to man, Greenstein has had the Midas touch in just about everything he’s tried.
 
At a very young age Barry Greenstein, born on December 30, 1954 in Chicago, IL, was taught a variety of card games by his father.  Greenstein’s father believed that if he taught his young son a calm and analytical approach to the game it would give him an advantage over those that may not know as much about the game mathematically and also let their emotions get the better of them.  It has taken some pros years, if not decades, to master this calm approach to the game, but by the time Greenstein was a teenager he was making use of it.  In home games with his friends he would routinely leave the big winner, earning himself $50 dollars a night, a huge amount for a 12 year old in the 1960’s.  Of course Greenstein would try to put on as many home games as he could, but his friends were quickly becoming tapped out for funds, and the games dwindled.  Nevertheless, Greenstein felt that he could have a future in the game.  He was right of course, but maybe not in the path he expected.

Greenstein excelled in mathematics and computers in school, and when he wasn’t busy at the poker tables with his friends he was earning great grades in high school.  He was able to earn a scholarship to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to pursue a degree in computer science.  While in college Greenstein started playing poker again, in much the same capacity as when he was younger, only for a little bit more money now.  Nearly every night Greenstein would find a poker game, either on campus or in the city, and once again usually left as the winner.  It’s unknown just how much Greenstein won while pursuing his degree, but the rumors are it ranges in the tens of thousands.  Unlike a lot of the poker professionals, Greenstein didn’t let his poker player get in the way of earning a degree, earning his bachelor’s degree in just three years.

While earning his Master’s degree, which took ten years, he met a woman who would become his wife (since divorced).  They had three kids, and Greenstein wanted to have joint custody of the kids, but at the time all the money he was earning was a result of gambling.  Greenstein was advised by his lawyer to seek a “normal job” as a judge wasn’t likely to give full custody to a full-time poker player.
 
Greenstein, computer science degree in hand, moved the family to Silicon Valley, and took a job at a start-up software programming company called Symantec.  The company, at the time, only had four employees, but they weren’t too far from doing big things.  Greenstein was also awarded custody of the children.  In 1986, the company created a product called Q&A, which would go on to win product of the year in the eyes of many.  In just a few short years Symantec became the hottest programming industry in the country.  The success of the company allowed Greenstein more time to play poker.  After a few more years of success at the poker table Greenstein made the tough decision to retire from the business in order to pursue a full-time career in poker.

Greenstein was a successful cash game player almost from the start, while only occasionally playing in tournaments.  In 1992 he played in the World Series of Poker Main Event for the first time.  While he only finished 22nd in the tournament, it still gave a glimpse of some of the success he would have in the future to come.  However, during the times between this tournament and 2002 Greenstein remained focused on cash games, and he did very well indeed.

Greenstein had done so well in cash games that when he started playing in more poker tournaments with the arrival of the “poker boom,” he announced he would donate all of his money to charities, earning the nickname “The Robin Hood of Poker.”   Greenstein has done this for the majority of the money he’s earned from tournaments.  It’s been reported that he’s donated all of his money from tournaments, but Greenstein has stated in interviews that at certain times he’s had to cut back on his charity donations because of some financial concerns of his own, like during this current economy for example.  Regardless, his donations to charity are in the amounts of the millions.

In 2004 Greenstein started to become well known by fans of poker because he started appearing on seemingly every televised poker show, and did well.  In January of 2004 he won the $10,000 Main Event at the Fifth Annual Jack Binion World Poker Open on the World Poker Tour.  The win earned him $1,278,370.  Two months later, he made another WPT final table and finished 5th for $194,763.  One month later he won a second major tournament, taking down the $2500 Bellagio Five-Star World Poker Classic for $215,969.  The next month he won his first WSOP bracelet, in the $5,000 Deuce-to-Seven Lowball event.  Less than two weeks later he nearly captured his second bracelet at the WSOP, finishing second in the A-5 Draw Lowball event.  He finished the 2004 WSOP event with five cashes.  Not bad for a guy who considers himself primarily a cash game player.
 
To date, Greenstein has won three WSOP bracelets and two WPT events.  He has also continued to appear on a number of television shows, including Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament, Game Show Networks’ “High Stakes Poker,” and NBC’s “Poker After Dark.”  Greenstein is a sponsored member of PokerStars, where he plays under the name “barryg1.”  Unlike many players, Greenstein usually chats with the railbirds who come by and see him play.  Greenstein’s stepson Joe Sebok is also a professional player and together they run the poker strategy website and radio show PokerRoad.

Major Tournament Results

10-Jul-2009         $ 5,000 No Limit Hold'em
Bellagio Cup V, Las Vegas     13th         $ 6,440

28-Jun-2009           $ 1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo
40th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2009, Las Vegas     45th         $ 2,690

24-Jun-2009           $ 2,500 Mixed Limit/No Limit Hold'em
40th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2009, Las Vegas     5th         $ 57,671

22-Jun-2009         $ 20,000 Week 10 – Celebrities and Mentors
Poker After Dark V, Las Vegas     3rd         

20-Jun-2009           $ 10,000 World Championship Pot Limit Omaha
40th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2009, Las Vegas     9th         $ 82,746

12-Jun-2009           $ 1,500 Limit Hold'em
40th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2009, Las Vegas     53rd         $ 3,405

09-Jun-2009           $ 3,000 H.O.R.S.E.
40th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2009, Las Vegas     43rd         $ 5,277

05-Jun-2009           $ 2,500 Limit Hold'em – Six Handed
40th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2009, Las Vegas     30th         $ 5,360

02-Jun-2009           $ 2,500 2-7 Lowball
40th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2009, Las Vegas     18th         $ 4,094

03-Apr-2009           $ 9,700 No Limit Hold'em – Championship Event
Foxwoods Poker Classic 2009, Mashantucket     12th         $ 40,209

19-Feb-2009         $ 5,000 No Limit Hold'em
2009 L.A. Poker Classic, Los Angeles     7th         $ 34,804

09-Feb-2009         $ 2,000 No Limit Hold'em
2009 L.A. Poker Classic, Los Angeles     2nd         $ 62,367

24-Jan-2009         $ 500 Limit Hold'em
2009 L.A. Poker Classic, Los Angeles     19th         $ 1,027

05-Jan-2009           $ 9,700 No Limit Hold'em – Main Event
PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, Paradise Island     148th         $ 12,500

13-Dec-2008           $ 15,000 No Limit Hold'em – Doyle Brunson Classic
2008 Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic, Las Vegas     38th         $ 36,030

03-Dec-2008         $ 2,000 No Limit Hold'em
2008 Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic, Las Vegas     16th         $ 3,055

11-Jul-2008           $ 15,000 No Limit Hold'em – WPT
Bellagio Cup IV, Las Vegas     30th         $ 38,785

25-Jun-2008          $ 50,000 H.O.R.S.E.
39th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2008, Las Vegas     6th         $ 355,200

21-Jun-2008           $ 1,500 No Limit Hold'em
39th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2008, Las Vegas     108th         $ 4,084

17-Jun-2008           $ 5,000 World Championship Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo
39th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2008, Las Vegas     14th         $ 18,400

13-Jun-2008          $ 1,500 Seven Card Razz
39th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2008, Las Vegas     1st         $ 157,643

12-Jun-2008           $ 2,000 No Limit Hold'em
39th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2008, Las Vegas     46th         $ 7,582

09-Jun-2008           $ 5,000 No Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball
39th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2008, Las Vegas     3rd         $ 225,552

24-Mar-2008         $ 20,000 Week 7 – "Jam Up Week"
Poker After Dark III, Las Vegas     6th         

20-Jan-2008           $ 10,000 WPT Championship Event
2008 Gold Strike World Poker Open, Tunica     18th         $ 14,472

26-Oct-2007           C$ 10,000 No Limit Hold'em – Championship Event
North American Poker Championships, Ontario     4th     C$ 306,388     $ 316,638

25-Aug-2007           $ 9,500 No Limit Hold'em – Championship Event
2007 Legends of Poker, Los Angeles     31st         $ 20,575

17-Aug-2007         $ 4,850 No Limit Hold'em
2007 Legends of Poker, Los Angeles     9th         $ 9,500

24-Jun-2007           $ 50,000 World Championship H.O.R.S.E
38th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2007, Las Vegas     7th         $ 259,296

18-Jun-2007           $ 2,500 No Limit Hold'em – Six Handed
38th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2007, Las Vegas     47th         $ 5,260

12-Jun-2007           $ 1,500 No Limit Hold'em – Shootout
38th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2007, Las Vegas     61st         $ 6,757

Jun-2007         $ 50,000 Week 18 – Mega Match
Poker After Dark II, Las Vegas     4th         

08-Jun-2007           $ 1,500 Seven Card Stud
38th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2007, Las Vegas     4th         $ 33,698

29-May-2007           $ 9,700 No Limit Hold'em – Championship Event
2007 Mandalay Bay Poker Championship, Las Vegas     7th         $ 54,655

28-Apr-2007           No Limit Hold'em
WPT Poker by the Book: Chapter 2, Las Vegas     1st         $ 25,500

17-Apr-2007         $ 5,000 No Limit Hold'em
Fifth Annual Five Star World Poker Classic, Las Vegas     12th         $ 16,805

16-Apr-2007         $ 20,000 Week 9
Poker After Dark, Las Vegas     6th         

16-Apr-2007         $ 3,000 No Limit Hold'em
Fifth Annual Five Star World Poker Classic, Las Vegas     20th         $ 5,505

04-Apr-2007         $ 5,000 Circuit Championship Event
WSOP Circuit – Caesars Indiana, Elizabeth     17th         $ 8,843

02-Mar-2007         $ 25,000 No Limit Hold'em
2007 NBC National Heads-Up Championship, Las Vegas     9th         $ 25,000

09-Feb-2007         $ 10,000 No Limit Hold'em – Heads Up Championships
2007 1st Annual Heads-Up Championships, Compton     2nd         $ 107,500

07-Dec-2006         $ 2,000 No Limit Hold'em
Fifth Annual Five Diamond World Poker Classic, Las Vegas     5th         $ 31,940

15-Nov-2006         WPT Father and Sons Tournament
2006 World Poker Finals, Mashantucket     1st         $ 25,500

15-Sep-2006           $ 9,700 WPT Championship Event – No Limit Hold'em
2006 Borgata Poker Open – WPT, Atlantic City     23rd         $ 26,190

12-Sep-2006         $ 2,500 No Limit Hold'em
2006 Borgata Poker Open – WPT, Atlantic City     19th         $ 3,963

03-Sep-2006         Final 16 – Group C – Match 2
Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament Season 3, Las Vegas     3rd         

27-Aug-2006         Final 16 – Group C – Match 1
Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament Season 3, Las Vegas     2nd         

06-Aug-2006           $ 1,500 No Limit Hold'em
37th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2006, Las Vegas     29th         $ 1,977

16-Jul-2006         Heat 19
Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament Season 3, Las Vegas     6th         

15-Jul-2006           $ 3,000 Limit Hold'em
37th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2006, Las Vegas     21st         $ 5,647

12-Jul-2006           $ 50,000 H.O.R.S.E.
37th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2006, Las Vegas     12th         $ 205,920

09-Jul-2006           $ 10,000 Pot Limit Omaha
37th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2006, Las Vegas     13th         $ 20,492

08-Jul-2006           $ 1,000 No Limit Hold'em
37th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2006, Las Vegas     53rd         $ 5,447

30-Jun-2006           $ 2,500 Short Handed No Limit Hold'em
37th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2006, Las Vegas     87th         $ 3,790

11-Jun-2006         Heat 14
Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament Season 3, Las Vegas     1st         $ 10,000

14-May-2006         Heat 10
Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament Season 3, Las Vegas     2nd         

06-May-2006         $ 2,500 No Limit Hold'em
2006 WSOP Circuit – Caesars Las Vegas, Las Vegas     4th         $ 22,892

30-Apr-2006         Heat 8
Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament Season 3, Las Vegas     4th         

14-Apr-2006         $ 5,000 No Limit Hold'em
Fourth Annual Five-Star World Poker Classic, Las Vegas     22nd         $ 9,945

09-Apr-2006         $ 5,000 No Limit Hold'em
Fourth Annual Five-Star World Poker Classic, Las Vegas     2nd         $ 210,990

27-Mar-2006           $ 5,000 Championship Event – No Limit Hold'em
World Poker Challenge 2006, Reno     6th         $ 85,370

19-Mar-2006         Heat 2
Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament Season 3, Las Vegas     2nd         

03-Mar-2006         Heads Up No Limit Hold'em
2006 National Heads-Up Poker Championship, Las Vegas     5th         $ 75,000

22-Feb-2006           WPT Invitational – No Limit Hold'em
2006 L.A. Poker Classic, Los Angeles     1st         $ 100,000

10-Feb-2006         $ 2,425 No Limit Hold'em
2006 L.A. Poker Classic, Los Angeles     10th         $ 7,857

14-Jan-2006         A$ 100,000 Speed Poker Million Dollar Challenge
Crown Australian Poker Championships 2006, Melbourne     5th         

12-Dec-2005           $ 15,000 Main Event – No Limit Hold'em
Fourth Annual Five Diamond World Poker Classic, Las Vegas     38th         $ 40,250

29-Nov-2005         $ 1,500 No Limit Hold'em
Fourth Annual Five Diamond World Poker Classic, Las Vegas     13th         $ 5,130

18-Oct-2005           $ 10,000 2nd Annual Doyle Brunson North American Poker Championship – No Limit Hold'em
Bellagio Festa Al Lago IV, Las Vegas     10th         $ 41,380

26-Sep-2005           $ 5,000 Championship Event – No Limit Hold'em
2005 Ultimate Poker Classic, Palm Beach     9th         $ 30,000

19-Sep-2005           $ 9,700 Championship Event – No Limit Hold'em
2005 Borgata Poker Open – WPT, Atlantic City     38th         $ 12,489

21-Aug-2005         Heat 24
Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament Season 2, Cabazon     3rd         

17-Jul-2005         Heat 19
Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament Season 2, Cabazon     5th         

04-Jul-2005           $ 1,000 No Limit Hold'em
36th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2005, Las Vegas     7th         $ 94,000

28-Jun-2005           $ 2,000 No Limit Hold'em
36th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2005, Las Vegas     25th         $ 9,860

19-Jun-2005           $ 1,500 Pot Limit Omaha
36th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2005, Las Vegas     1st         $ 128,505

19-Jun-2005         Heat 15
Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament Season 2, Cabazon     3rd         

15-Jun-2005           $ 1,000 Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo
36th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2005, Las Vegas     36th         $ 1,625

08-Jun-2005           $ 1,000 No Limit Hold'em
36th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2005, Las Vegas     20th         $ 11,010

29-May-2005         Heat 12
Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament Season 2, Cabazon     4th         

17-Apr-2005         Heat 6
Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament Season 2, Cabazon     3rd         

29-Mar-2005           $ 5,000 Championship Event – No Limit Hold'em
2005 World Poker Challenge, Reno     11th         $ 20,704

13-Mar-2005         Heat 1
Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament Season 2, Cabazon     4th         

05-Mar-2005         Heads-Up No Limit Hold'em
2005 National Heads-Up Poker Championship, Las Vegas     9th         $ 25,000

Feb-2005         $ 400,000 Grand Final
Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament, Unknown     8th         $ 100,000

12-Dec-2004         $ 3,000 Pot Limit Omaha
Five-Diamond World Poker Classic, Las Vegas     9th         $ 5,471

07-Dec-2004         $ 3,000 No Limit Hold'em
Five-Diamond World Poker Classic, Las Vegas     10th         $ 9,856

28-Oct-2004         $ 1,000 No Limit Hold'em
2004 Plaza Ultimate Poker Challenge, Las Vegas     4th         $ 1,600

16-Oct-2004         $ 2,500 No Limit Hold'em Final Day
2004 Festa al Lago III Poker Tournament, Las Vegas     4th         $ 28,589

15-Aug-2004         $ 500 Limit Hold'em
2004 Legends of Poker, Los Angeles     7th         $ 3,065

28-Jun-2004         $ 1,500 No Limit Hold'em
Festa al Lago II, Las Vegas     10th         $ 3,099

20-May-2004           $ 1,500 A-5 Draw Lowball
35th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2004, Las Vegas     2nd         $ 44,700

07-May-2004           $ 5,000 No-Limit Deuce to Seven Draw
35th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2004, Las Vegas     1st         $ 296,200

04-May-2004           $ 5,000 No-Limit Hold'em
35th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2004, Las Vegas     12th         $ 14,320

28-Apr-2004           $ 1,000 No-Limit Hold'em
35th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2004, Las Vegas     54th         $ 3,160

26-Apr-2004           $ 1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo Split
35th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2004, Las Vegas     11th         $ 6,200

19-Apr-2004           $ 25,000 WPT No Limit Hold'em Championship Final Day
2004 Bellagio Five-Star World Poker Classic/WPT Championship, Las Vegas     35th         $ 41,583

15-Apr-2004         $ 2,500 No Limit Hold'em
2004 Bellagio Five-Star World Poker Classic/WPT Championship, Las Vegas     1st         $ 215,969

18-Mar-2004           $ 7,000 Limit Hold'em Championship Final Day
2004 – PartyPoker.com Million III Limit Hold'em, Cruise     5th         $ 194,763

12-Feb-2004         $ 1,000 Pot Limit Omaha
2004 L.A. Poker Classic, Los Angeles     2nd         $ 30,590

05-Feb-2004         $ 1,500 Seven Card Stud Championship
2004 L.A. Poker Classic, Los Angeles     11th         $ 4,465

26-Jan-2004           $ 10,000 Main Event – No Limit Hold'em
The Fifth Annual Jack Binion World Poker Open, Tunica     1st         $ 1,278,370

13-Dec-2003         $ 2,500 Pot Limit Omaha
2003 Bellagio Five-Diamond World Poker Classic, Las Vegas     8th         $ 5,941

02-Dec-2003         $ 1,500 Omaha Hi/Lo
2003 Bellagio Five-Diamond World Poker Classic, Las Vegas     14th         $ 2,401

17-Nov-2003         $ 500 Limit Hold'em
2003 Showdown at the Sands, Atlantic City     10th         $ 1,199

16-Nov-2003         $ 500 Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo
2003 Showdown at the Sands, Atlantic City     13th         $ 500

10-Nov-2003         $ 2,000 Limit Hold'em
2003 World Poker Finals, Mashantucket     9th         $ 2,850

07-Nov-2003         $ 1,000 Seven Card Stud
2003 World Poker Finals, Mashantucket     4th         $ 7,905

23-Sep-2003         $ 3,000 Seven Card Stud Main Event
2003 Tropicana Poker Championship Series, Atlantic City     1st         $ 34,200

16-Sep-2003         $ 500 No Limit Hold'em
2003 United States Poker Championship, Atlantic City     1st         $ 38,805

29-Jul-2003         $ 1,000 Seven Card Stud
Grand Slam of Poker 2003, Gardena     2nd         $ 8,000

19-Jun-2003         $ 1,000 Omaha Hi/Lo
California State Poker Championship 2003, Los Angeles     2nd         $ 16,330

16-Jun-2003         $ 500 Pot Limit Hold'em
California State Poker Championship 2003, Los Angeles     5th         $ 5,080

14-Jun-2003         $ 300 Limit Hold'em
California State Poker Championship 2003, Los Angeles     8th         $ 6,740

12-Jun-2003         $ 500 No Limit Hold'em
California State Poker Championship 2003, Los Angeles     1st         $ 100,815

19-May-2003           $ 10,000 World Championship Event
34th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2003, Las Vegas     49th         $ 20,000

21-Apr-2003           $ 1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo Split
34th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2003, Las Vegas     11th         $ 3,980

02-Apr-2003         $ 1,500 Limit Hold'em
2003 Bellagio Five-Star World Poker Classic WPT Championship, Las Vegas     2nd         $ 59,073

09-Mar-2003         $ 125,000 Million Dollar Seven Card Stud Tournament
Larry Flynt's Poker Challenge Cup – 2003, Gardena     1st         $ 770,000

21-Feb-2003           $ 10,000 No Limit Hold'em Championship – WPT
2003 L.A. Poker Classic, Los Angeles     14th         $ 18,685

28-Jul-2002         $ 2,000 7 Card Stud with Larry Flynt
Grand Slam of Poker 2002, Gardena     3rd         $ 12,000

30-Apr-2002           $ 3,000 Limit Hold'em
33rd World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2002, Las Vegas     3rd         $ 43,700

14-Feb-2002         $ 1,000 Pot Limit Omaha
2002 L.A. Poker Classic, Los Angeles     9th         $ 1,600

15-May-2000           $ 10,000 World Championship No Limit Texas Hold'em
31st World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2000, Las Vegas     31st         $ 25,000

10-May-2000           $ 5,000 7 Card Stud
31st World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2000, Las Vegas     9th         $ 7,575

30-Apr-1998           $ 2,500 Seven-Card Stud
29th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1998, Las Vegas     16th         $ 3,800

29-Apr-1998           $ 2,000 Hold'em Pot Limit
29th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1998, Las Vegas     16th         $ 3,664

Sep-1997         $ 2,500 No Limit Hold'em
1997 Legends Of Poker, Los Angeles     3rd         $ 13,125

23-Aug-1997         $ 1,500 Limit Omaha Hi/Lo
Hall of Fame Poker Classic 1997, Las Vegas     5th         $ 5,363

16-Aug-1997         $ 1,000 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo
Hall of Fame Poker Classic 1997, Las Vegas     6th         $ 4,450

25-Jun-1997         $ 500 Limit Hold'em
California State Poker Championship 1997, Los Angeles     1st         $ 29,000

07-May-1997           $ 5,000 No Limit Deuce to Seven Draw
28th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1997, Las Vegas     4th         $ 36,500

28-Apr-1997           $ 2,000 No Limit Hold'em
28th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1997, Las Vegas     10th         $ 8,520

29-Dec-1996         $ 500 No Limit Hold'em
1996 Grand Finale, San Jose     8th         $ 1,200

04-May-1996           $ 1,500 Ace to Five Draw
27th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1996, Las Vegas     5th         $ 10,710

15-May-1995           $ 10,000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship
26th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1995, Las Vegas     202nd         

25-Feb-1995         $ 1,000 Limit Hold'em
LA Poker Classic IV, Los Angeles     4th         $ 6,860

04-Mar-1993         $ 500 No Limit Hold'em
1993 L.A. Poker Classic, Los Angeles     3rd         $ 17,580

11-May-1992           $ 10,000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship
23rd World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1992, Las Vegas     22nd         $ 8,080

Chris Moneymaker will be the first guest on ESPN’s new poker show.Apparently ESPN will offer a little more poker coverage than just the $40,000 No-Limit Hold’em, Ante Up for Africa and the Main Event this year.

On Wednesday ESPN confirmed they will be airing a new web-only poker show called the
ESPN Inside Deal.

The show, which is presented by PokerStars.net, will debut on Aug. 4 on ESPN.com. It will give poker fans a behind the scenes look at poker lifestyle.

Inside Deal will be hosted by ESPN the Magazine contributor Laura Lane, pro player and ESPN.com columnist Bernard Lee and ESPN.com poker editor Andrew Feldman.

The three month series will conclude with the completion of the World Series of Poker Main Event final table and along the way they will interview and analyze each member of the November Nine. Poker fans will also get to watch never-before seen hands and features from the WSOP broadcasts.

Throughout the series fans will have the opportunity to submit questions to their favorite professional poker players through email, Twitter and Facebook. Fans will also be given an exclusive chance to participate in a sweepstakes where one lucky winner will experience the November Nine in a unique way.

2003 WSOP Main Event winner Chris Moneymaker will be the first featured guest for the show. One of the most well-known figures in poker Moneymaker parlayed a $39 satellite win on PokerStars into a $10,000 Main Event seat and eventually the $2.5 million for first place. Many poker pundits speculate that Moneymaker was responsible for the poker boom and this has since been termed the “Moneymaker effect.”

Other featured players for Inside Deal will include Daniel Negreanu and Joseph Hachem.

Online poker room Bodog Poker just finished hosting their Bodog Mini Poker Series and one player was awarded a seat to next year’s biggest poker tournament, the 2010 World Series of Poker main event. The seats into the WSOP main events run for $10,000, and the package won is worth $12,000, giving the winner extra money for accommodations. The winner is John ‘Getn_Outa_MI’ Ormsby, a 25 years old online poker player. Ormsby’s poker routine centers mostly around limit cash games, but that did not stop him from getting to the top of the Bodog Mini Poker Series leaderboard and winning the top prize.

The 40th WSOP took place this year and it was Team PokerStrategy.com’s first major poker event. Let’s look back on it and see some statistics about this event.

The World Series of Poker has been held for the 40th time in history and it was the first time Team PokerStrategy.com came into action.

Even though the world economy is in a crisis right now, it doesn’t hold back the poker enthusiast. This year has had a lot of new records, from selling out events to higher prize pools.
team pokerstrategy.com at wsop 
Team PokerStrategy.com cashed combined over $102,190 this year, mostly due Nazgul’s 74th placing in the Main Event, earning him $68,979.

PokerStrategy: Are you happy with your result in the WSOP 2009 and how do you feel about your deep run in the main event?

Nazgul: I’m not really happy with my results in Las Vegas. I hoped for a bit more in advance and I didn’t really make one big spectacular cash, so I feel a bit disappointed. However, I can look at a series where I played really well throughout two months.

There was not much more I could do. I don’t have to blame myself for playing bad. I have obviously made some mistakes, but all in all, I feel I made the right play most of the times, which is satisfying to me.

Of course about the Main Event I can be a bit proud that it’s still a nice achievement, but in the end I want more of course. I’m not considering a 74th place as a major success, but at least I was close to getting there. I mean you will always have the what if question, but in this case it is only one "what if". Because had I won one flip on the crucial stage I would have been really close to a final table, which is something everyone dreams of, at least I do!
wsop 2009 statistics 
For two months Pokernoob, Trader, Nazgul and Allanon85 participated in the world’s biggest poker event and here are some numbers:

• The total amount of entrants this year was 60,875 – last year there were 58,720 participants
• 11 Events have been completely sold out
• A total of $174,011,894 was awarded to winners of the respective tournaments
• $1,041,265,271 has been awarded throughout the 40 year-long history of the World Series
• A total of 57 events have been played
• Each player at the final table gets at least $1 million in the Main Event
• 39 out of 57 events had a prize pool over $1 million
• The biggest amount of entrants ever, aside from the Main Event, was Event #4, the stimulus special boasted a total of 6,012 players. This tournament surpassed the previous record of 3,929 entrants on the 31st May 2008
• The senior event had over 2,700 entrants this year, shattering the last year’s record which was set at 2,218
• Jeffrey Lisandro joined the ranks of an elite five that managed to win three bracelet in a single year
• This year had the youngest final table in history, with the average age being 22 during the $5,000 No Limit Hold’em Shoot-Out (Event #41). No one was older than 24 at the table.
• The oldest player ever participated this year is 96 year-old Jack Ury

Team PokerStrategy.com will continue its run in major poker events throughout the world, but the main focus will be on the European tournaments. More details on this will follow soon.

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PokerStars kicked off their first ever Czech-Slovak Poker Tour with an event in Prague. The online poker room is known for creating poker tours all around the world, but this one was launched without the usual fanfare. There will be three more events on the Czech-Slovak Poker Tour, two with 153 players max and one with 225. The later will be the last event on the tour in Bratislava, and the other will be held in Ostrava and Brno. With a buy in of around $65,000, these are serious events with big prize pools and cash prizes.

With both Day 2A and 2B out of the way, the remaining players now have a day off. Let’s take a look at some of the PokerStrategists who will enter Day 3 along with Team PokerStrategy.com.

The World Series of Poker Main Event Day 3 is where all surviving players get together at the tables and fight for the most important bracelet in all of poker: the coveted Main Event golden bracelet.

After six preliminary play days, the action will come to a break for one day, meaning that we will get to see Team PokerStrategy.com in action tomorrow. Until then, let’s see which of our team members and which PokerStrategists will be playing on Day 3.

Dr. Howard Shaffer is a person who has some interesting thoughts about the online gambling. He has done several researches on the particular subject with the support of Bwin. Finally the output of the research is released with some interesting idea. The overall simple conclusion which they came was the discipline of the online game needs to be improved.

Anyway, when we compare the status of the online poker gaming, it has clearly stated that this game has showed a rapid growth during the past two decades and development of the internet technology is the main reason for it. Since now most of the people have the internet access and there are new poker players will join to the game day by day. So with this new growth of the players, the online poker servers must maintain some sort of discipline control method to keep this game some sort of standard.

Currently these sites have a control on the players’ discipline during the online play. According to the Dr. Howard Shaffer it needs to be improved further. The reason was, during his researches he has found out that, the most of the new poker players are not concern of these disciplines and those types of activities needs to be controlled. It will be definitely help to the future of this popular online game.

Though the situation is like that, the relevant authorities have taken various steps to keep this online poker games with a proper disciplined environment. As an example, they have amended the laws which are related to the online gaming as a basic step. So the game providers and the organizers needs to be adhere to these laws and if they failed to do so, they authorities will work o0n legal terms. So the organizer will have to lose their licenses and the sites will be suspended. So because of the laws are stricken to that level, now the poker organizers also more concern to keep the discipline in order to prevent such incidents.

It was a sad day for the poker community when it was discovered that Lee Munzer died on June 26, 2009 at the age of 66. The well-known poker writer and friend to many in the poker world seemed to have succumbed to cancer and left the world too early.

Munzer was born on May 3, 1943, and found his way to poker where his words were published in hundreds of magazine columns, including some for CardPlayer, and websites like PokerPages. But he was also known for his photography, especially of women in poker, and his wit that accompanied all of his work. His range of talent spread to the sports and business world as well, where he wrote about a variety of issues, but he continued to find a comfortable home in the poker community.

WSOP Media Director and renowned poker writer Nolan Dalla put the word out shortly after Munzer’s death and shared some of his thoughts on his long-time associate and friend. “Those who were fortunate enough to know and remember Lee will forever be indebted to him for the benchmark of excellence he established within his profession for the warm, gentle, and compassionate person he was to all who knew him,” Dalla wrote. And of his writings, he added, “He was highly-respected by his peers and loved by his readers for his sardonic wit, unique style of expression, and brutal honesty.”

A memorial service was held in Las Vegas on July 3 to remember Munzer, and for anyone who would like to honor and pay respects to him, the Munzer family has asked that donations be made to the Lance Armstrong Foundation at www.livestrong.org, as a token of the appreciation for Munzer’s cancer struggle.

Dalla finished his announcement with one last heartfelt sentence: “Lee Munzer leaves us all infinitely richer and wiser for being touched and moved by the man who graced us on this earth for far too short a time.”

Titan Poker is kicking off their very own version of Marrakech Mania that will be awarding skillful and savvy players with their very own seat to the World Poker Tour (WPT) Marrakech.

This very first World Poker Tour in Africa will offer players the wonderful opportunity to play against some of the best European and international poker players. The event will take place from the 12th through the 19th of October 2009, at the Es Saadi Gardens and Resort, in the Casino de Marrakech located in Marrakech, Morocco. In addition, the World Poker Tour Marrakech is slated for broadcast on several European TV channels!

Since 1952 the Casino de Marrakech has been Morocco's casino treasure. It is also the organizer for the palace and the five star hotel of the Es Saadi Gardens and Resort for the Marrakech Poker Open. Thanks to Titan Poker, here is your chance to play poker, relax by the pool amid luscious palm trees, all while enjoying the beauty afforded by the lavish Es Saadi Resort. Then when you are ready to see the sights, stroll the streets of the Rose City to soak up some local color and history.

Sounds like a great vacation doesn’t it? Then start packing – because you can get there by participating in the Titan Poker World Poker Tour Marrakech Super Satellites that will be taking place every Wednesday at Titan Poker!

Each of these Super Satellites will award the winning players with a seat to the World Poker Tour Marrakech in the form of an $8,000 World Poker Tour Package to Marrakech. These fabulous packages will include the-€4,500 buy-in to the Main Event taking place from Oct 17th Oct 19th, as well as the-€500 buy-in to a Side Event on Oct 12th. Package winners will also receive eight nights of accommodations at the Es Saadi hotel or the Kenzi Farah from Oct 11th through Oct 19th, which includes breakfast and dinner. Both of these beautiful hotels are 5-star properties providing every amenity to their guests. Finally, the winners’ packages will also include-€50 for handling fees and up to €650 for flights and spending.

The next Titan Poker World Poker Tour Marrakech Super Satellite will take place on July 8th at 9:00 p.m. and you can buy-in for $250 + $18. Or, you may choose to earn your way through the World Poker Tour Marrakech Satellites like the turbo R/A (Re-buy/Add-on) Stage 2 satellite for only $4 + $0.40, where one seat will be awarded for each $27.50 in the prize pool and blinds are set at turbo speed. You can also participate in a Stage 1 R/A Satellite for $25 + $.50.  In addition there are Stage 1 tournaments available for a buy-in of $40 + $4, where one seat will be awarded for each $268 collected. Be sure to check the Titan Poker tournament lobby for the complete satellite schedule for the World Poker Tour Marrakech.

What are you waiting for? Get on over to Titan Poker today and start playing your way to Marvelous Morocco for your chance to play in the World Poker Tour Marrakech!