PocketFives sat down with Josh Reynolds(pictured), who may be the epitome of a poker grinder. He is known online as VPIHokie1970 and his online record speaks for itself. With over 45 cashes in 2014 with payouts totaling almost $62,000 in larger events that we report, he is definitely grinding out a living. You can follow Josh on Twitter as @Josh_Reynolds2.

PocketFives: How did you choose your screen name?

Josh Reynolds: I’m pretty terrible at picking these user names. I tried to make myself seem like I was older when I made my WSOP.com screen name, which up until now actually seems to work except with the regs. Basically, pretty much my whole family has graduated from Virginia Tech and 1970 is actually my Dad’s graduation year. VPISU actually stands for Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. My grandma actually still calls Tech VPI a lot in normal conversation and she is 90, so I went with that instead of VT or Virginia Tech since I was trying to seem older.

PocketFives: Talk about your rebuy strategy.

Josh Reynolds: Generally, if I’m playing and rolled properly, I’m willing to rebuy as much as it takes to get to the break and add-on. However, generally I don’t like to play throughout the rebuy period until the very end, so I typically wait until right before registration ends and buy in and then immediately rebuy so I have two full buy-ins. Then, I get the add-on at the break so I buy as many chips as possible and play the tourney out from there as if it were any other tournament. I feel like this maximizes my value in the hands I win, which helps me accumulate large stacks much quicker while still not having to risk tons of cash throughout the rebuy period.

PocketFives: What are some of your more memorable tourneys?

Josh Reynolds: One of my other really memorable tournaments was my first really big score back when I was 18. It came in the Bodog $100K Guarantee and I took third in that one for around $9,100, but first was $25,000. I got 85% of the chips in the middle pre-flop with J-J three-handed against PearlJammer (pictured), who had pocket eights and an eight flopped and I wasn’t able to improve, so I busted and he obviously went on to ship it, but I’ve never forgotten that hand.

When it ended, I was so excited that I had won that amount of money, having never had money like that before, but over the years it always bothered me I didn’t take it down when I’d look back on it.

PocketFives: What is your favorite game to play?

Josh Reynolds: It’s probably No Limit Hold’em tournaments just because that is my most profitable game by far therefore I enjoy it a little more than any other form. I think I excel more in a tournament-style of play much more than cash games because I understand the game theory and strategies of tournaments very well and I’m actually a pretty big fish in most cash games. However, I pretty much know how to play all forms of the game and really enjoy playing games like Razz, 2-7 Draw, and HORSE from time to time when I can find these games offered. Those are a fun change of pace for me since I’m usually grinding Hold’em throughout much of the day most days.

PocketFives: Do you play any live poker?

Josh Reynolds: I don’t get out to play too much live, especially as of late with all of the great promotions being run on WSOP.com. I really liked the Bellagio when I was there, although I haven’t got the chance to play there yet, so I’m looking forward to that soon. I’m also looking forward to the WSOP Circuit coming to Caesars Palace at the end of this month. One of my good poker friends, Troy Stinnett, is coming down for the series as well, so I’m excited for that. It will be fun to swap some action with him and go for some bigger live scores.