The Rise and Fall of Stuey 'The Kid' Ungar - ‘The World's Greatest Poker Player’ stands in large letters under the title. Although the reviewer is not keen on biographies he started to read the first few pages with curiosity. The book was read in three days instead of dragging on for an expected couple of weeks. The life of Stuey Ungar is captivating just as he himself was captivated by gambling.
Stuey Ungar was the best gin rummy player ever and is still regarded today by the great majority of poker stars as the best poker player of all time. Stuey’s life was one roller coaster ride: poker games, betting offices, women and drugs filled his life.
An anecdote from the book illustrates how talented Stuey was: After making his first acquaintance with poker Stuey learns for the first time about No Limit Texas Hold'em and wants to learn the game. Instead of going to a table with $1 and $2 stakes playing with tourists, he takes $20,000 and goes to a table where Johnny Moss, Chip Reese, Jack Straus and Amarillo Slim are sitting. After 15 minutes, he has lost it all. He leaves the table and returns with another $20,000. This time, however, he plays a little more cautiously but even so not nervously. They play through the night and next morning he has won his first $20,000 back, plus an additional $27'000. In one night he manages to raise the level of his game to that of the best professionals who already have tens of years of experience! One can only guess at how many additional successes the three times winner of the World Series of Poker Main Event would have achieved if only his huge talent for cards and his energy at betting could have been channeled along the right track.
At this point the reviewer should not disclose any more on the life of Stuart Errol Ungar.
This book is an incredibly fast and engaging biography full of various funny but also sad details. On the other hand it is also a warning to all 'gamblers'. Bankroll management, moderate play, and the necessary distance from the game are extremely important so as not to destroy one’s own life! While reading this book you sometimes forget that in the end poker is just a game!
In order to understand this book a good knowledge of English is required.
