Garrett Adelstein was born May 16, 1986 in Tucson, Arizona. After excelling in high school as a gifted student, he attended the University of Arizona – eventually graduating summa cum laude with degrees in Entrepreneurship and Finance. During the mid-2000s poker boom, Adelstein launched himself into online no-limit hold'em cash games and quickly developed a hyper-aggressive style while building his theoretical knowledge of the game. While he's mostly known for his prowess in the cash game arena, Adelstein has recorded a handful of tournament cashes.
In 2013, Adelstein's analytical mind caught the attention of reality television casting agents and he signed on to appear on Season 28 of CBS' hit show Survivor. In spite of his physical capabilities and strategic mindset, Adelstein was the second cast member voted off the island.
Following his Survivor stint, Adelstein transitioned to playing in livestream cash games – first on Live at the Bike and later on Hustler Casino Live. These livestreamed games became Adelstein's bread and butter and he regularly cashed out for large sums. During this time, Adelstein developed a cult-like following of fans alongside a vocal crowd of detractors.
In September of 2022, Adelstein's relationship to poker changed entirely. During a session on Hustler Casino Live, Adelstein clashed with an amateur player named Robbi Jade Lew in a pot that would forever be known as "The J-4 Hand". After raising pre-flop with 
, Adelstein picked up action from Lew with 
. On the 
flop, Adelstein had an open-ended straight flush draw while Lew held just jack-high. Adelstein bet it all on the turn 
and Lew somehow called it off with the best hand. When both river cards bricked out – the two players agreed to run two river cards – Lew's jack-high earned her the pot.
Instantly, Adelstein sensed something wrong with the hand and later accused Lew of cheating. The hand divided the poker community, with many taking Adelstein's side while others came to Lew's defense. Hustler Casino Live conducted an internal investigation, but found no evidence of wrongdoing.
In the aftermath, Adelstein stepped away from livestream games and reduced his poker volume drastically. During his hiatus, Adelstein focused on his personal life and wrote a memoir – Beneath the Cards – that's set for a release in September of 2026.
