Stu Ungar, Anybody Ever Play With Him

[Roswell]

great post, dogmeat.

[siwicki]

dogmeat, that was awsome.

[TxRedMan]

i've been sort of fascinated with his life and times.

you cant debate that he was one of the best card players, ever.

there's not detailed records of his cash game winnings, but you just dont live like he did w/o killing a cash game on a regular basis for lots of $$$.

i mean, this guy must have blown through $30,000,000...and he didnt win it sports betting, he lost it sports betting (and dope, too) and he didnt win that much in tourneys, so I'd have to say by process of elimination he as one of the best ever at poker.

Hell, Chip Reese offered to back Stuey anytime Stuey was sober, so that speaks volumes for his ability.

It was a different world back then, and there were probably more weak players than now, less education about the game and what have you.

You can't question he was the best ever at Gin Rummy. His record speaks for itself- he demolished every top ranked player he ever played. I mean obliterated.

Read the book about him, It's a great read. I've read it three times or so.

There's a story in there that Phil Hellmuth retells where Stuey is playing Mansour Matloubi HU for 50K.

Mansour raises PF to $1200 or so, stuey calls w/ 9-10.

flop

3-3-7 mansour bets $3000, stuey calls

turn

2 check, check

river

blank? Q maybe?

mansour open pushes, stuey says outloud "you have 4-5 or 5-6, i'm going to call you with this"

he calls, mansour showed 4-5, and stuey won the pot and the HU match.

I hate the way his life ended.

If anyone you know is into drugs that heavy, or shows the signs of it, yank them out of their skin and dont let them go until they're clean.

Either that, or start digging their grave.

[FortunaMaximus]

<chuckles> You know what, I was down and out and walked into a big-box bookstore.

Saw the book, I'm sure I'd heard of him before, maybe not.

Sat down, had nowhere better to go. Read the damn thing from cover to cover. Haven't needed to read that again. Oh, I'm sure I'll pick it up again someday and give it a place of honor.

He deserves that much. I'm sure if you asked all his women, they'd tell you a story about a Stuey nobody knew.

You hardly have to guess at that.

Call down in peace, old man. And thanks.

[goodsamaritan]

[ QUOTE ]

Hell, Chip Reese offered to back Stuey anytime Stuey was sober, so that speaks volumes for his ability.

[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe Chip said that cause then he would never had to stake him.