Garrett Adelstein is a renowned cash game poker pro who has won millions of dollars playing for high stakes in casinos and on live streams. On September 29, 2022, his life changed after Robbi Jade Lew won a $269K pot against him with J-4, amid strong suspicions of cheating. It was undoubtedly the most controversial hand in poker in recent years, the circumstances around which have been widely debated on social media and throughout the poker community.
After that hand, Garrett stepped away from poker and decided to write his story — about his career, as well as surrounding the infamous hand — in a memoir titled “Beneath The Cards,” which will be published in the very near future. We reached out to him to get more details about his first poker book, and we share his replies in this article as well as our book review.
Interview with Garrett Adelstein
How did the idea of writing the book come about?
Even before the Jack-Four scandal, after two decades in poker, I had grown weary of many aspects of the gig. To try to make sense of and find peace with the controversy, my therapist was actually the first person who recommended I commit some of my thoughts to paper. One thing led to another, and after several months, I realized my story was worth sharing.
What did you enjoy most about the writing process?
Writing was—and still is—novel, exhilarating, and a bit terrifying for me. I struggle mightily at not doing everything at an elite level. As you can imagine, the early drafts of the memoir were less than spectacular. Taking a decent manuscript and turning into what I believe is a pretty special book has been the most rewarding thing I’ve done in my professional life—and I have done a few pretty cool things in poker. To work on a passage for months and then finally nail it is just an unbelievable feeling. I’ve always enjoyed writing. It’s become an obsession.
Renowned players like Phil Galfond and Chris Brewer have spoken highly of the book. What did those positive reviews mean to you?
A ton. For the first couple years, the only person who read pages was my wife. She’s brilliant, but also a bit biased. So to have several respected journalists and elite players who received advanced copies speak so highly of “Beneath the Cards” has been amazing. I always promised myself that as long as I wrote the very best book I was capable of, I’d be good. In retrospect, I don’t think that’s really true. I’ve put it all on the line emotionally here. It feels good as hell that the initial response has been so strong.
In the book you boldly shared some very personal things about your family; your mother in particular. Was that difficult to do so? Do you have a better relationship with her today?
Briefly writing about my mom was incredibly difficult. Ultimately, I made the decision to speak transparently about everyone who strongly shaped my journey. I love my mom dearly, but as readers will understand, I simply couldn’t tell my story without discussing some tough moments from my childhood. Whether we’re talking about my parents, well-known poker figures, or anyone else I mention, I own those decisions. And I’m prepared to face the potential ramifications. What’s a memoir if it’s unwilling to bare all, especially when it comes to my own weaknesses, struggles, and missteps?
What advice would you give to low-stakes cash game players to be successful and be able to level up over time?
I’d want them to understand that poker isn’t about one thing. Making the big bucks (especially in live poker) isn’t about knowing the GTO solution. Or incorporating the perfect exploit against every opponent. Or game selection. Or networking/poker politics. Or the stamina to play for more than 24 hours straight in the juiciest games. Or picking up physical tells and bet sizing patterns. It’s about all those things—and so many more. I think reaching the top requires incredibly hard work and several lucky breaks along the way. My story exemplifies this.
To become great, you have to figure out the highest leverage skills in your playing environment. And then put in the (often monotonous) work of becoming elite at every one of those skillsets. For most players in 2026, it’s probably not a great use of your time. Non-professional poker is the way to go for most these days.
Can you share a bit more with us about how important your wife Jen has been and is in your life?
My wife is my everything. She’s the reason this book exists. She encouraged me to push forward with this passion project when faced with major setbacks—and there were many. As I touch on in the book, she’s played a pivotal role in my poker triumphs. No decision we make in our lives is more important than who we marry. I’m so grateful Jen chose me.
What advice would you give to players who think they are suffering from depression? What helped you?
Depression isn’t something you beat. You manage it—by making healthy choices, one day at a time. Like everything else worthwhile in life, it takes a lot of hard, messy work. Meeting with my psychologist regularly for a decade and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) have been two critical elements in helping me to consistently feel well.
Will we see you participate in a cash game on a streaming platform you trust in the future? Are you keen to do so, or are you no longer interested in playing in live streamed games?
Absolutely. I still love poker and suspect I always will. My days of playing 2-3 livestreams a week are probably in the rearview, but I’ll still hop in the mix when some big streaming games get off the ground.
What reasons would you give our readers to check out your book?
Everyone is going to want something different from “Beneath the Cards”. Many want crazy gambling stories. Some want to understand what allowed me to rise to the top of my field. Others want poker strategy tips. Some want every intimate detail regarding the Jack-Four controversy. Others are sick of hearing about it and are more interested in learning about the rest of my nearly 25-year poker career. I try to give everyone everything—all while keeping the main text to around 300 pages. It wasn’t easy.
Ultimately, the book centers on trying to find some peace in a cutthroat industry where my perfectionism and mental health struggles often made things worse. It’s about obsession, the search for identity, and often, a cautionary tale about what not to do. I think you’ll be able to connect with the themes whether you’re a poker pro, recreational player, or even if you don’t know the rules of how to play poker. I may have made it to the top in poker—but the price of getting there was steep. I share those lessons in hopes the reader can avoid some of the same pitfalls.
Garrett playing at “High Stakes Poker” / Photo: PokerGO
Book Information: By The Numbers
- Title: “Beneath The Cards”
- Author: Garrett Adelstein
- Date of publication: September 1st, 2026
- Pages: 447
- Prices: $15.99 Kindle / $20 Paperback
- Where to pre-order? Amazon and Premiere for signed copy
- You can read an excerpt from the book at this link
Poker Book Review: Beneath The Cards
The book has 10 parts and is over 400 pages in length. Garrett tells his story chronologically, from his beginnings with online poker, his first low-stakes games, and how he climbed the ranks to eventually reach high-stakes and televised games. The tenth and final part of the book is dedicated to the J-4 controversy, where he recounts in detail everything that happened during and after the hand. He also includes several appendices at the end of the book with information on the people involved and new evidence.
Personally, I enjoyed the first 70% of the book, where Garrett tells his story, much more than the last 30%, where he talks about the J-4 hand. Obviously, I was interested in his opinion of the hand and everything that happened afterward, but his life story was genuinely fascinating, and I found myself reading until late into the night. That’s what happens when you have a good book in your hands!
You’ll learn how Garrett discovered poker, what he did during Black Friday, his first trips to Las Vegas to play at the WSOP, his battles at the felt playing in high stakes games in casinos and private matches, where he was cheated for the first time. In his stories, he also recounts the biggest hands he played and heads-up duels where a lot of money was at stake. It’s not common to get to read intricate details about these kinds of poker players, and it’s these stories that make the book very unique and entertaining.
The author bravely shares some very private aspects of his personality. Growing up, he had to deal with bullying, anxiety, perfectionism, depression, and parents who didn’t give him the help and support he needed. Garrett recounts how he overcame depression, and I believe his experiences can be a great help to those suffering from the same malady.
“Beneath the Cards” is a book that will appeal to cash game players, those who want to learn more about the J-4 hand, those who enjoy reading biographies, and those who want to know what the life of a high-stakes poker player is like. I think it’s undoubtedly the best poker book of 2026 (thus far) and one of the best poker biographies I’ve ever read. I highly recommend you check it out, too.
“Beneath The Cards” by @GmanPoker
He recounts his poker story from the beginning, including personal and family traumas. I’m really enjoying the story, which seems sincere and honest. Great read so far.
Soon review + Interview on @PokerLifeMedia pic.twitter.com/ZVXdWoidr2
— Santi G-M (@santijota8) August 17, 2026
Beneath the Cards: Reviews from Garrett Adelstein’s Fellow Pros
Phil Galfond: “Garrett sent me an early copy of Beneath the Cards. Once I (finally) dove in, it was hard to put down. I didn’t know it would be so entertaining, but what I loved most about it was exactly what I assumed I would. He takes you through his journey – before poker and in it, the highs and the lows, from childhood to now – in great detail. That’s what I knew Garrett would do so well the moment I found out he was writing this book. He’s an extremely bright, deep person who, in my personal experience with him over the years, has been willing to connect human to human – to share the truth of what’s actually going on with him, whether it’s pretty or ugly. In this book, you get a lot of each. I felt like a fly on the wall, or a confidant he shared everything with along the way. The most important thing this book does with that honesty, in my opinion, is show you what it takes to succeed at the highest levels of this game. If you’re a fan of Garrett’s, of poker, or if you’re chasing greatness at something difficult, this book is a rare, honest (and entertaining) peek behind the curtain at what excellence can take.”
Doug Polk: “I’ve been around high-stakes poker for a long time, and Garrett’s book captures that world better than anything I’ve ever read. The stories are wild (and often unsettling), his perspective is honest, and the J-4 chapter alone is worth picking it up. This is a side of poker most people never get to see.”
Chris Brewer: “Garrett has long been someone I admire in the poker world, so I was excited to begin reading his book about his poker and life journey. As a career high-stakes poker player myself, I was surprisingly drawn to the non-poker sections. While there are many well-written and entertaining gambling anecdotes throughout, reading Garrett’s thoughts on his mental health struggles really connected with me. The book is an inspiring and honest account of the everyday struggles we all face. And how, despite them, there is a path to making the most of life. Knowing him personally, Garrett walks the walk, practicing these habits, strategies, and mindsets every day.”
Kevin Malis: “Beneath the Cards pulls back the curtain on what it really means to be a high-stakes poker player, both the astronomical highs and the crushing lows. Garrett weaves important messages about mental health, perseverance, and what it takes to succeed into a tapestry of some of the craziest and most entertaining stories from the gambling world. This book is a must read both for anyone familiar with poker, and for anyone that wants to appreciate how crazy life’s journey can be.”
Julie Tan: “I started this book with zero interest in poker and stayed for the psychology and vulnerability behind the story. While Garrett explores obsession, failure, relationships, and the strange characters of the poker world, his honest struggles with self-doubt, discipline, and inner challenges make the story surprisingly relatable. It’s a compelling life story about how he found his way into an unconventional, high-pressure career.”
