Poker Tricks

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The main basis for why Stu changed from gin rummy to poker was that he was a bit too good at it. So good was he, that no one was able equal him. Even the commonly called champions who were supposed to be the most favorable at gin were beat when they competed against Mr. Ungar. One of these gin masters was Harry Stein, nicknamed, "Yonkie". Harry Stein was handed such a debilitating defeat at the hands of stu that he evidently quit participating in it as a pro and never showed up at a gin tournament.

Of course, with a notoriety like that it was not too long before people became afraid of wagering against stu. He could not find any matches and in his agony he started doing something no one had performed before. Stu provided beginning handicaps to potential competitors in the hope that they may compete against him if they believed they held an edge. He deliberately played from a disadvantageous arrangement and one tale has it that he even played against a regular cheater. Mid game, he received warnings that the cheater was at it once again but stu assured that he knew of the dishonestly and he would still acquire a win, which he did, of course.

The same problem followed Stu Ungar into vegas. He won so frequently that the casinos began requesting that he not to bet on their rooms anymore. The explanation why was that other casino customers would not sit at the poker table if he were seated.

Stu Ungar is recalled better for his abilities in texas hold’em poker but he himself always maintained that he was far better at gin rummy.

He beat Doyle Brunson in the World Series of Poker in 1980 to become the youngest world champion. Because of his looks that made him appear far younger than he was, he was nicknamed, "The Kid".