TO LIVE AND DIE IN LV by Michael Kaplan - Digital / Print

To Live and Die in LV by Michael Kaplan

To Live and Die in LV is a raw, unfiltered study of the final chapter of poker legend Stu Ungar — the ultimate advantage player whose brilliance at the table was matched only by the chaos of his private life.

Written by acclaimed gambling journalist Michael Kaplan, this gripping work revisits Kaplan’s extraordinary access to Ungar during the final years of his life. What unfolds is part investigative journalism, part character study, and part cautionary tale from the heart of Las Vegas.

For poker players, blackjack enthusiasts, and serious students of gambling history, this is essential reading.

Inside the Book

• The definitive look at Stu Ungar’s final interview
• Behind-the-scenes access to the World Series era
• First-hand reporting from the Las Vegas underground
• A powerful study of genius, addiction, and the cost of the fast life
• Written by one of gambling journalism’s most respected voices

Kaplan captures Ungar at his most vulnerable and most brilliant — a supernova burning bright in the Las Vegas night. 

Choose Your Edition

Print Book
A physical edition for collectors and readers who want the full experience in hand.
56 pages. 10,000 words. 

Digital eBook (PDF)
Instant-access PDF delivered by email after purchase. Compatible with screen readers and all major devices.

Collector Bundle: Book + Ungar Playing Cards
The complete tribute package — Kaplan’s powerful book paired with the official Ungar playing cards by Daniel Madison. 

Delivery Information

Digital Edition: Delivered via email immediately after purchase.
Print & Bundle Editions: Ships within 7–10 days.

About Michael Kaplan

Michael Kaplan is a Brooklyn-based journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Wired, GQ, and the New York Post. A longtime observer of the professional gambling world, Kaplan is known for his deep access and sharp storytelling. His reporting has chronicled some of the most fascinating figures in modern poker history.

Explore more from Kaplan in Advantage Players, also available at Madison Cards.

For players. For historians. For those who understand that the line between genius and self-destruction is often razor thin.