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Stu Ungar, widely known as “The Kid,” is legendary in the poker world as perhaps the most naturally gifted player to ever touch a deck of cards. Born in Manhattan, he was a child prodigy who dominated the underground gin rummy scene in New York before moving to Las Vegas. His transition to poker was legendary; he won the World Series of Poker Main Event on his very first try in 1980. Ungar remains one of only two players to ever win the WSOP Main Event three times, and his hyper-aggressive style and almost psychic ability to read his opponents’ hands made him a “freak of nature” at the table.
Career Earnings & Biggest Results
With total live tournament earnings of $3,677,961 (according to The Hendon Mob), Ungar’s results are staggering given the smaller prize pools of his era. His career-best live score of $1,000,000 came from his historic 1997 WSOP Main Event victory. A five-time WSOP bracelet winner, he won the Main Event in 1980, 1981, and 1997. He is also the only player to win Amarillo Slim’s Super Bowl of Poker three times. Despite winning an estimated $30 million across all games, his changeable lifestyle left his poker net worth at near zero at the time of his death.
Biography & Poker Background
Born in 1953, Stu Ungar grew up on the Lower East Side of New York. His father was a bookmaker, so he was around gambling from the time he could walk. He was a math prodigy with a photographic memory, once skipping the 7th grade because he was so far ahead of his classmates. He eventually dropped out of school in the 10th grade to play gin rummy full-time and support his family after his father died. He became so good at gin that he eventually ran out of people willing to play him, even after offering them massive handicaps. This lack of action forced him to move to Las Vegas in 1977 and switch his focus to poker. Despite his small frame and youthful face, he quickly became a giant in the high-stakes world, though he struggled with personal demons and addiction throughout much of his life until his passing in 1998.
Play Style & Strategy
Ungar is best known for his hyper-aggressive and fearless style of play. In an era where most professional players were cautious and tight, Ungar would constantly fire bets and put his opponents to the test for all their chips. Because of his incredible memory and math skills, he was a master at hand reading; he often knew exactly what his opponents were holding based on the smallest “tells” or betting patterns. He was particularly dangerous when he had a large chip lead, as he would use his stack to “bully” the table and force others to fold better hands. He famously said he loved seeing the look of desperation on his opponents’ faces when they realized they couldn’t beat him. This combination of “alligator blood” and a genius-level IQ made him the most feared No-Limit Hold’em player of his generation.
Social Media & Online Presence
Stu Ungar played in the era before social media, but you can still find the records of his legendary wins and his place in the Poker Hall of Fame through these links:
