Beneath the Cards: A High-Stakes, High-Anxiety Poker Journey

by Garrett Adelstein

One of poker’s most feared competitors reveals the triumph, scandal, and hidden cost of obsession.

Garrett Adelstein, widely recognized as the best high-stakes cash game player on earth—and the alleged mark in “Jack-Four,” the most controversial hand in poker history—flips the deck in Beneath the Cards.

This gripping memoir charts Garrett’s up-and-down journey to the pinnacle of poker—from online poker prodigy to livestream superstar—until one hand threatened to destroy everything he’d built. He pulls no punches, taking listeners through his turbulent career and offering a riveting insider account of underground games where compulsive gamblers, seasoned grifters, and millions of dollars collide in minutes. Garrett comes clean on drunken binges, death threats, financial ruin, and public backlash. Along the way, he shares accessible poker insights and delves into the mindset required to navigate this cutthroat, unforgiving arena.

Garrett also candidly discusses his life beyond the table. He exposes his deeply personal battles with perfectionism, depression, body dysmorphia, and even his demoralizing appearance on Survivor. Through these experiences, the book examines connection, identity, and what happens when winning is no longer enough—universal themes that resonate even with those who’ve never played a hand.

Powered by the perceptiveness and humor that endear Garrett to poker enthusiasts worldwide, Beneath the Cards is an unforgettable ride appealing to poker fans, business professionals, sports and true crime enthusiasts, and anyone intrigued by the price of extreme competition.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

Audible Audio

Published September 1, 2026

Reviews

[Andy Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Against the backdrop of his legendary career as a cash-game poker player, Garrett Adelstein takes an unflinching and honest look at his development not just as a player, but as a human being.

As a very young man, he accumulated nearly a million dollars playing online poker, went broke, and then rebuilt an even larger fortune. His career eventually took him into nosebleed-stakes cash games and to the pinnacle of livestream poker, where he became one of the game's most recognizable personalities. Along the way, he also chronicles his evolution into a more mature man, husband, and ultimately, father.

There are many intriguing glimpses into the perilous world of high-stakes cash-game poker, including his account of the infamous J4 cheating scandal. But Adelstein frames these experiences primarily through what they taught him about himself and how he learned to confront and overcome his emotional and mental challenges.

This is an intriguing and inspiring memoir, and Garrett's narration of his own story is a perfect fit.

Garrett:

I thoroughly enjoyed the content and your narration. I was impressed with the rare honesty with which you laid bare your challenges and your past.

This book is an epic accomplishment. Congratulations!

[Jeffrey Goodman · Rating 5 out of 5]

First: what a great read.

Garrett’s particular success with this memoir is that he made me feel like he was just like me when I was coming up in the poker world: an awkward, anxious kid trying to navigate, with integrity, a shady underworld full of bad actors. The same kinds of people I’ve had to battle.

The way Garrett dealt with bad beats, online criticism, and even praise echoed in my chest. The CBT, the trauma responses, the panic attacks… all of it.

There’s one particular passage where Garrett knows he’s going to be robbed and suddenly gets a flat tire. He braces for the attack on the side of the road, but it never comes.

Yes. Yes.

I’ve been in this EXACT situation, on this same stretch of highway, with a tenth of what Garrett had to lose.

The book made me feel validated in all the best, healthy ways.

That’s success.

The audiobook performance was great, as well — Garrett tells the story in his own voice, which is refreshing and raw.

[Shannon Shorr · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a longtime poker pro and someone who really respects Garrett and the way he handles his business, I quickly devoured this book once I got my hands on it. In a word, it was captivating. Getting a glimpse behind the scenes of some of the biggest cash games on the planet, while hearing Garrett’s mindset as he navigated them, was truly enlightening. I also saw a lot of similarities in our upbringings and found it to be a surprisingly therapeutic read.

He offers a lot of new information about the infamous J4 hand that, in my opinion, makes an even stronger case that something nefarious was going on. Beyond the poker, Garrett is brilliant and funny, and the book is exceptionally well written. His diction is impressive too—I even had fun learning a few new words along the way.

[Jeff Clayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Garrett Adelstein’s honesty is what makes this book so good. He is incredibly open about his life, his mistakes, his thinking, and the parts of himself that would have been much easier to leave out.

I found that rare and genuinely encouraging. There were several times while listening that I thought, “I needed to hear that.” Not because our lives are the same, but because there is something powerful about another person being willing to look at himself clearly and tell the truth about what he sees.

I expected to enjoy the poker parts. I didn’t expect the book to make me think this much about my own life.

I’m really glad he chose to hold nothing back.

[Martin L · Rating 5 out of 5]

The G Man opens up about the good, bad and the ugly associated with the world of high stakes poker. He shares his vulnerable side and the struggles that come with the high risk high reward lifestyle. Very introspective and deep he dissects the events in his life that shaped him and inevitably guided him on his journey. It was very well written and carefully executed as he navigates controversy in his life/career. I would recommend and can’t wait to see what he has in the works next.

[glyndiana]

High praise to the author for his superb writing skill. A thoroughly enjoyable read, with the satisfaction of absorbing the perfectly crafted passages, indeed rivaling the feeling of raking in a big pot.

[Theo Kaubisch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly personal and relatable in many ways. Some of the stories in here are just super sick, learned lots of new info about J4gate, but at its core, it is just a very honest and real story that was very entertaining to read.

[John Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poker is an imperfect information game. Many players, especially in the high stakes community, conceal the origins of their money, addiction to risk taking, and historical losses. The beautiful thing about this book is that Garrett leaves it all on the table. By the end, you understand him as a person, not just the character on HCL.

If you're someone who listens to poker podcasts or reads articles about how prominent players got their start, this book is all of that on steroids. To me, learning about the social inner workings and social dynamics of names and players that I recognize was quite interesting. There is a whole universe sitting beneath the highlights you see on YouTube, and this book gives a rare glimpse into it.

As a more casual winning weekend warrior at my local casino, I also found it fascinating to notice the similarities in the experiences of low stakes players (me) and high stakes folks (Garrett). The substance use (and subsequent regret), insane commitment to playing all night into the next day, finding the next fish and waiting for an opening at their table, feeling completely worthless after a big loss, and the feeling of invincibility after a stretch of running good. This book was not only extremely entertaining hearing about some of the crazier stories and inside baseball on the high roller community and economics of poker, but also helped me reflect on my own relationship with playing cards. So if you’re a poker player, this might also serve as a self help book in a weird way.

I’ve also heard in interviews that the original draft for this book was around 600 pages, which was cut roughly in half. After reading this basically in the span of 24 hours (and rationing the book towards the end), I wish the longer version had been published.

TLDR: Must read if you’re into poker AT ALL

[David Rodgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beneath the Cards is spectacular. When the jack-four hand first happened, I followed the internet debates and YouTube analyses closely, trying to make sense of the evidence. What made it such a compelling mystery was that there seemed to be a plausible alternative to cheating: perhaps Robbi simply misunderstood the hand badly enough to play it that way. There was evidence to weigh on both sides, and seemingly endless speculation about whether she knew Garrett’s hole cards. Enter Garrett Adelstein, with the patience of Poirot and the precision of Sherlock Holmes, assembling an extraordinarily detailed circumstantial case. After years of wondering, I found his account powerfully persuasive. Circumstantial evidence can be formidable when there is a mountain of it, and Garrett marshals his case with the skill of the trial attorney he once aspired to become. Watching the pieces come together was a delight.

The book is also beautifully written: tight sentences, clear prose, and a chronological narrative that carries you along. It has heart. Those of us impatient to reach jack-four may initially think the childhood passages run a little long, but that history supplies important context when we finally arrive. And the audiobook is exceptionally well read. Author narration can be a gamble; here, it pays off. Garrett has the voice for it, and hearing him tell his own story adds to its impact. A wonderful listening experience. Bravo.

[Mike Gianni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a poker enthusiast. I love everything about poker, and find the high stakes scene that Garrett tackled from to be one of the most interesting worlds within our world.

Initially I bought this book as many did, to understand more about Jack-Fourgate, and not really surprisingly, we learned a significant amount of information from Garrett’s side.

But learning about Garrett’s struggles with anxiety, depression, and self-image issues was very eye opening. For nearly everyone, their perception is their reality, and for a long time fans of the game only knew Garrett as this high stakes crusher who seemed like he always had anything and everything under control.

I felt like I deeply resonated with various struggles that Garrett found himself tormented by, as would many other people. I’m very glad to have read this book and know that someone I have looked at as a poker role model for so many years has battled and overcome things that I fear I won’t be able to conquer myself. His vulnerability and honesty is admirable and I still hope to one day crush life & poker in the same way he does.

[James J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a fan of watching Garrett Adelstein play poker for years, so I came into this book with high expectations — and it delivered. What impressed me most was his honesty. He bares his soul throughout, including plenty of moments that don't show him in the best light, and that kind of vulnerability is what makes this more than just a collection of poker stories.

The poker and gambling stories themselves are outrageous and entertaining, but the personal battles running underneath them are what really stayed with me. Some of it hit close to home, and honestly, I finished the book wishing I had a fraction of his determination and work ethic for getting through my own stuff.

As an added layer for anyone who followed the Robbie/J4 situation, Garrett shares additional facts and circumstantial evidence that I found genuinely enlightening — it's clear a lot of digging went into it.

My highest recommendation, especially if you're a poker fan or just want a real, unvarnished look at who Garrett is beyond the table.

Rating: 5/5

[Billy Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big fan of Garrett adelstein and his poker game
I found his upbringing and story, how he got into poker compelling and really enjoyable read

The situation around the j4 hand, it’s exhausting trying to dissect everything around it and it gives me a headache to think about everything and all the players that are involved. I actually hate everything about it because it meant Garrett would stop playing on live streams themselves. I honestly wish it just never happened. Most low stakes cash games I’ve played in everyone has an opinion about the famous j4 hand and it’s a bit of a meme now.
What it comes down to who calls off 100k with j high? Simply dumb and stupid all together.

All in all though I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and congratulations Garrett on the book, I’ve always been a big fan. Hope to watch you on more live streams soon!

[Evan Romes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Garrett was a big piece of my poker journey. His hyper-aggressive, exploitative play style was awe inspiring to me when I was coming up. It was exactly the kind of play I tried to craft my game after. After two years of professional play, I stepped away from the game to focus on building something that lasts. Still, I couldn’t help myself when I saw he’d released this memoir. I read it in two days, not because it lacked depth or complexity, but because I couldn’t put it down. This is as good of a depiction of the fast-paced, kill-or-be-killed, mentally draining game that poker is that you’ll find. Props to Garrett for sharing his story and giving people who may have never known a look behind the curtain into what this world is like.

[Santiago Mansilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance copy from the author to review on the Cardplayer Lifestyle website, and it will be published there on September 1st, when the book goes on sale.

But I'd like to say upfront that it's undoubtedly the best poker book of 2026 and one of the best player biographies/memoirs I've ever read. The controversy surrounding the J-4 takes up the last 30% of the book, but I think the best part is the first 70%, where he recounts his poker story from the beginning. We also read about the conflicts he had with his family, especially his mother, how he suffered bullying, and how he had to deal with depression. It's a fascinating story, and I highly recommend reading it.

[Brian D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed the book.
I came for the poker content, and was pleasantly surprised at how meaningful and riveting the story “off the felt” landed with me. Oh, and the poker content absolutely delivered, too.
Garrett’s willingness to open up and share what he does in the book, and how he shares it, is not only inspiring and deep, it also reveals lessons that are applicable by any person who has ever encountered adversity, whether from within self or from an exterior source.
Grateful that I read this, for so many reasons.

[James Burwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beneath the Garrett

I’m not a reader of books, but I’ve always been a massive fan of Garrett at the poker table and he always seemed like a genuine dude in what I already know to not be the easiest business to be a good person in. Garrett’s opening up about mental health was relateable. Some of the poker stories from off camera were amazing! Listening to Garrett tell his own story was the icing on the cake. Thank you

P.s. she 100% cheated

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I throughly enjoyed this book. It takes you on a journey from childhood, school, and adulthood. Most will read it for the poker stories which are great, including an $4 million dollar real money pot he plays in and in depth look at J4. That aside the life story, personal growth, learning from mistakes and trying to become the best version of himself really grips you. I would definitely recommend.

[Jack McDermott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished the audiobook and absolutely loved it. Esp loved how his story is a lot like a lot of poker players (hard work, seeking validation, many many many wild poker stories), also loved all the funny voices of the character poker people in the audiobook which I highly recommend, and def thought there was overwhelming evidence in the book never considered before that support his case of being cheated. Dude is vulnerable, honest, funny, smart and a great human being

[Hamilton Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first bought this book to get an insight into one of the best high stakes streamed NLHE cash game players ever. I wanted to see how his mind worked and how that translated into his play, so I could incorporate some of it into my own game.

However, I was more touched with the rawness and intimacy that GA pours into his memoir. His vulnerability and introspective reflections are the true highlights.

This memoir is truly for anyone.

[James Calvo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A top ten poker book and hard to put down. When I heard a poker pro and commentator say: "I read Garret's book last weekend..." his remark caught my attention. I read the book about as fast. The deep dive into the Jack Four cheating scandal at the end of the book is worth a read but the real interesting and fascinating part of the book is the memoir of a highly talented individual's career as a poker pro - warts and all.

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beneath The Cards is a page turner, a book I couldn't put down.
Garrett Adelstein is a true wordsmith, an engaging writer, a book I will be sad to finish. Reading this account of his life changing process with such insight might be a chance for the reader to have a beautiful, insightful experience of a life changing book. At least, it's the case for me.
Thank you, Garrett!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be honest I really don’t read much but this book is so raw and authentic and helped me jump start a more positive outlook on life. Bought it because of Garrett’s skill on the felt but turned into something so much more deep. This is a must read and thank you to Garrett for taking a leap and putting out something so vulnerable.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like poker you would love this book. It’s more than a book, it’s a movie. It’s a great insight to one of the greatest live cash players to ever touch the felt. Filled with suspense and a book that will keep you turning the pages faster than you can read them. Suggest it to all poker players, pro and amateur. Make sure to pick this book up don’t sleep on my boy G!

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was never going to change my opinion on whether or not she cheated (she did).

But the buildup in the book was what I found most enjoyable. The payoff is still good, when Garrett discusses J4 (the infamous hand)… and is likely why poker players like myself got the book. However, I was pleasantly surprised that I never felt the want or need to skip ahead.

[Jason Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rare insight on a journey to the top of a cutthroat and competitive field. As a poker player, I eagerly awaited the release of this book so I could understand the thought process of G-man, but this book went deeper into his entire story than I hoped for. He holds nothing back regarding his roller-coaster ride to becoming one of the best cash players of our generation. A must read!!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book. Extremely well written that flowed effortlessly. I simply could not put it down once I started . I really appreciate Garrett’s honestly and vulnerability. I could identity and relate to so much of his story. Impossible not to like and root for this guy . Authentic as it gets.

[Kevin Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who was watching live when J4 happened, and subsequently obsessed over the following investigation, this was pretty compelling. Really interesting to hear more about Gman's life story as well; a super easy read!

[Justin Matychuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

1st book I've read in 15 years and didn't disappoint. So much more to it then expected and would recommend to all poker fans, players and even non players. Must read for fans thow. Thanks for the great book!

[Graham Prestley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Garrett offers a unique perspective of not only the journey to becoming a high-stakes crusher but also the lifelong struggles of chasing perfection and eventual self-acceptance. This is a well-written memoir that details a life unlike any other, which can be enjoyed by both poker players and non-players alike.

[Jim McA · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing poker story. If anyone wants to know what it takes to be elite and the toll it can take then here you go. Buckle up it’s quite a ride.
Congrats Garret.