Bear and Cub(credit: Poker Stars Blog)
Barry Greenstein is a great poker player. The former software guru with a degree in computer science and a penchant for numbers is a father of 6. One of his children, Joe Sebok, also plays poker for a living. Greenstein is known as "Bear" to Joe and the duo have a very loving relationship, which is showcased anytime the two play together in a live action event.
Barry has said before that he'd do anything for his children. We believe him. Now, we see Steve Stolzmann, father of John Stolzmann, the 6th Annual WPT Jack Binion World Poker Open champ, fold a good hand just so his son could play. It's the ultimate poker sacrifice...one that even the Robin Hood of Poker would be proud of.
Here goes:
Game Type: No Limit Texas Hold’em
Tournament: World Poker Tour - Father and Son Event
Players in hand: Steve Stolzman, Jeff Schulman, Joe Sebok.
Starting Hands
Steve Stolzmann - 7
, 7
Jeff Schulman - K
, J
Joe Sebok, aka "Cub" - K, K
PreFlop
Steve Stolzmann - Steve is the father of John Stolzmann, a former WPT winner, and it was his turn to play while his son watched. He made it $18k to go, likely using some lesson his son had taught him.
Jeff Schulman - Jeff showed good instincts by folding - he may have stuck around, but behind him, yet to act, was…
Joe Sebok, who did just what Jeff was afraid of - popped it up to $120k.
Now Steve was in a pickle. He knew enough about poker - and likely enough about Joe Sebok to figure his opponent could have just a couple of overs - even the Big Slick, Ace King, would be behind his hand by a bit. So what to do?
The format of the game decided for him. If he busted out his son would never get a chance to play, and he said as much as he folded the hand.
Turned out to be a good move.
Sebok talks with Kimberly Lansing about Australia, Marriage, Poker and a wee bit about dad: