Re-evaluating Stuey Ungar

[fungaimike56]

A leak is a leak. Players have them both at and away from the table. Unger's leaks away from the table are well documented. Regardless, Doyle Brunson is on record as saying Unger wasn't in his top ten all-time great poker players BUT that his record in no-limit hold-em tournaments "speaks for itself". Chip Reese said at the table "Stuey never ever cared (about the money)" which was what made him so dangerous. Barry Greenstein said Unger, when losing, could be "pushed around like a little girl". Last year, in Cardplayer, Billy Baxter went on record that he never lost to Unger playing Gin because he always negotiated a good spot before the match (reminiscent of Blair Rodman's recent posts on the subject of negotiating a good match re: Phil Ivey recently cleaning up on the golf course) and Unger, craving action, would accept the bad match.

Staying in action is a skill in itself. This leads to an odd contradiction in analyzing Unger's abilities. His leaks away from the table should be considered (and are by many of the great players) in any serious evaluation of his place in the game. However, he could always find a backer and be in tournament action. Because of his greatness.