The HCL "J4 Controversy" Fourth Anniversary | The Truth Behind the $269,000 Hero Call Remains Unresolved; Garrett Adelstein's New Book Revisits the Incident
International newsOn September 29, 2026, the most controversial "Jack-Four (J4)" hand in Hustler Casino Live (HCL) poker history officially marked its fourth anniversary. On the same day in 2022, Robbi Jade Lew, holding J♣4♥, called Garrett Adelstein's six-figure all-in on the turn at a high-stakes cash game. Lew only had Jack-high, no completed hand, and no direct draw, yet he still defeated Adelstein with a strong 8♣7♣ draw, winning a $269,000 pot. This Hero Call quickly escalated from an incomprehensible hand into a cheating controversy that shook the global poker world. Four years later, third-party investigations have failed to find conclusive evidence of cheating, and Lew has consistently denied cheating; Adelstein, on the other hand, has maintained his doubts about the fairness of the hand. As of 2026, the two sides have not truly aligned, and J4 remains one of the most unresolved incidents in modern live poker. A controversial hand that changed HCL history with a $269,000 pot and a single J4 hand occurred on September 29, 2022, at Hustler Casino Live. The cash game blinds were $100/$200/$400, with a $400 big blind ante and a $800 straddle. Garrett Adelstein, holding 8♣7♣, raised from the third blind to $3,000. Robbi Jade Lew, in the straddle position, held J♣4♥ and called. The flop came 10♥ 10♣ 9♣. Although Adelstein only had 8-high, he possessed a very strong open straight and flush draw combination. He bet $2,500, and Lew called with J-high. The decision that truly shocked the poker world came on the turn. Turn 3♥: Jack-high calls against a six-figure all-in. The turn card is 3♥. Neither player has formed a new made hand. Adelstein bets: $10,000. Lew raises to: $20,000. Adelstein then raises all-in again, and Lew needs to invest approximately $109,000 to call. At this point, Lew still only has Jack-high with J♣4♥ and only one river card left. She ultimately chooses to call. This call becomes the core of the whole incident. Because from the general logic of high-stakes cash games, Jack-high not only loses to any made hand, but it cannot even beat a large number of possible bluffing hands, such as Ace-high, King-high, Queen-high, and even higher Jack-high. Adelstein actually only has 8-high, but the situation becomes more special after the board is revealed with a huge draw. Adelstein had no made hand; he only had 8-high, but 8♣7♣ had extremely strong draw potential on a 10♥10♣9♣3♥ board. In other words, Lew's incomprehensible J-high call...
