Paying Homage To Stuey

In this week’s blog, I thought I’d share some thoughts on a latest hot release from the world of poker literature, ‘The man behind the shades’, a biography of the legendary Stu Ungar, written by Nolan Dalla and Peter Alson…

Stuey “The Kid” Ungar is undoubtedly one of the greatest poker tournament players who ever lived with mind-boggling stats that include the following feats:

• Winner of the 1980 World Series of Poker (“WSOP”) Main Event which was the first top no limit tournament he ever played in
• Winner of back to back WSOP main events (1980 and 1981) and a total of 3 main events (also 1997), a a feat only equaled in pure terms by the legendary Johnny Moss (in much smaller fields)
• He played in very few smaller WSOP buy-in events, but when he did so, he had a phenomenal strike rate with two 1st places and one 2nd place in the first seven he played.
• In 1984, he finished 2nd out of 124 in the $1,000 7 Card Stud and then the next day he won the $5,000 7 Card Stud Event.
• Winner of three “Superbowl of Poker” main events. This was a $10,000 tournament which was second most prestigious event on the poker calendar (after the WSOP) in the 1980s. No other player won 2 superbowl of poker titles let alone three.
• Winner of the Four Queens $10,000 main event in 1991 which was the 9th Major Buy-In Final Table he played in and the 8th he won.

However, Stu’s story is famously tinged with sadness and he died prematurely in his late forties after years of drug abuse and reckless living. It is this compelling combination of poker genius and flawed individual that have made Stu Ungar the most talked about gambler of recent generations and the subject of so many articles, reviews, books and even a recent film (“Stuey”). The latest such venture is 'The Man Behind The Shades', a biography written by Nolan Dalla and Peter Alson – and really gripping read.

Immersed in poker

It success lies in the backgrounds and expertise of the authors and the source of the book’s material. Nolan Dalla has been immersed in the poker world for many years and he knew Stuey well and much of the book’s content is based on Stu’s own testimonies (he had played an active part in the project prior to his untimely death in 1989) with the remainder generally based on third hand accounts from those who were close to Stu during his lifetime.

The biography reveals precious details relating to Stu’s early years - the time he spent at his father’s bar / illegal gambling den, his father’s untimely death, the early draw that cards and gambling held for him and his early introduction to some of New York’s shadiest Mafioso. It helps you understand the unique combination of people and circumstances that helped mold the life of this enigmatic man.

Amazingly, you discover that poker wasn’t even his strongest game! He was indisputably the greatest gin rummy player who ever lived. Amongst other amazing feats, you read how he incredibly managed to beat the renowned (although unofficial) top gin player in the world 27-0 at the age of 16. You read the amazing details of a man who won $20,000 on a lottery ticker at age 16, several hundred thousand dollars at gin rummy before he was 20, over $1.8m in one day via a combination horse racing bet and over $3m in poker tournament winnings and yet died without any savings or any wordly possessions.

For more for us on Stuey, check out his entry in our Legends section by clicking here.You can also check out our Verdict of some of the Classic Hands he was involved in:

Stuey Ungar v Perry Green in the 1981 World Series of Poker
Stuey Ungar v Doyle Brunson in the 1980 World Series of Poker

Until next time…

All the best,

David aka "thekid08"

15 October 2005

OTHER BLOGS BY DAVID 'THEKID08' GROSS

POKER VERDICT BLOG INDEX

Blogs By James 'Slicker66' Hipwell

Blogs By Hugo 'Chimney Sweep' Martin

Blogs By Phil 'Jackal69' Shaw

Blogs By Jeff 'Lord Neil' Israel

Blogs By Neil 'Bad Beat' Channing

Blogs By The Hendon Mob