The basic reason why Stu Ungar switched from gin to poker was that he was a little too good at it. So good in fact, that no one possibly could stand up to him. Even the apparently champions who were supposed to be the most favorable at gin were blow away when they competed with Stu. One such gin rummy player was Harry Stein, nicknamed, "Yonkie". Mr. Stein was handed such a crushing beating at the hands of stu that he allegedly quit competing in it professionally and never showed up at a gin tournament.
Of course, with a image like that it was not very long before people became afraid of gambling against Stu Ungar. He could find no games and in his desperation he started doing something no one had done before. He provided starting handicaps to potential opponents with the hope that they may play against him if they thought they had an advantage. He deliberately started from a bad position and one tale has it that he even played with a constant bad egg. Mid contest, he received advice that the cheater was at it again but stu guaranteed that he deduced of the dishonestly and he would still acquire a win, which of course, he did.
The same problem followed Stu Ungar to vegas. He won so much that the casinos began requesting that he not to bet on their casinos anymore. The basis for it was that other casino visitors refused to be seated at the table if he were seated.
Stu Ungar is recollected better for his abilities in texas hold’em poker but he himself always maintained that he was far more accomplished at gin rummy.
He defeated Doyle Brunson in the World Series of Poker in 1980 and became the youngest world champion. Due to his features that made him appear far younger than he really was, he got the nickname, "The Kid".