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Stuey Ungar v David Roepke

Ungar v Roepke

1 May 2006

Stu Ungar's call after the flop was an unbelievable read...

This week's Classic Verdict analyses a showdown between Stu Ungar and David Roepke at the main event of the 1997 World Series of Poker. David Gross considers the evidence and gives his verdict...

The Comeback Kid in the 1997 WSOP

Following back-to-back WSOP victories in 1980 and 1981, Stu Ungar had gone on to dominate the world of tournament poker in the early and mid 1980s. However in the late 1980s and early 90s, his hunger for poker domination waned as he got caught in the grip of drug addiction mixed with wild, non-profitable horse-racing and sports betting action.

But in 1997, after years in the wilderness and no longer a kid, an older, physically dishevelled Ungar returned to the WSOP and enjoyed his greatest win by triumphing over 312 opponents to take down his first and last $1m poker tournament payout.

On the third day, down to the last 27 players and second in chips with 232,000, Stuey was seated at a table with a new generation of players, many of whom are still dominating the game today eight years after Ungar’s death.

The line-up included Phil Hellmuth (WSOP winner and holder of nine bracelets), Chris Ferguson (WSOP winner and holder of five bracelets) and Doyle Brunson (double WSOP main event winner and holder of ten bracelets) but it was Ungar who came out on top dominating the table with fearless raising and re-raising and some unbelievable calls. One such play is highlighted here.

Stuey had over 250,000 chips behind while David Roepke had a smaller stack of around 70,000 but still enough to do some serious damage to Ungar’s title hopes.

Roepke came out betting for 20,000 in mid position pre-flop. He held a suited K-10. Ungar called him in position with a suited K-Q. While K-Q is in big trouble against a lot of bigger hands, Ungar’s read was right as he was in a dominating position in every sense – hand value, position and chip stack.

Odds Before the Flop:
Ungar: 69%
Roepke: 31%

The flop came down 7-6-2 and Ungar’s hand remained dominant.

Odds After the Flop:
Ungar: 80%
Roepke: 20%

However, David Roepke came out betting pushing all-in for his last 50,000 into the 45,000 pot. Ungar rapidly called and with no 10 on the turn or the river he took down a big pot that knocked out another player, pushed him closer to the chip lead and scared the hell out of all his opponents

The Judge's Verdict

Stuey Ungar’s call after the flop was an unbelievable read. Most players would have been unable to make that call for another 50,000 even if they suspected that Roepke was weak. For the average player, based on Roepke’s betting pattern it would have been hard to categorically overrule the possibility that Roepke help pocket 8s or a higher pair, or even if he was weak that he didn’t hold a hand like A-K, A-Q or A-J.

But Ungar was no ordinary player. Not only did he call Roepke’s bet, he did so instantly, so convinced was he that his K-Q was in front. His play that day was complimented by Phil Helmuth who credited Ungar’s ability to “see through” his opponents as being the reason for his own defeat. Similarly Suzie Isaacs, winner of that year’s WSOP ladies' event revealed that the other players were aware of Ungar’s ability to read his opponents hands as being “almost clairvoyant”.