Stu Ungar. Poker Great.

A couple of years ago l read a story about probably the greatest poker player that ever lived, here is that story.

POKER GREATS

"Poker Greats" - Stu Ungar By Mike Sexton

When anyone talks about the greatest poker players of all time, Stu Ungar's name will surface immediately. If it doesn't, it should. His accomplishments in poker are second to none. He is considered by many (and put me on that list) to be the greatest No Limit Hold'em player of all time.

But don't just take my word for it, check the record books. Ungar is a three-time World Champion (with five WSOP bracelets). He won ten major No Limit Hold'em championship events (in which the buy-ins were $5,000 or higher). The next two guys in line, T.J. Cloutier (all-time leading money winner at the WSOP) and Johnny Chan (two-time World Champion), have won half that many. Amazingly, Ungar only played in about 30 of these championship events in his life!

To further understand his greatness, think about this. For years, the second largest poker tournament in the world was Amarillo Slim's Super Bowl of Poker. At that time, every great poker player attended Slim's tournaments. Like the WSOP, the main event at the Super Bowl of Poker was a $10,000 buy-in No Limit Hold'em championship. Only one man in history captured titles at both the WSOP and the Super Bowl of Poker, and that man was Stu Ungar. And he won them three times each!

I first met Ungar in 1978. He was a 22 year-old (who looked 14) streetwise, fast-talking whiz kid out of New York. He ventured to Las Vegas to play high stakes gin rummy against all comers (and he played anyone for any amount). He defeated them like Secretariat handled the Kentucky Derby.

As great as Ungar was in No Limit Hold'em, he was better at gin rummy. Several months after he captured his third world poker title, Ungar said to me, "Some day, I suppose it's possible for someone to be a better No Limit Hold'em player than me. I doubt it, but it could happen. But, I swear to you, I don't see how anyone could ever play gin better than me."
Ungar turned to poker in Las Vegas when his gin action dried up. He started out playing the biggest games in town. In 1980, with virtually no experience at No Limit Hold'em, Ungar entered the $10,000 buy-in World Championship event at Binion's Horseshoe for the first time. He won it. (The press dubbed him Stu "the Kid" Ungar.) The next year, (the second time he played in it), he successfully defended his title. Think about that. Ungar had entered the World Championship twice and was a two-time World Champion at the age of 25! Fittingly, he captured his third world championship (1997) the last time he played in the event.

Ungar had a genius IQ and a photographic memory. He also had the quickest mind of anyone I've ever met. His talent at all card games was truly incredible. He was barred from playing blackjack nearly everywhere. In No Limit Hold'em, he was relentless. Describing how Ungar played No Limit poker is like talking about someone who is a fearless warrior with a combination of the artistry of Mozart, the moves of Michael Jordan, and the focus of Tiger Woods.

Ungar never had a job in his life. He was always a gambler - and I mean an ultra high-stakes gambler at everything - poker, gin, sports, horses, golf - you name it. He never had respect for money. Money was simply a tool to gamble with (the more he had, the more he bet).

For most of his life, money came easy to him. It also disappeared quickly. Ungar was a high roller and a big spender. (He was also a big tipper whether he had money or not). He went from being broke to a millionaire (and broke again) at least four times. Gambling was his life. Ungar craved action. He always had to be in action. He was hyper and couldn't sit still. If you went out to eat, he couldn't sit through a meal. He would always pay for it, but he couldn't sit through it. He had to get back to the action.

Sadly, all is not cheerful and bright when talking about Stu Ungar. He was notorious for dealer abuse. (In the days Ungar started playing, when Johnny Moss ran the high stakes poker, dealer abuse was the norm. Ungar said, "Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser.") Many top players behaved poorly back in those days. Poker has changed for the better with regards to dealer abuse, but we could still improve. It's terrible when poker players, especially champions, get out of line.

Ungar's biggest problem was his sickness. For twenty years, he abused himself with drugs. I can't help but think what might have been. What a waste. His life, even with the exciting times and conquests, was a tragedy. Drugs consumed him. I'm astounded when I think of what he achieved in poker, but I shudder to think of what he might have accomplished. Ungar died in 1998 at the age of 42.

Some can't see the "greatness" of Ungar. To them, he was a gambling degenerate and a drug addict who died broke. They confuse his lifestyle, bad habits, and sickness with his ability and extraordinary talent. Don't make that mistake. When it came to "playing the game", Stu Ungar was in a league of his own. He certainly deserves his place in history as one of the "Poker Greats".

Here's some exciting news! Nolan Dalla is authoring "Behind the Shades", a gripping true story about the life of Stu Ungar. This book is riveting and will mesmerize you! (It is due out by summer. I believe it can make the best-sellers list as this story could reach far beyond the poker world. I also wouldn't be surprised if it became an Academy Award winning movie. Take it from me, "Behind the Shades" is a sensational, powerful book.)

Stu Ungar was one of a kind. His talent was extraordinary and he had more "heart" than anyone I've ever seen. At the table, he was a fearless, relentless warrior, and his sense of timing and feel were uncanny. Ungar was a maestro on the green felt, especially if he got a hold of some chips. (He always controlled the table and it seemed like he raised every pot.) His record in No Limit Hold'em championship events is by far the best in history. Stu Ungar is not only a Poker Great, but a Poker Legend.

Ungar is actually a gambling legend. He was the ultimate high-roller. Ungar got the attention of every pit boss, race and sports book manager in Las Vegas. They may have let him play, but trust me, they feared his action. As for bookies, well, he bet whatever they would let him bet (and it didn't matter much to Stuey whether he had money or not - he fired with both hands).

Stu Ungar gambling stories are plentiful. My favorites are the golf stories, which are truly legendary. For example, the first time he ever walked on a golf course in his life, he lost $80,000! Incredibly, Ungar didn't even make it to the first tee before losing his money (to Jack Strauss - also an ultra high-stakes gambler and "Poker Great"). He lost it on the putting green! In the history of the world, do you think that has ever happened before or since?

Stuey was something to see on the golf course. He looked like he was 15 years old, weighed 105 pounds, wore golf gloves on both hands, played from the ladies tee markers, and used a tee on every shot. (Yes, that's right. On every shot, including in the rough, sand traps, and water hazards). On most days, he couldn't break 100 (even with this spot), yet he gambled sky-high.

You must understand that gamblers are not golf purists. They simply love action. Golf is a great place for guys to gamble, regardless of skill level, because of being able to "match-up". With the right spot, for example, I could play Tiger Woods for money. I would probably need to scramble three balls from the ladies tee while Tiger played one ball from the tips, but I could "match-up" to where I think I would have the best of it, or at least have a fair game. And once you match-up, you bet on it. (Incidentally, if anyone knows Tiger, call him to see if he'll play me this game.)

Ungar was one of the worst game-makers you can imagine. His problem was that he loved to gamble too much. (No one created action on the golf course like Ungar.) He took many games that he had the worst of it just to be in action. I would estimate that Ungar lost several million dollars playing golf in his life.

Ungar was funny and had the quickest wit of anyone I've ever known. To give you an idea of how quick his mind was, here are some entertaining Stu Ungar "quick wit" stories.

Once, a group of us had gone to Palm Springs, CA to play golf. Four of us went to dinner one night at a place that was recommended to be the best in town. We get there and it's packed. We make our way to the maitre D and tell him we would like a table for four. He asked if we had reservations and we said, "No". He said there was no way he could fit us in. Stuey gave him a $100 bill and said that if anything opened up, we would be at the bar. (Ungar always let Benjamin Franklin make his reservations.)

We fight our way to the bar and line up four across. The bartender says, "What'll you have?" The first guy orders a Scotch and water, I order a beer, and Stuey ordered a Rum and coke. The bartender looks at him and says, "I need to see some I.D." Stuey hollers at him, "What are you talking about? I'm 35 years old!" The bartender says, "Well, you might be, but you look young to me, and if you don't have any I.D., I can't serve you."

Without hesitation, Stuey says to him, "You want to see some I.D.? I'll show you some I.D." He quickly reaches both hands into his front pockets and pulls out two rolls of cash that were $10,000 each. He slams them on the bar, points at them and says, "There. There's my I.D. Do you think any teenager would be carrying around that kind of money?" The bartender nodded, smiled, and said, "You know, you've got a good point there. What'll you have?" And just about then, the maitre D came over to tell us our table was ready.

Once, during the WSOP, I was talking to Stuey when Al Ethier ("Al Jay") was walking towards us. To say Al Jay was a tight poker player in those days is like saying the Baltimore Ravens had an OK defense this year or Michael Jordan could play a little hoops. Al Jay was a rock!

So, as Al Jay gets close to us, Stuey says loudly, "Mike, you can't believe the nightmare I had last night. I said, "Really?" Stuey said, "Yeah. I broke out in a cold sweat. I'm not kidding you - it was the worst nightmare of my life." I said, "What was it about?" And Stuey blurts out, "I dreamed I was playing Al Jay a heads-up No Limit Hold'em freeze-out with no blinds and no antes!" It was classic.

I loved Stu Ungar. I can't imagine we will ever see another player with talent or wit like him. Thanks for the memories.