Garrett Adelstein’s Poker Memoir ‘Beneath The Cards’ Arrives September 1

Garrett Adelstein’s Beneath the Cards memoir alongside poker chips and the Jack-Four hand.

By Sandra Gaweda · August 31st, 2026 · 4 min read

Key Takeaways

Garrett Adelstein’s memoir, “Beneath the Cards: A High-Stakes, High-Anxiety Poker Journey,” releases September 1, 2026.
The book centers on the disputed “Jack-Four” hand against Robbi Jade Lew from September 29, 2022.
An investigation found no evidence Lew cheated, but flagged a $15,000 chip theft by a fired employee.
Permuted Press publishes the 400-page trade paperback ($21.99), with an Adelstein-narrated audiobook also available.

Garrett Adelstein Puts the Jack-Four Hand on the Page

Garrett Adelstein is telling his side of poker’s most argued-over hand in book form. His memoir, “Beneath the Cards: A High-Stakes, High-Anxiety Poker Journey,” releases September 1, 2026 through Permuted Press, with distribution by Simon & Schuster. The 400-page trade paperback lists for $21.99, and Adelstein also narrates an audiobook edition. At the center sits the “Jack-Four” hand against Robbi Jade Lew from September 29, 2022, one of the most controversial pots in poker history. Adelstein accused Lew of cheating; she denied it and returned the money. A later investigation found no evidence she cheated, and the fallout reshaped both players’ careers.

What Happened In The ‘Jack-Four’ Hand

The hand played out on the Hustler Casino Live livestream on September 29, 2022. Lew, then a little-known player, called Adelstein’s all-in on the turn holding J♣4♥. She had only jack-high at the time, although she also held a club draw.

Adelstein accused Lew of cheating. She returned the money after the hand and has always denied any wrongdoing. The clip spread far beyond poker circles, making Lew an overnight name and putting Adelstein at the center of one of poker’s biggest controversies.

What The Investigation Found

A casino and law-firm investigation found no evidence that Lew cheated. It did, however, uncover a separate problem: a Hustler Casino Live employee, Bryan Sagbigsal, had stolen $15,000 in chips from Lew’s stack. The show fired him.

That finding never fully settled the public argument. The dispute played out at Hustler Casino in Gardena, California, and it became a reference point for how live-streamed cash games handle accusations, security, and player trust.

How The Fallout Split Two Careers

Adelstein had been the show’s most prominent star. He never returned to Hustler Casino Live after the incident and was no longer welcome on the show a few months later. Since then he has largely stepped away from the poker limelight, appearing on livestreams only once or twice a year.

Lew went the other direction. She became a mainstay in the poker world, appearing regularly at the World Series of Poker and other events. The same hand that pushed one player out of the spotlight pulled the other in.

Why Adelstein Wrote The Book

Adelstein announced the memoir in an Instagram video in March 2026. In it, he criticized Hustler Casino Live co-owner Ryan Feldman and former co-owner Nick Vertucci for how they handled the fallout. He summed up his pitch with a tagline: “If you think you know the full story, you don’t,” Adelstein said.

According to the publisher, the memoir charts his journey from online poker prodigy to livestream superstar. He writes about drunken binges, death threats, financial ruin, and public backlash. He also opens up about personal battles with perfectionism, depression, and body dysmorphia, along with his 2013 run on “Survivor: Cagayan.” Adelstein graduated summa cum laude from the University of Arizona and lives in Manhattan Beach, California.

Why Adelstein’s Story Still Matters to Poker

For US poker players, the memoir reopens a debate that shaped how many people view high-stakes streamed cash games. The “Jack-Four” hand raised real questions about security, transparency, and how shows respond when an accusation goes public. Adelstein’s account is one perspective, and the investigation’s findings remain part of the record. Whether or not you followed the original controversy, the book offers a first-person look at how quickly poker fame can build and unravel. Read it as one player’s story, then judge the full picture for yourself.

Sandra is a content writer and editor specializing in online poker and iGaming. She covers poker sites, game formats, industry news, and US online poker laws for Legal US Poker Sites.