The primary reason for why Stu Ungar switched from gin rummy to poker was that Stu was a bit too skilled at it. So skilled was he, that no one was able equal him. Even the commonly called champions who were meant to be the best at gin were devoured when they faced Stu Ungar. One such gin professionals was Harry Stein, nicknamed, "Yonkie". Mr. Stein suffered such a belittling beating at the hands of stu that he apparently quit competing in it as a pro and never resurfaced at a gin tournament.
Accordingly, with a image like that it wasn’t long before everyone became shy of gambling against stu. He could not find any matches and in his bleakness he started doing something no one had attempted before. He began offering starting handicaps to potential opposing players in the wish that they may compete opposed to him if they thought they had an advantage. He deliberately started from a negative arrangement and one account has it that stu even played against a consistent absconder. During the game, he received warnings that the absconder was at it yet again but mr. ungar assured that he was aware of the dishonestly and he would still acquire a win, which he did, of course.
The same trend followed Stu Ungar to Las Vegas. He won so much that the poker rooms began asking him not to play in their respective premises anymore. The reasoning behind it was that other casino clientele refused to sit at the poker table if Stu was playing.
Stu Ungar is recalled more for his accomplishments in hold’em poker but he himself always maintained that he was considerably more accomplished at gin rummy.
He defeated Doyle Brunson in the World Series of Poker in 1980 to become the youngest world champion. Due to his looks that made him seem far younger than he actually was, he got the nickname, "The Kid".