Garrett Adelstein has only played poker a mere handful of times since the infamous J-4 hand played on the Hustler Casino Live stream in September 2022. And, surprisingly, he seems to have few, if any, regrets.
Walking away would once have been unthinkable for a player who thrived on the big pots and even bigger bluffs that became Adelstein’s trademarks over a poker career spanning two decades.
Adelstein seemed to play the game differently: more aggressively, more creatively and with a fearlessness, win or lose, that entertained thousands of fans who tuned in each week.
How does a man obsessed with becoming the best player possible, one who put in the blood, sweat, and years it took to become one of the world’s most respected and successful cash game players, suddenly step away from the game at the height of his popularity and success?
That’s only part of the story Adelstein shares with PokerOrg as he opens up about his early life, career highs and lows, and the introspective journey behind writing his memoir, Beneath the Cards, out September 1.
Watch the full episode above, read on, or check the links below to listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
You’ll come for J-4, but there’s so much more
Love him, hate him or land somewhere in between, curiosity may get the best of you.
Hardcore poker fans will flip straight to the chapters giving Adelstein’s perspective on the infamous J-4 hand versus Robbi Jade Lew during a Hustler Casino Live stream.
Maybe you picked a side long ago and think you know exactly what happened on that stream, or maybe some of what Adelstein reveals in the book’s final chapters will make you think again. Either way, it's a fascinating and entertaining read.
PokerOrg’s exclusive interview and Adelstein’s memoir are about much more than one hand of poker. Beyond all of the deafening noise that followed, one thing remains the same: Adelstein’s love of the game.
“I know my fans and most of the people that support me like me,” says Adelstein. “But I know that what they really love is cards. Cards are the central piece in all of this; that's what we all love. We love poker. It’s a messy, complicated and cutthroat game at the highest level, but it's also something really, really beautiful.”
In pursuit of perfect
Adelstein readily admits that the pursuit of perfection has been central to his life for as long as he can remember.
“If I couldn't be the best at something, I just intuitively quit,” confesses Adelstein. “I told myself if I wasn’t the best chess player or tennis player in Tucson, AZ, I was flawed, inadequate, and ultimately worthless. I know that sounds so extreme, but this is the mindset of an extreme perfectionist.”
After crashing and burning multiple times, followed by long recovery periods, he was eventually introduced to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which would prove a lifesaver for a man who had little self-awareness and very little self-love.
“CBT helped me to recognize that perfectionism is not cool and not something to brag about. It's not something that makes me different or special; it's a disease, and it will destroy you. One of the proudest labels I give myself these days is a recovering perfectionist, because that's about the best it's going to get for me.”
Demons begone
Adelstein began writing Beneath the Cards as a way to exorcise his demons, spitting angry words onto a blank page for no other reason than to release buried rage. But unexpectedly, what followed was a deeply personal journey into parts of his life and poker career he had spent years avoiding.
“I think for a long time I was in denial of a lot of stuff,” says Adelstein. “I was still really, really broken. I was angry with a lot of different groups of people that I felt had wronged me.”
With the aid of CBT, deep introspection, and the love and support of his wife, Jennifer, Adelstein shares the story of what he calls “the most rewarding four years of his entire life.”
The Interview — Garrett Adelstein
Highlights from our exclusive in-depth conversation with Garrett Adelstein include:
- What new circumstantial evidence does Adelstein reveal about the infamous J-4 hand on HCL?
- Why did he feel trapped in a dark place at the height of his poker success during his 30th birthday party?
- What was it like playing in wild high-stakes private games in Los Angeles, where millions changed hands?
- Why did he start over at $1/$2 after losing nearly $800,000 playing the highest online stakes in college?
- Will he return to playing high-stakes poker in the near future?
- And much more...
Watch Garrett Adelstein’s full exclusive interview with PokerOrg’s Craig Tapscott in the video above, or listen now on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
For signed copies of the book and a free excerpt, visit Adelstein's website.
‘Beneath The Cards: A High-Stakes, High-Anxiety Poker Journey’ by Garrett Adelstein is published September 1 by Permuted Press, and available at Amazon and Adelstein’s website.
Check out more in-depth interviews with some of poker’s biggest names below, or check out other episodes with Fernando ‘JNANDEZ’ Habegger, Daniel Negreanu, and Kristen Foxen.
Additional image courtesy of PokerGO.
