POKER INFO - PROILE - Stu Ungar

i'm looking for a good bio of Stu "The Kid." I've seen: (1) Behind the shades, the Rise and Fall of Stu Ungar and (2) One of a Kind: The rise and fall of Stu Ungar. Both apparently written by the same people. Can someone explain this to em. Thanks.

stefanie do u have a producer for the film and distribution syndicate

HI Stefanie seen the movie about your dad and i was a very good movie i have to say.I havent read the book u are talking about but i will check it out soon.I play poker for a living full time now and hope to make some great marks in poker like your dad did. I am 28 and live in lynchburg virginia right now but am from southcarolina.I play alot in atlantic city nj often and am coming out to vegas sometime soon hopefully in november.I have never played poker out there or even been for that matter LOL.Do u have any good suggestions on thing to do there for fun? well maybe ill run into ya sometime out there and get my picture with ya ok well takecare and godbless you and sorry for ur loss of a great dad and great poker player.. Daniel

Stu Ungar, in my opinion the greatest card player of all time. I've read alot about him and he was a true genius. There's no comparing when it comes to Gin, but he made a hell of a Hold 'Em player also. Just thought I would make a comment and show my appreciation. Thanks for keeping a legend alive,Dusty

Top card player, Top gambler, Top geezer. from his book wud ave been quality bloke 2 know...

he wasn't the best ever....take the 1997 main event, he's heads up, 1.8 million chips in the pot. he has a-4 opponent has a-8 board goes a-5-3-3-2. he sucks out a straight. if he loses that hand, he's at a 2-1 disadvantage and we might not be talking about unbeatable stu ungar

The main event is so embarrassing to watch. This is supposed to be the tournament that decides who is the best player in the world. Now it is a crapshoot. All it is, is who is the luckiest on flips, who wins the card setup, and that is it. Frankly, there is a huge gap in the market for someone who will put together championship tournaments with only high profile players in it. like 27 person tournaments or 18 person tournaments

I hope everyone realizes that the movie that has already been released on DVD is not the movie I am talking about. Me and my family are not behind the DVD movie. Graham King is the producer on our "Authorized Movie." Mom my and I are consultants on the movie too. For those of you who were interested about my Psychology degree well I will be starting up again at the end of this month. I can't wait! I never was one who liked school but this is something that I have known I wanted to be since I was 9 years old. I have an article already out in Cardpalyer. I have another one comming out in this next issue too. Keep a eye out!! Talk to you all later! Stefanie

Stefanie, Finished book, just wanted to let you and family know that how great it was. Worth the wait. Hope Graham King is more proficant than NolanD on getting film ready. Sorry didnt get to meet ya at WSOP. Got swamped after 7stud braclet. Your Dad was not only a great card player. He was a great person. See ya soon, Good Luck. Cliff

Boomshaka does not realize that the stu could have lost the hand, been at a disadvantage and still outplayed the guy. and we are still talking about the Man my friend because he was the greatest.

Stefanie, I know this is a long shot. I meet you at the WSOP 2005. I told you that I had a book signed by Nolan and wanted so bad to have you and your mom sign it, but had to settle for you two signing a great picture of your dad. I framed it and have it hanging up now. We also sat and talked a bit there at the tables while you were taking a break. I never even thought about getting a way to stay in contact. I guess I did not want to seem weird LOL. I seen you post here and wanted to say hello. I am looking forward to your movie coming out. Being your dads biggest fan I wish I could play a part in it but oh well

I recently purchased the book about Stu (the kid) Ungar. Before then I had no interest in poker whatsoever. Now I am fascinated by it. His story is funny, poignant a mixure of the absurd, ridiculous and his pure genius for the game. I have to confess that the book (particularly towards the end) The Man Behind The Shades reduced me to tears at the end. A brilliant book, which is far beyond mere statistics and dry commmentary.I am sure he would still be a poker great if he were alive today, but his drug consumption got the better of him in the end.In the poker world he will always be remembered as a legend.

Stuey is the man!!! He is a brilliant cardplayer and if you would like to see him in action in the 1981 and 1997 WSOP, go to Ebay and purchase the "20 years of the World Series of Poker DVD" set. Its a bunch of ripped DVDs with certain years missing (including 1980, Stuey's first win, since it was never televised). It's still a great buy and you'll get to see other years as well, very interesting. You will find Stuey dominating in both of the DVDs!!!

The first time I ever came across Stuey was when reading the Championship Table book by McEvoy, Smith, & Wheeler. For some reason, when viewing his pictures, I felt there was a mysterious and yet mesmerizing presence about him. I could just sense this sort of genius quality from his aura, even though I knew absolutely nothing about him!! After learning more about him two years after I have first found out about him I have truly come to appreciate the brilliance and magnanimity that he brought to the game of cards and life in general. I hope that through this site, the book "One of a Kind", the upcoming ACCURATE movie, and most importantly, through his beloved daughther and wife, that people will be able to come to appreciate the phenomenal qualities that Stu Ungar used to carve his name into a legend. May you rest in piece Stuey.

Just one last thing, since it has been bothering me for quite some time: The book "One of a Kind" is an amazing book, you should definitely get it. But there are two minor details that I found were sort of inaccurte. 1) In the 1981 WSOP, it was written that Stuey (after CALLING a raise preflop) called a big bet on the flop with KK when the board showed an ace and caught his "lucky" card on the turn. What really happened was Perry Green raised on the button with AQ and then Stuey pushed all-in PREFLOP, which Green eventually called. The dreaded ace came on the flop but the King of diamonds on the turn gave Stuey a set (thank goodness or else he would have gotten third instead of winning back to back!)(Reference:1981 WSOP DVD)2) The final two players in the 1997 WSOP came down to Stuey and John Stremp. While it is written that the final hand came immediately when headsup play started, it actually came about three hands later (Reference: The Championship table by McEvoy, Smith, & Wheeler).Oh, and for people who think Stuey got lucky in the last hand to win his bracelet, you will not believe the guy he was playing heads up with!!! He was utterly reckless throughout the final table!!! He pushed all-in with a flush draw and sucked out on top two pair, and in another crucial hand went all-in with TT vs. KK and caught his case ten (one other player had a ten in his hand) on the turn. He was lucky enough to have made it to the top two, and I believe that the cards finally evened out to give Stuey his third title (yayyyy!!!) Well, that is all, hope you guys get those DVDs, very entertaining to watch "the Kid" himself in action. Long live Stuey!!!

Stu's Advice, "show Me A Player Who Doesnt Treat Poker As A Business, And Ill Show You A Loser" Soon As I Read That I Won The Very Next Tourney I Played, 1st Place. Life Altering Quote From The Best Ever

What i dont get is if i was him, id just play black jack, jim rummy and poker and become MEGA richbut it seems always with things like this, the person as well as being amazing oin one area, this is made up for a major lack in anotehr area - hence probably why he gambled so muchbut i want to see how he played, like how he was so good etc

I gotta say that it is a good thing that opinions are not worth anything and the truth is worth it's wieght in gold. Stu was a man that had a gift for cards that some can only dream about and like all great people who have a special gift, thier time is limited. I have read a lot of derogatory comments about Stu here, " He was a Loser", "He was a Junkie", "He was broke" Well, he was niether and lived the life most of us can only dream about. "Junkie", hmmm. When poker was poker, not this play anything get lucky bingo that it is now, the tourny's were literally "Last man standing". Stu did what he had to do to stay with the game, trust me, he wasn't or isn't the only poker player to do this, who do you think turned him onto it. Take a wild guess. A poker player. Why didn't Stu just play black jack and become mega rich? Stu did play black jack and was barred from playing black jack in vegas. Stu had some demons yes and the drugs was the biggest but, it is hard to sit here reading this and knowing the "Facts" about him, He lived his life the best way he knew how and enjoyed the biggest percent of it. Money is not everything in this world, yes it is nice to have but it can't buy you everything in life. Stu never held a job, spent his life doing what he enjoyed. Did not die broke either, you can not take your money with you when you die. Stu was a very smart man and alot of people took advantage of his talent's. I am sure that the one thing that Stu died of is a broken heart not being there for Stef. Hang in thier Stefanie, you are doing a great job in keeping your father's memories alive. He was a great man. To the idiots on here that judge Stu for his wrong doing's and have labeled him, I sugest you take a hard look at your own life before taking such a harsh judgement on another's.

yo did any1 read thru all these postings? there is this one guy named kent who was chatting with stef and basically she was gonna go to atlanta to do some book signing and hes there and he took time off work to see her cause hes a obsessed loser and she ducked him and he was all sad and he was like "u dont care about me!" it was so funny what a crackhead. u guys gotta read that its so hilarious. what a total looney. its so funny he like "im not talking to u anymore!" ahahahahah. i think he got so sad he killed himself. i hope he comes back plzplz kent come back and show every1 what a loser u r some more plzzzzzzzzzzzzzp.s. i have a run-on sentence problem try to ignore it

david the reason he just didnt play black jack all the time was because they banned him. if u owned a casino would u let stuey play??also he was an artist, he expressed himself threw gambling,, he couldnt just stick to one game, he had a need to show the world how good he was at various different strata. although, i do find it puzzling why he played RAZZ and bet on horseracing, when he had such favourable odds in pretty much any skilled card games he looked at!

Stu the Kid Ungar passed away on this date-Nov 22 -1998. Rest in Peace Stu, you will always be one of the best. Condolences todaughter Steph on this day, your father was a Champion and that can never betaken [email]away.tony@holdemhottie.com[/email]

It is an infinite challenge indeed for a mind that aspires to mediocrity to attempt to conceptualize genius.

Ms. Ungar, you had less time with your father than would seem fair but you lived with a spirit the likes of which few ever experience.

So many here have tried to put into words what cannot be. Genius, legend, icon. None do justice.

Then there are those that attack the lifestyle of a man they have no right to judge. A man that gave us reason to believe in the limits, or lack thereof, of mankind.

When we visit the fair, we have a compulsion to seek out the greatest thrill ride on the grounds, the rollercoaster. We have a primal desire to touch the clouds at the top and tremble as the bottom rushes towards us. Stu Ungar did not need to pay the fare, his life soared higher and lower than any rollercoaster ever made.

His life, his gambling prowess, his abilities, his skills, his habits, these are not what should be remembered, respected and revered; his dominance of the rollercoaster is.

God Bless you and your mother Ms. Ungar.

Larry

What is the measure of a poker player? Is it tournaments wins, or the amount of money you win playing? And what use is it if you win at poker but blow your money with other types of gambling? Johnny Moss won millions playing poker, and lost millions shooting dice. Same for TJ Cloutier. I just read that the million dollars Mike Matusow earned for coming in 9th at the WSOP is already gone, what kind of a sicko loses a million bucks that fast?

Mike Matusow is an Ignorant, Mouthy, Momma's Boy poker player. Need I say more¿

Stef, I am glad I found this page. I am working on a project for school (The Art Institute of Las Vegas) and the subject I picked up is your Dad's life. I am serching for some REAL stuff about his life, and I mean the good things. Because there can't be anything absolutely good or absolutely bad on this world. So, if U can give me some tips about him, I would be grateful. I will send U also the whole project when it will be ready. I am sure U will like it. If U like to know how I am thinking in general about the bad things people do, read "1 Chorynthians chapter 1, verses 27, 28, 29". I am not a religeous freak, but I think it sais a lot about how I think. Thank U.

Stefanie,(I'm not the jackass matt from above)I was just writing with one thought that kinda bugs me.. I dug High Roller when it came out, until I did some research (and read what you said about it) and found that the names are wrong, some events are wrong, and that so many things are wrong, it just ruined the movie for me. Then I read the book (Normally I can pay attention for about 10 pages, I went through this one in about 2 sittings) I was thinking that if only this movie had followed the book it'd be great, I loved the casting and the 'feel' of the film, and I was just thinking, despite the inaccuracies, what did you think of the casting of the film? I thought Imperioloi was great in the roll of your Dad, but I wanted to know what you thought of him in that roll, and although we'll probably find out eventually when they make a movie out of your book, who do you think would portray him well as far as look/acting style?OH, and about the book, amazing, well written, flowed easy, and like I said, for someone who isn't into reading much, I loved it, very interesting, and very insightful. Congratulations.

Hey Everyone!! Man, It's been a while since I've been on this site. To the guy Jason, I remember meeting you. You were the only person I signed a poster for. I had so much fun over those 4 days at the WSOP. I am so glad to hear everyone likes the book. You would be amazed how many people have told me the same thing as Matt. About not really liking to read but, when reading my dad's book they just couldn't put it down. I have been telling you guys for years that my mom and I were not behind "High Roller" I am sorry you were disapointed. I was too. Anyone can make a story about anyone these days. To the guy named "Silver Wind" what kind of info are you looking for? What exactally do you want to know? I would really be intrested in seeing the finished project. What made you choose my dad? Hey at least you all finally believe I am who I say I am. Guys, don't rag on Ken. He seemed to be a really nice guy. He was just very disapointed. I am sure we all know how that feels. Talk to you later. I will check in sooner this time. Take care. Stefanie

yeeaaa stef!!!

still trying to find out the difference in "One of a Kind" and "Man behind the Shades" books. ANyone know? same authoris, sane subject matter, different covers, different (but similar) titles. Are they same book (i.e., like a re-release, re-print, etc.)?

"Man behind the Shades" was the original book title but it had to be changed due to conflict with another book title is what I heard. "One of a Kind" was the official release title. Cheers.