01-21-07, LearnTexasHoldem:

1980 WSOP

In many sports and other walks of life, there comes a "changing of the guard," where the canny veteran must give way to the talented young newcomer, beginning the cycle of sport anew. If fans are lucky, this shift is symbolized by a direct confrontation between old and new, either with new being victorious and signaling in a new era, or the old making a last valiant effort to hold off the competition and showing what they are made of.

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H.O.R.S.E.: The Player's Championship


Stuey "The Kid" Ungar

This was the drama that surrounded the 1980 World Series of Poker. The old guard was represented by Johnny Moss and Doyle Brunson, the only players to win multiple WSOP main event titles. The standard of the brash, aggressive newcomer would be raised by Stuey "the Kid" Ungar, a Gin prodigy from New York who was taking the poker world by storm.

At 26, Stuey was already a legend. His reputation for Gin mastery made it impossible for him to get a game in New York. Unfortunately, his fondness for fast living made it impossible to survive in New York without Gin money, as he ran up some considerable debts with his vices. Poker, particularly the concept of the poker tournament was perfect for Stuey. The element of luck involved made it possible, though unlikely, that he could be beat, and since it was a tournament, no one could refuse to play him.

Master of the Aggressive Style

Stuey was a master of the aggressive style that so many pros attempt to emulate today. He pushed his chips in with seemingly reckless abandon, always somehow knowing when his opponents were weak. This style got him to the final table along with the masters of the game, Johnny Moss and Doyle Brunson.

If Stuey was intimidated, he didn't show it. He took care of Johnny Moss by boldly calling an all-in bet with 8h 6h, which proved fortuitous when he flopped an 8, destroying Moss' mere pair of sixes. Doyle took care of the other player at the table, Jay Heimowitz, and it was down to the old master and the young star, Doyle looking to collect his record third world championship bracelet, Stuey looking to start a record of his own.

Ungar vs. Brunson

Ironically, Stuey used Doyle's own tactics against him to win the title. Doyle was a strong proponent of small suited connectors, hands with straight and flush potential like 6h 7h, which could be released easily on a bad flop, but could also flop a well disguised strong hand which could be used to relieve an opponent of all their chips. Following this strategy, Stuey called Doyle's pre-flop bet with 4s 5s, a serious underdog to Stuey's Ah 7h, but Texas hold'em poker is more than just a two card game.

Perhaps even more ironically, just as with Doyle's two WSOP championships, the eventual loser flopped a dominating hand. This time it was Doyle who delighted to see a flop of Ad 7d 2c. Here Doyle made a fatal misstep. He forgot the vulnerability of a two pair hand and made an underbet to try and trap his opponent. He got the call he wanted, but then Stuey got his "gin" card, the 3h, giving him a straight. Not interested in slow playing himself, Stuey immediately bet. Doyle came over the top, all the chips went in, and when the 2d fell on the river, the torch had been passed. Stuey Ungar was the 1980 World Series of Poker main event champion, and would go on to surpass both Doyle and Moss as the only man to outright win three World Series of Poker main event titles.

1980 WSOP Tournaments and Winners

EventWinnerPrizeEntrants
$10,000 Championship Event Stu Ungar $365,000 73
$1,000 Razz Lakewood Louie $33,600 N/A
$1,000 7-Card Stud Hi-Lo Mickey Appleman $30,800 N/A
$1,000 A-5 Draw Jim Fugatti $35,600 N/A
$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Gene Fisher $113,400 N/A
$10,000 2-7 Draw Sarge Ferris $150,000 N/A
$5,000 Limit 7-Card Stud Peet Chris $90,000 N/A
$2,000 Draw High Pat Callihan $15,600 N/A
$1,000 No-Limit Holdem Robert Bone $69,000 N/A
$500 Limit 7-Card Stud Bobby Schwing $52,800 N/A
$400 Women's 7-Card Stud Debby Callihan $14,880 N/A
$600 Mixed Doubles Lynn Harvey/A.J. Myers $7,380 N/A

WSOP Year By Year

2000's

1990's

1980's

1970's

2007 WSOP 1999 WSOP 1989 WSOP 1979 WSOP
2006 WSOP 1998 WSOP 1988 WSOP 1978 WSOP
2005 WSOP 1997 WSOP 1987 WSOP 1977 WSOP
2004 WSOP 1996 WSOP 1986 WSOP 1976 WSOP
2003 WSOP 1995 WSOP 1985 WSOP 1975 WSOP
2002 WSOP 1994 WSOP 1984 WSOP 1974 WSOP
2001 WSOP 1993 WSOP 1983 WSOP 1973 WSOP
2000 WSOP 1992 WSOP 1982 WSOP 1972 WSOP
  1991 WSOP 1981 WSOP 1971 WSOP
  1990 WSOP 1980 WSOP 1970 WSOP

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