Henry Orenstein: From Holocaust Survivor to Poker Innovator

Henry Orenstein, born in 1923 in the small Polish town of Hrubieszów to a Jewish businessman, Leib Orenstein, had a life marked by both tragedy and innovation. In 2014, at the age of 90, he became the oldest prize winner in the World Series of Poker (WSOP), securing 8th place in the championship.

Orenstein's most significant contribution to the world of poker was the invention of poker tables with built-in cameras. This innovation sparked interest from major TV channels in the early 2000s, bringing the game to a broader audience.

Orenstein's family faced persecution due to their Jewish heritage, leading to their eventual relocation to the United States. During the Holocaust, Henry and his family were forced to hide, and his parents were eventually executed. Henry and his siblings were transferred to various concentration camps, including Ravensbrück. In a risky move that ultimately saved their lives, Henry registered his siblings and himself as mathematicians to avoid immediate execution. This deception was part of a fake scientific project designed to avoid military service for German professors.