Garrett Adelstein Gets Personal with PokerOrg
High-stakes cash-game specialist Garrett Adelstein has sat down with PokerOrg for an in-depth conversation that goes well beyond poker strategy — touching on the personal struggles, perfectionist tendencies, and hard-won self-awareness that have shaped his career at the top of the live cash-game world.
The Memoir: Beneath the Cards
The interview centres on Adelstein's upcoming memoir, Beneath the Cards, which he describes as a deeply rewarding project to write. For a player who has long been one of the most scrutinised figures in the high-stakes community — particularly following the Hustler Casino Live controversy of 2022 — a book-length, first-person account represents a significant step toward telling his own story on his own terms.
Perfectionism as a Double-Edged Trait
One of the most striking themes in the excerpt is Adelstein's candid self-identification as someone working through an intense relationship with perfectionism. That kind of rigorous self-examination is arguably what separates elite poker minds from the rest, but it can also exact a heavy personal toll. Adelstein's willingness to examine that tension publicly adds a dimension to his public persona that goes beyond results and hand histories.
Why This Interview Matters
Poker memoirs are still relatively rare, and fewer still come from active, high-profile players still competing at the highest levels. Beneath the Cards could offer the game a rare, unfiltered look at what it genuinely costs — emotionally and intellectually — to operate at the very edge of high-stakes poker. Whether you follow Adelstein's play closely or only know him by reputation, the interview signals that this book is unlikely to be a highlight reel.
FeltIQ Take: The most compelling poker literature has always lived in the space between the cards and the person holding them. If the interview is any indication, Adelstein's memoir may earn a place in that tradition.