About this ebook
USA TODAY BESTSELLER
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 readers 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 readers, and anyone intrigued by the price of extreme competition.
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 readers 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 readers, and anyone intrigued by the price of extreme competition.
USA TODAY BESTSELLER
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 ...
Discover more
Ratings and reviews
13 reviews
Minju Shields
- Flag inappropriate
September 14, 2026
gman, love the book, always wonder when we watch players on tv, I wonder how they got there, what's their story? watching the famous jack 4 and your reaction that manifested to writing a book, incredible story, raw and cold, great read
About the author
Garrett Adelstein is one of the world’s most respected and feared poker players. For nearly twenty-five years, he has dominated the tables, catapulted into poker superstardom, and won millions of dollars along the way. After becoming embroiled in the “Jack-Four” cheating controversy—the most debated hand in poker history—he stepped away from the spotlight to write Beneath the Cards, a memoir chronicling his successes and setbacks on and off the table. Garrett graduated summa cum laude from the University of Arizona and lives in Manhattan Beach, California, with his wife Jennifer, two children, and two AmStaff Terriers. Away from the family or the felt, he trains for marathons, hikes all around the world, and cheers for the Arizona Wildcats.
Garrett Adelstein is one of the world’s most respected and feared poker players. For nearly twenty-five years, he has dominated the tables, catapulted into poker superstardom, and won millions of dollars along the way. After becoming embroiled in the “Jack-Four” cheating controversy—the most deba...
Rate this ebook
Tell us what you think.
Reading information
Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.
