Table Finder
For the better part of two years, “Jrockhaf” has been crushing the 100nl full ring games on PokerStars. He boasts a win-rate of over 4 BB/100 during a career that spans millions of hands. As one of the top grinders that we track here at PTR, it was our pleasure to catch-up with this well known grinder and get insight into one of the best small stakes poker players in the world.
For the better part of two years, “PTR: Could you give us a quick introduction of yourself?
Jrockhaf: My screen name is Jrockhaf on PokerStars, I am from Ontario, Canada and I am 31 years old
PTR: How did you get into online poker and how long have you been playing?
Jrockhaf: I got started in poker back in 2003 at a casino 2 hours from my hometown. The casino only had Limit Hold’em, so that’s what I played when I started. Online, I played $2-$4 and $3-$6 limit, where I was a small winner at best.
PTR: You’ve been crushing 100nl full ring on PokerStars for years now. The big question a lot of people have about you is why you don’t move up in stakes to 200 or even 400nl games?
Jrockhaf: I actually used to play 200-400nl back before the UIGEA was enacted, Then suddenly when that law passed I had my first losing month and the games got very tough. So I moved down to 100nl where I could at least win again. After playing 100nl for a while I found out about Cardrunners and watched a few videos and realized that even though I was winning I had so many leaks.
After plugging some leaks I started really crushing the 100nl games and every time I moved up I would run bad/play bad and it would tilt me to no end. Winning a bunch of buy-ins at 100nl then losing them all back at 200nl in half the amount of hands was discouraging. Finally I said I am never moving up again and I’ve stuck to it for the most part. I went like 6 months and was absolutely killing the 100nl games. I had two 100k hand stretches that I was over 8ptbb which was really sick.
In the last couple of years I just feel it doesn’t make sense anymore for me to risk a breakeven month so I can try and move up. I feel like one of my best assets is looking at a game and knowing if I have an edge in it. If I don’t think I have an edge I don’t play, simple as that.
PTR: What is your computer setup like?
Jrockhaf: Nothing special, just a 30″ and a 24″ monitor. My buddy is a computer nerd so he takes care of all my computer stuff, I don’t even know what kind it is, I think he said he built it himself. I use HEM but don’t pay much attention to stats, just VPIP and PFR.
PTR: Your session times and stats are incredibly consistent. It seems you’ve set up a real strict routine for yourself? Could you elaborate on that routine and how you created it?
Jrockhaf: As far as routine I just try to play when my wife goes to work and she works 8-4. It’s pretty simple, I get up when she leaves, maybe go to the gym and then play until she gets home. However, we are expecting or first child within the month so I might be kissing that routine good bye.
PTR: Your win-rate at 100nl is over 4BB/100 which is really amazing given the volume and game you play. What are some of your success points for playing a consistent game so often?
Jrockhaf: I guess just not tilting and not letting your ego get in the way. You have to always remember to play for money, not pride and that is tough to do with the aggression in today game.
PTR: Do you live off your earnings or do you do something else full time in “the real world” when not logged in?
Jrockhaf: Right now I just play poker. I’d really like to get into business but it’s hard to find something that won’t interfere with poker. I own a rental house and it’s pretty easy to manage so I’m thinking of buying a few more of them.
PTR: Where do you hope your online poker endeavors take you three years from now?
Jrockhaf: I hope I keep winning and I hope the games get better. I’d also love a final table at a WSOP event but that’s probably a stretch because I have no clue how to play tournament poker.
PTR: How important is table selection to you during a session and what do you look for out of a table?
Jrockhaf: As far as game selection goes, I just start tables. Two years ago it was the thing to do because “rennwurm” and I were the only ones doing it. Now there are a minimum of five regs all day every day doing it, so if you’re not that good HU, which I am not, it kinda sucks.
PTR: Just about every major poker site has changed their buy-in structure to disallow shortstacker play. PokerStars is expected to make an announcement (one way or the other) in mid-April. Where do you stand on the issue, and would you ever leave PokerStars?
Jrockhaf: As far as SSers go I don’t have to deal with them much because I just play 50bb tables. I know it is a real problem at the higher limits and I hate angle-shooters so yeah, ban them and raise the buy-ins. I actually am still thinking about leaving PokerStars just because the games are way softer on Full Tilt but they won’t give me RB so I can’t really play there.
PTR: For grinders out there begging to find the same success that you have had at the tables, what advice could you give them?
Jrockhaf: The biggest leaks I see in most regs are that they tilt and they think they are good and crushing a limit because they win big over a 200k sample which really means nothing. Check your ego at the door and play for the money not the pride.
PTR: Finally, what goals did you set for yourself for 2010 and how are they coming along?
Jrockhaf: My main thing I try to improve on everyday is playing longer sessions when I’m winning and quitting early when it’s not going well. Most of the time in everyday life if things are not going well the right thing to do is stay at the office late and put in those extra hours. But I think in poker its best to do the opposite.
this guy is a fucken faggot, only plays 100NL and won’t ever move up. I would just kill myself.
He’s a fag for “only” playing 100nl and crushing it? Making 100k+ a year of stress free money must really be uncool huh?
The light that burns twice as bright – burns for half as long
Jrockhaf is an energy saving player :p
nice interview
jrok rules
hey irie,
you are a fucking douchebag. hang yourself.
I MAKE 350K A YEAR PLAYING 1-2NL LIVE
22twentytwo shut ur mouth, dont lie to urself.
and Irie and jmallen83 both of u go join 22twentytwo and read a book idiots
“I actually am still thinking about leaving PokerStars just because the games are way softer on Full Tilt…” i’ve been a 3-6 & 5-10 grinder for close to four years now & this statement is only true within a certain context- AT MICROSTAKES. as you move up in stakes, it’s clearly evident Full Tilt boasts the best players in the world. are you kidding me?? Negreanu & whoever else solid stars represents (i honestly don’t even know) vs. IVEY, DWAN, URINDANGER, Cole South, Brian Townsend, Brian Hastings, etc…the list goes on & on. STARS IS A JOKE PEOPLE.
lol @ you saying ‘I don’t give a shit about the stats’. Just saw Milwaukee2′ video where you asked him what W$WSF percentage he had.
If everyone had the self control this guy does, everyone would make more money.
If everyone would, there wouldnt be any money to make.
why in the world i even got half way through this article still amazes me, what a pointless interview. who cares about chump stakes grinders anyways?
Kiss any routine you have good bye when your kid comes…I coiuldn’t play poker for almost a year after mine was born….I would suggest hiring a nanny ASAP if you want to play at all…
k1ngsize, you’re an idiot. There’s a big difference between what stats you pay attention to during a session and what stats you look at to plug leaks and analyze your or someone else’s game.
Nice Article Sean.
Guys. I dont really think, that on FullTilt are weaker plrs. Or its only on NL400+? Do you think, that on NL25-NL100 its better play on FullTilt?
thx
why is your nickname jrockhaf? is it something to do with japanese rock?
This guy is one of the top middle stakes grinder, just because he’s not moving up.
Its so funny…
Great interview, jrock is a very solid player i admire him a lot. I think it just missed something. How many tables does he play at a time.
And im pretty sure that @ full tilt up to NL100 is softer than stars, from NL200 up that might not be true.
“The biggest leaks I see in most regs are that they tilt and they think they are good and crushing a limit because they win big over a 200k sample which really means nothing.”
200k sample hands means nothing??? how many is the appropriate sample hands?? Some full-timers regs spend almost half a year to play 200k hands
Is 200k hand sample really means nothing?
Jrock Rockxxx
200k sample size means alot, ur def beating the game
Ithink in a roundabout way the op is talking about how ppls egos get too big after a big winning stretch and they dont think they can lose and get off their game. Or certainly that much is true
true
Not moving up and just play without any ambitions must be extremely boring.
Jrock is the real deal. A great player and a nice guy.
I think as long as he’s making money thats all that matters to him and who can blame him! People who say hes got no ambition or whatever are just jealous of the guy’s success!
anyone hear 100NL heads up? LuckyAcePoker
yeah, i only play for fun so i dont know what its like to sit at a screen like this guy every day. But playing millions of hands and not improving wtf. If i was that stagnant in my job i would be finding a new career.
elite bumhunter
mediocre at best.
at least hes crushing something … better too win 100K then 50K on higher limits don’t you think? :OO
wigger from compton.
big plug for cardrunners in that interview.
good read. congrats on your success
I admire the fact that hes one of the top players in his bracket. The masses see WSOP, WPT, UBOC, WCOOP, FTOPS, etc etc etc Stars play and win and interview everyday. The reason this is a great story is because its so much like Moneymaker. This guy is just a regular ole 31 grinder who makes 6 figures. More than 95% +/- of Americans don’t make 100k AND get to be their own boss.
I look for these interviews as inspiration for the place I want to be. I want to be an NL100 or NL200 grinder making 75-150k/year. This is just a reason I can connect with to make it a reality.
Good post, haters blow me NOM NOM NOM
[x] about ~$3500 iam.
3500*12=42k/year
go google: Ontario Average salary
100nl grinders rule!!!!
one of the best articles yet, & hi bautotrimm =)
good read,
you are a true inspiration for me !
I wish sobroaboy would of done one of these when he was on top.
He is burning insane money by not moving up, what a life nit
3 (THREE) Interviews with pokerstar chumps. Where are the FULL TILT PRO INTERVIEWS. I have no intrest in reading what some pro thinks from a 2nd rate site. I await full tilt players interviews….
you must not get rivered every time your in a pot like me.
can tableratings do a poker is or isn’t rigged article with some graphs and charts “proving it” please! How bout show the ai ev of 40+ vpip players on stars.
also i hope you guys arnt paid by stars or ftp to manipulate this data of course
This guy is a true inspiration. If I could be like him in ten years, I’d be the happiest guy in the world.
You can rarely find a player with such a straight upwards graph and such little draw down variation. That means less bankroll needed when it comes to money management and in my opinion that’s a better, less risky style than all the nanonokos out here, who might make a lot but also lose a lot, so you need a 100 buy ins bankroll or more to play like that.
I wish I new Jrockhaf’s real name so I can meet this guy and beg him to agree to be a lead trainer on a website I build (I am a web developer) about multitabling (it’s gonna be paid membership so an extra income for you Jrockhaf).
You and Gogol’s Nose (Canadian as well) have the best graphs I found so far.
Also I think we might be even living in the same city ;)
Best,
Ben