Some poker stories age like fine wine—better with time, richer with detail, and as absurd as they were the day they happened. Such is the tale that Barry Greenstein, the “Robin Hood of Poker,” shared five years ago on Joe Ingram’s popular podcast. It’s a story involving high-stakes cash games, a gunman, and an under-the-table side bet with none other than Phil Ivey.
Though the robbery happened nearly 20 years ago, its sheer absurdity has kept it firmly entrenched in poker folklore.
A Quiet Night in Paris… Or So They Thought
It was the early 2000s, and Greenstein was part of a star-studded lineup battling it out in a $400/800 cash game at the legendary Aviation Club in Paris. Among the players at the table? Phil Ivey, Jeff Lisandro, David Benyamine, and a few others whose poker resumes are as thick as a Vegas steak. The stakes were high, the cards were flying, and the chips were piling up.
Then, the room erupted into chaos. A gunman stormed in, shouting and brandishing a weapon, making a beeline for the cash cage. Players and patrons screamed, some diving for cover without hesitation.
But not Barry Greenstein.
Greenstein’s Unlikely Reaction
“I don’t get under the table for anyone!” Barry recounted on the podcast, laughing at his own bravado. The Chicago-born pro, now with over $8 million in tournament winnings and three WSOP bracelets to his name, stood his ground—at least for a moment. The reality of the situation soon set in, and he wisely joined the rest of the room under the tables.
This wasn’t Greenstein’s first brush with danger at a poker game, but what happened next was one for the history books.
Phil Ivey: The Ultimate Poker Companion
Underneath the table, Barry found himself next to Phil Ivey. While others were frozen with fear, the two poker titans couldn’t resist slipping into their natural state—talking about poker. Specifically, props bets.
Props, for the uninitiated, are a side game where players bet on whether their selected cards will show up on the flop. On that particular night, Greenstein had claimed 9, 7, and 3 as his cards, while Ivey was playing the 8, 5, and 4.
“Ivey turned to me and asked if we were still on for doubles,” Barry recalled. “I mean, there’s a guy with a gun in the room, and here we are debating props under the table!”
The Gunman and the Aftermath
Meanwhile, Greenstein’s wife, Alex, had a front-row seat to the action—or terror, depending on how you see it. The gunman even pointed his weapon directly at her at one point. Players like Lisandro and Benyamine remained pinned in place, unwilling to risk any movement.
Thankfully, the robbery ended without bloodshed. The gunman made off with cash, but everyone in the poker room emerged unscathed. For Greenstein and Ivey, the incident wasn’t just a brush with danger—it became a badge of poker immortality.
A Story for the Ages
Even nearly two decades later, the incident has lost none of its luster in retellings. Greenstein’s appearance on Ingram’s podcast five years ago gave new life to the tale, highlighting not only his unflappable demeanor but the absurdity of poker players under pressure.
The props debate between Greenstein and Ivey remains one of the greatest “poker in the wild” moments ever told. It’s a testament to their mindset: When the stakes are high, focus on the game—even if it’s happening under a table during a robbery.
Legacy of the Props Game
Greenstein’s reflections during the interview also revealed a sentimental side to the props tradition. He noted that Chip Reese’s props cards were retired after his passing, and Doyle Brunson still holds onto his iconic 10, 2 and 10, 3—cards tied to his legendary WSOP victories.
As for Barry and Phil, their under-the-table props session stands as a reminder of poker’s unpredictability. Whether it’s a gunman in Paris or a wild turn card, pros like Greenstein and Ivey always find a way to keep their heads—and, apparently, their side bets—intact.
Because in poker, a bet’s a bet, even when you’re ducking for cover.