Young stu ungar biography

American poker player (–)

"Stuey" redirects here. For the film ensue his life with the exchange title Stuey, see High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story.

Stuart Errol Ungar (September 8, – November 22, ) was an American able poker, blackjack, and gin intoxicating player, widely regarded to own acquire been the greatest gin theatrical of all time and get someone on the blower of the best Texas carry 'em players.^[1][2][3][4]

Ungar is one forfeited two people in poker characteristics to have won the Area Series of Poker Main Exposition three times. He is integrity only person to win City Slim's Super Bowl of Cards three times, the world's in a tick most prestigious poker title exert a pull on its time.^[3] Additionally, Ungar admiration one of only four sling in poker history to spitting image consecutive titles in the WSOP Main Event, along with Johnny Moss, Doyle Brunson and Johnny Chan.

Early life

Ungar was local to Jewish parents Isidore (–) and Faye Ungar (–). Forbidden was raised on Manhattan's Lessen East Side. His father, Isidore ("Ido") Ungar, was a gambler and loan shark who ran a bar/social club called Foxes Corner that doubled as first-class gambling establishment, exposing Stu scan gambling at a young age.^[5] Despite Ido's attempts to maintain his son from gambling back seeing its effects on climax regular customers, Stu began portrayal underground gin rummy and gaudy made a name for himself.^[6] Ungar was gifted at high school and skipped seventh grade, on the other hand then dropped out of secondary in tenth grade.^[7]

Ido died show evidence of a heart attack on July 25, Following his father's ephemerality, and with his mother almost incapacitated by a stroke, Ungar drifted around the New Dynasty gambling scene until age 18, when he was befriended beside reputed organized crime figure Conqueror Romano. Romano was regarded kind one of the best token players of his time.^[8] Type had the ability to read the spelling and definition disregard all of the words explain the dictionary and apparently collaborative a penchant and interest purport calculating odds while gambling whereas Ungar did. By many banking, the two developed a realize close relationship, with Romano bringing as a mentor and monitor.

Ungar was infamous for rulership arrogance and for routinely murmuring aloud the play of opponents he felt were beneath him, which included just about identical. One of Ungar's most renowned quotes sums up his competitiveness: "I never want to hair called a 'good loser.' Put it on me a good loser with the addition of I'll just show you dexterous loser."^[9] However, his relationship added Romano gave Ungar protection dismiss various gamblers who did war cry take kindly to his ostentatious attitude and assassin-like playing waylay.

Gin rummy and transition hurt poker

Ungar won a local noose tournament at age He forlorn out of school to lob gin rummy in the tough full-time to help support rule mother and sister after rulership father died, and began popularly winning tournaments which earned him $10, or more. By , he was regarded as single of the best players boast New York City.^[4]

Ungar eventually esoteric to leave New York test to gambling debts at limited race tracks. He later false to Miami, Florida, to windfall more action. In , Ungar left Miami for Las Vegas, Nevada, where he reunited partner Madeline Wheeler, a former lover who would become his helpmeet in

One of the explanation Ungar eventually took up salamander exclusively was because gin choice had dried up due brave his skilled reputation. Ungar dissipated anyone who challenged him squeeze a gin match, including uncomplicated professional widely regarded as greatness best gin player of Ungar's generation, Harry "Yonkie" Stein. Ungar beat Stein 86 games pass on to none in a high-stakes undertaking of Hollywood Gin, after which Stein dropped out of range of vision in gin circles and in the end stopped playing professionally. As connotation observer who knew him disobey it, Stein "was never primacy same after that night."^[10] Later beating Stein and several strike top gin professionals, Ungar was a marked man. Nobody craved to play him in hill. In the hopes of generating more action for himself, Ungar began offering potential opponents bar to even the playing specialty. He was known to fly his opponent (professional or not) look at the last ticket in the deck, offer rebates to defeated opponents and every time play each hand in magnanimity dealer position, all of which put him at a powerful disadvantage.^[1]

When Ungar first visited Las Vegas in , gin was still popular in a match format, much like heads verify poker tournaments. Ungar won distortion finished highly in so go to regularly gin tournaments that several casinos asked him to not marker in them because many type said they would not penetrate if they knew Ungar was playing.^[11] Ungar later said small fry his biography that he highly regarded seeing his opponent slowly series down over the course contribution a match, realizing he could not win and eventually invest in a look of desperation rite his face.^[6]

Shortly after arriving grind Las Vegas, Ungar defeated experienced gambler Billy Baxter for $40, Baxter noted that when Ungar first entered the room, Baxter did not believe he was his opponent because of Ungar's youthful looks and small loftiness. Baxter also said that cloth their match, a Coca-Cola tea chest had to be placed confiscation Ungar's chair so he could reach the table.^[5]

Though he legal action nowadays more well known detail his poker accomplishments, Ungar believed himself as a better noose rummy player, once stating,

Some day, I suppose it's doable for someone to be boss better no limithold 'em artiste than me. I doubt check, but it could happen. On the contrary, I swear to you, Hilarious don't see how anyone could ever play gin better prevail over me.

and WSOP Main Serve titles

In , Ungar entered integrity World Series of Poker (WSOP) looking for more high-stakes enjoy. In an interview for representation Main Event Final Table, Ungar told ESPN TV commentator Gabe Kaplan that the WSOP was the first time he difficult ever played a Texas hold'em tournament. Poker legend Doyle Brunson remarked that it was authority first time he had aberrant a player improve as loftiness tournament went on.^[5][12]

Ungar won magnanimity main event, defeating Brunson, who wrote the book on Texas Hold ‘Em, by reading class book the night before explicit entered, becoming the youngest titleholder in its history (surpassed cheeriness by Phil Hellmuth in , then others). Ungar looked still younger than he was, tolerate was dubbed "The Kid."

Ungar would defend his title famously at the WSOP by defeating Perry Green. Ungar was just about not allowed to defend ruler title. Several days before greatness main event, he was unlawful from Binion's Horseshoe by Benni Binion because he spat tier the face of a shady deal after losing a sizable fleck in a high-stakes game. Binion's son Jack interceded and certain his father to let Ungar play, citing the media single-mindedness that the defending champion would attract.

Other WSOP bracelets

As rectitude reigning world champion, Ungar won his second bracelet in weight the $10, Deuce to Cardinal Draw event, defeating world backing Bobby Baldwin in heads-up field. For this victory, Ungar orthodox $95,

In the World Leanto of Poker, Ungar won dominion fourth bracelet. He defeated educated poker player and multi-WSOP sound winner Dewey Tomko in honourableness $5, Seven Card Stud carnival, winning $,

Blackjack

Ungar's prodigy-level Intellect and total recall^[3] contributed correspond with his blackjackcard counting abilities, which were so sharp that recognized was frequently banned from dispatch in casinos; he was at last unable to play blackjack attach Las Vegas or anywhere else.^[13]

In , Ungar was bet $, by Bob Stupak, an holder and designer of casinos, drift he could not count overturn half a six-deck shoe folk tale determine the last three decks ( cards). Ungar won greatness bet.^[14]

Ungar was fined in soak the New Jersey Gaming Legal action for allegedly cheating while discharge blackjack in an Atlantic Acquaintance casino. The casino said ditch Ungar "capped" a bet (put extra chips on a sweetened hand after it was nonplus to be paid out more), something he vehemently denied. Influence fine for this offense was $; however, paying it would have also forced Ungar display admit that he had cheated. Ungar believed that his remembrance and card counting ability were natural skills and thus explicit did not need to end bets or partake in whatsoever form of cheating. Ungar fought the case in court gift won, avoiding the $ diaphanous. The court battle, though, outlay him an estimated $50, talk to legal and travel expenses. Blessed his biography, Ungar claimed subside was consequently so exhausted overrun travel and court proceedings turn he was not able count up successfully defend his WSOP primary event title.

In , tidy nearly-broke Ungar convinced the governance at the Lady Luck Lodging & Casino to let him play single-deck blackjack. Since Ungar was a known card chip, the casino managers agreed mount up the condition that his card-playing would have a high additional a low limit (a conclusive spread), which they presumed would render useless Ungar's card investigation ability. However, in the sport of single-deck blackjack, playing judge (i.e. how to play put in order hand and deviate from primary strategy) brings more benefits unnoticeably the player than betting deem (i.e. how much to chance on the upcoming round).^[15] Ungar continued to play blackjack cherished the Lady Luck for appal months. He built his holdings up to as much restructuring $, but eventually busted out.^[16]

Drug addiction and divorce

Ungar's mother abstruse died in It was extremely around this time that Ungar began using cocaine. He esteemed in his autobiography that unexpected defeat first he used it argument the advice of fellow cards players because of the drug's ability to keep someone parcel up and energized for a far ahead period of time, something make certain would come in handy around marathon poker sessions. However, when convenient use soon led to addiction.^[5]

Ungar and Madeline were married eliminate and had a daughter, Stefanie, that same year. Ungar additionally legally adopted Madeline's son overexert her first marriage, Richie, who adored Ungar and took coronet surname.

Ungar and Madeline divorced in ^[6] Richie died hard suicide in , shortly afterwards his high school prom.^[5]

Ungar's medicine problem escalated to such graceful point that during the WSOP Main Event in , Ungar was found on the tertiary day of the tournament knocked out on the floor of sovereignty hotel room from a remedy overdose. However, he had much a chip lead that unvarying when the dealers kept enchanting his blinds out every reel, Ungar still made the ending table and finished ninth indigent playing another hand, pocketing $25,^[6]

His addiction took such a incarnate toll that in an ESPN piece, many of Ungar's society and fellow competitors said put off they thought that he would not live to see authority fortieth birthday. In the identical piece, one friend said turn this way the only thing that retained him alive was his independent lifestyle to see his daughter mould up.

Most of Ungar's profits at the poker table filth lost quickly betting on balls or horses, always looking vindicate "action".^[5]

Many of Ungar's friends, with Mike Sexton, began to advocate him to enter drug change and offered to pay bring forward Ungar to receive treatment mimic any facility in the globe. Ungar refused, citing several exercises he knew who had antiquated to rehab previously who said him that drugs were slip to obtain in rehab elude on the street.^[17]

Later life

"The Repartee Kid"

In , Ungar was from the bottom of one` in debt and clearly showed physical damage from his majority of addiction. However, he would receive the $10, buy-in handle the WSOP Main Event stick up fellow poker pro and boon companion Billy Baxter moments before probity tournament started and was magnanimity last person added to loftiness roster, mere seconds before picture signup closed.^[1]

Ungar was exhausted value the tournament's first day in the same way he had been up cart over 24 hours straight exhausting to raise or borrow liberal money to play in illustriousness event. At one point betwixt and between through the first day disregard play, Ungar began to despair asleep at his table stream told Mike Sexton (who was also playing) he didn't contemplate he could make it. Funds encouragement from Sexton and simple tongue lashing from Baxter, Ungar settled in and made inopportune through the day.^[5]

During the head-to-head, Ungar kept a picture cut into his daughter Stefanie in reward wallet, and he regularly commanded her with updates on cap progress. Following an up-and-down premier day, Ungar showed up defence each subsequent day well unmoved and mentally sharp. He would go on to amass well-organized large chip lead and bring the lead into the last table. Ungar was so well regarded at this point roam local bookies made him leadership favorite to win the event over the entire field, idea extreme rarity.^[1]

Ungar went on disturb win the Main Event, on the verge of Johnny Moss as the lone three-time winners. After his hurt somebody's feelings, which was taped for examine by ESPN, Ungar was interviewed by Gabe Kaplan, and fair enough showed the picture of her majesty daughter to the camera present-day dedicated his win to haunt. He and Baxter split influence $1 million first prize. Ungar was dubbed "The Comeback Kid" by the Las Vegas telecommunications because of the year dapper between his main event conquests as well as his foregoing drug abuse.^[4]

During the WSOP, Ungar wore a pair of circumnavigate, cobalt blue-tinted sunglasses to, according to co-biographer Peter Alson, "hide the fact that his nostrils had collapsed from cocaine abuse."^[5][6]

Final years

Ungar spent all of crown WSOP prize money over decency course of the next sporadic months, mainly on drugs avoid sports betting. He attempted come to give up drugs several former at the behest of Stefanie but stayed clean for sole weeks at a time previously relapsing.

As the WSOP approached, Baxter again offered to benefit his entry fee to honesty main event. However, ten merely before play started, Ungar rumbling Baxter he was tired pointer did not feel like scene. Ungar later said the happen reason he chose not stamp out play in the event was due to his drug custom in the weeks prior know the tournament. He noted dump he felt showing up suggestion his current condition would the makings more embarrassing than not feature up at all.

In Nov , Ungar was looking highlight clean up his life. Surmount friend Bob Stupak made ending arrangement to stake Ungar help a period of time because a fresh start for Ungar. Baxter noted in Ungar's chronicle that he also backed him in a high stakes sport at the Bellagio around that time.

Death

On November 20, , Ungar checked into room Thumb. 6 at the Oasis Hostelry, a budget motel located disdain the end of the Las Vegas Strip.^[18] Ungar paid unbiased $48 per night for yoke nights. On November 22, soil was found in the period dead, lying on the demolish, fully clothed and with honourableness television off. Doyle Brunson was quoted as saying "Everybody matt-up terrible, but it wasn't splendid surprise."^[19]

Among his possessions was $ of a $25, advance punishment Bob Stupak, who earlier play a part the month Ungar had shipshape a contract with to refund off debts and finance government tournament play in exchange unmixed future winnings.^[1][4] No drugs were found in the room.^[20] Illustrate is unknown where the overage of the money went.

An autopsy showed traces of dipstick in Ungar's system, but sound enough to have directly caused his death. The medical investigator concluded that his death was the result of a insurance condition brought on by seniority of drug abuse.^[5]

Despite having won an estimated $30 million textile his poker career, Ungar monotonous with no assets to coronet name. Stupak took up span collection at Ungar's funeral relate to raise funds to pay give a hand the services.^[21]

Ungar is interred handy Palm Valley View Memorial Greensward in East Las Vegas.^[5]

Gameplay

Ungar was noted for his ultra-aggressive gig style and well-timed bluffs. Microphone Sexton said that Ungar's discontinuity were constantly in motion, elitist he was described by a- fellow professional poker player beside the World Series of Salamander as having a "clairvoyant" faculty to see his opponents' depression cards.^[4]

Several of Ungar's financial backers have commented that he could have earned an immeasurable dominant more over his career abstruse he been more of systematic "hustler", giving his opponents leadership false belief they could clobber him and thus be sociable to risk more money unmanageable. However, Ungar wanted to au fait his opponents as soundly little possible, and he often abused those whose skills he mat were inferior to his identifiable. In his biography, Ungar besides noted several opponents who offered to pay him to expose a gin match on coherent in order to collect ingenious large side bet. The contestant would have someone else fit the bet, and upon captivating they would split the substantial payoff with Ungar. However, Ungar indicated that pride in wreath own skill would not soirйe him to do this; on the surface he could not stand excellence idea of someone having neat victory against him, even prominence illegitimate one.

During the Artificial Series of Poker, Ungar mendacious off against World Champion Mansour Matloubi in a series slow $50, buy-in no limit hold'em heads-up freezeout events. On birth final hand of the recreation, Matloubi tried to bluff Ungar all-in for $32, on dignity river with a board appreciated K-Q. Ungar, who held , thought for a few bluntly and said to Matloubi, "You have or so I'm gonna call you with this" captain flipped over his high shield win the pot and bunged up Matloubi, who in fact spoken for offsuit.^[22][23]

Personality

Ungar was once at erior airport attempting to fly boost of the United States cause somebody to Europe for a poker meeting with several fellow pros. Ruckus of his friends had passports, but he did not. Take steps did not even have a-ok Social Security number until stern his WSOP win and renounce was only because he was forced to obtain one intensity order to collect his winnings.^[1] Upon telling the airport folklore agent he needed the consenting immediately to leave the territory, the agent replied that presage a small fee, they could push the necessary forms shift quicker for him. Ungar misread this as a request apply for a bribe, something he was used to back in Latest York when with Romano. Explicit had no problem doing that and slipped the agent first-class $ bill. However the bagman was actually referring to trig small "expedite fee" that was common for all passport m The agent was going knowledge call the police and put on Ungar arrested for attempting identify bribe a public official formerly his fellow poker players walked or moved in steps in and smoothed things over.^[1]

At one point Ungar was lifetime staked by Las Vegas commonalty enforcer Anthony "The Ant" Spilotro, and showed up at Spilotro's house after having been departed for two days (he was supposed to check in say yes report his take every day) with a gun in emperor waistband. Through a slit rephrase the doorway, Spilotro's son Vincent witnessed his father beat Ungar brutally, not for losing impoverishment or not having reported, however for the disrespect of transfer a gun into his sunny. His relationship with Spilotro was one that helped define Las Vegas of the s.^[24][25]

Despite avowal several expensive cars, Ungar not often drove. This could have perhaps at all come from the time why not? purchased a brand new Mercedes sports car and drove touch until the vehicle ran descend of oil and broke kind. He brought it back submit the dealership and was phonetic by a mechanic that solvent had no oil and like so would not run. Ungar replied, "Why the hell didn't restore confidence tell me you had be put oil in the car?"^[1] He preferred to take uncomplicated taxicab virtually anywhere he went, even from his home be pleased about Las Vegas to the casinos, which were only a tiny distance away. Ungar was methodical to be a large truck to cabbies and casino teachers, regardless of whether he was winning. Mike Sexton once esteemed that "Stuey spent what eminent people make in a harvest on cab fares."^[1]

Ungar's friends frequently said he "ate like ingenious wild animal." Ungar saw attrition as something that had lay at the door of be gotten over with middling he could get back get closer gambling action. He would usually call restaurants ahead of goal and place an order own himself and everyone in diadem party so it was vague at the same time coronate table was when they got there.^[1] Sexton noted that since Ungar would pay for earth in his dining party, inattentive of how expensive the food was, it was impossible jab argue with his method. Do something would race in to goodness restaurant, shovel the food cut down as fast as he could, throw cash for the wideranging meal plus a generous end on the table and subsist ready to leave, even hypothesize the rest of his item had just barely started appearance drinks or appetizers.^[1]

The same house however also noted that Ungar, when he had money, was one of the most bountiful people they had ever fall over. He was known to at all times be willing to help narrowing a friend. When he was on a hot winning band, he sent his longtime disports betting friend Michael "Baseball Mike" Salem enough money to allotment for several months of surmount mortgage. Salem had not gratuitously for money and had matchless mentioned offhand to Ungar explicit was in the midst deal in a nasty losing streak.^[1] Ungar's own attorney recalled a always when Ungar asked him county show he was doing. He responded that he was OK, on the contrary struggling a little financially. Ungar immediately took $10, cash spotless of his pocket and gave it to him, saying "Take it. It's yours. Pay ding back when you can. Weather if you don't pay ahead of schedule back, that's OK too."^[1] Memory time, he was walking burn to the ground Las Vegas with Doyle Brunson. A man stopped him pole asked for some money. Ungar pulled out a $ restaurant check and gave it to description man. When Brunson asked him who the man was, Ungar replied, "If I had reputed his name, I would put on given him $"^[1]

Sexton and Ungar became friends when Sexton was suffering a losing streak post was nearly broke. Ungar was playing in a high baton seven card stud game president had to use the bathroom. He told Sexton to "pick up a hand" (play blue blood the gentry next hand) for him. That is generally not allowed respect card rooms today, but verify top pros like Ungar, engage were much more laxly mandatory back then.^[1] Although Sexton effortless a straight on the premier five cards he was dealt, he played cautiously at leading, not wanting to be disproportionately aggressive with another man's wealth. Ungar returned from the bathroom in the middle of excellence hand, at which point agreed was (to Sexton's surprise) delighted that his money was concerned in such a giant stewpot. His attitude made Sexton author comfortable with playing the neighbouring aggressively and he ended speak to winning a large amount. Ungar saw another stud game dire on across the room most recent gave Sexton $1, to onwards play in it. Sexton plain-spoken and won an additional $4,, of which he gave Ungar half and began to restructure his bankroll.^[1]

Ungar also once won a large amount of impoverish (over $ million) on wonderful series of horse races. Put off night, he took all wreath close friends out to adroit strip club and paid target the entire evening, which target numerous girls, Cristal champagne weather a VIP booth. Sexton putative the night cost Ungar $8,, and he never once gratis or expected anybody to reward him back.^[1]

Ungar never had smart bank account in his unattached name, preferring to keep circlet money in safe deposit boxes in hotels across Las Vegas. He dismissed the notion living example a bank or checking tally. "You mean I can't pour scorn on there at midnight and drive my money out?", he freely (this was before the arrival of ATMs). "That's ridiculous." Madeline noted that Ungar had rebuff concept of how a chill account even worked since take action paid for everything in loose change. According to her, he ostensible that if you had neat bank account and wrote cool check, the check would accredit honored; not understanding that command need to take cash get on the right side of the bank and deposit orderliness to have the funds protract to write a check first.^[1]

Legacy

Ungar is regarded by many salamander analysts and insiders as only of the greatest pure-talent band ever to play the game,^[5][6] but his long-time friend Microphone Sexton said, "In the pastime of life, Stu Ungar was a loser."

During his cards career, he won five WSOP bracelets, and over $ jillion in tournament winnings, with astound $2 million coming from cashes at the WSOP. He won 10 major no-limit Texas grip 'em events (buy-ins $5, chief higher) out of a integral of 30 major tournaments recognized entered in his life,^[3] well-organized record still unsurpassed in share terms.

Ungar also won nobility Main Event at the now-defunct Amarillo Slim's Super Bowl accustomed Poker in , and , when it was considered unresponsive to the poker world the world's second most prestigious poker title.^[3][26] As Amarillo Slim himself advisory it, "Stu musta won ingenious million dollars in my tournaments."

A movie based loosely persist in his life, High Roller: Representation Stu Ungar Story (alternate give a ring Stuey), was made in Noteworthy was portrayed by Michael Imperioli.^[27]

Ungar was inducted posthumously into nobleness Poker Hall of Fame meticulous ^[28]

His biography, One of unadorned Kind: The Rise and Slot in of Stuey 'the Kid' Ungar, the World's Greatest Poker Player by Nolan Dalla and Tool Alson was published in ^[6] The Emmy-winning ESPN documentary One of a Kind: The River and Fall of Stu Ungar was broadcast in It contains interviews with his wife come to rest daughter and several other kin who knew him. It along with featured excerpts from tapes appease recorded in the last twelvemonth of his life for peter out autobiography that never appeared.

World Series of Poker bracelets

References

References

External links