The World Series of Poker: 1980

The World Series of Poker: 1980

After Hal Fowler’s victory at the 1979 World Series of Poker, all bets were off. Prior to Fowler’s win, the title had been the exclusive property of the game’s most honored players, but the lucky amateur changed the course of history.

With the game starting to grow, it was time for a new kind of star to emerge.

That new star was Stu Ungar. A tough, tiny kid from New York, Ungar was known in Vegas as a gin prodigy, having mopped up all manner of competition and gained recognition as the best player in the world. Problem was, he wasn’t too good at hiding his prowess, so the action dried up, forcing him to find a new game.

Ungar entered the 1980 WSOP as the literal long shot according to bookmakers. After all, “the Kid” was little more than a curiosity at that point. He’d played in precisely one poker tournament, Amarillo Slim’s Super Bowl of Poker earlier that year, where he’d finished 34th out of 41.

“Stuey got better every day of the tournament,” remembered his heads-up opponent, Doyle Brunson. “If someone had taken him out on the first day, I’m sure I would have won.”

Miraculously, the inexperienced Ungar managed to survive the initial rush. By the time he was heads-up with Brunson, he was an expert.

The final hand of the tournament started with Doyle limping on the small blind to make the pot almost T13k. The flop came A-7-2, giving Doyle top two while Stuey had only a gut-shot. Ungar checked and Brunson bet T17k. Against most players, he’d have taken the pot down there, but Ungar made the call.

The turn brought the Kid’s miracle three, giving him the straight. He immediately bet out for T40k, knowing that if Doyle were staying in the hand at this point, it would be for a lot more than that.

Brunson paused for a moment. Ungar goaded him and declared himself all-in, pushing T270k into the pot. Ungar pointed out that Doyle still had another T5k in hand, and Doyle flipped it in too. Stuey called and won. It was just the beginning.

Gary Wise

gary@wisehandpoker.com

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