For a special edition of The Interview, PokerOrg sat down with Benjamin ‘bencb789’ Rolle to uncover how he prepared for the WSOP Online Main Event final table for the win.
Rolle’s illustrious poker career reached a new peak recently when he claimed WSOP gold and its massive $3.9 million first prize after falling in eighth in the same event the previous year.
It’s abundantly clear, falling short of the big money inspired the experienced pro to work even smarter and harder for a shot at a deeper finish in 2025 and a bigger edge over the field.
Fight to find an edge
Rolle’s commitment to ongoing improvement as a player extends well beyond the online felt. While living in Vienna, he trained twice a week with a prominent kickboxing coach and fighter, pursuing physical conditioning to prepare for the mental demands of the tournament poker grind.
“My coach is one of the most successful fighters in Austria,” shared Rolle. “I would always spar against him at the end of our training session for three or four rounds. I had no chance. I felt like a toddler. That experience really helped me to understand that against people who have an edge on you, you are so far behind.
It was easy for me to translate that into my poker game. I realized when someone has an edge on me, he's kicking my ass. And that made me work harder. The lesson I learned is how fucking helpless you are when you are competing against someone really good.”
Hit the image above to watch the full interview.
Highlights from our interview with Rolle include:
- Breaking down Rolle’s online WSOP Main Event strategy
- Don’t be scared to make mistakes; it happens
- Why can’t you stay focused playing for 10 hours
- Three keys to big final tables: Chill, chill, and chill
- Key study habits to be prepared for anything
- How to navigate common spots for max exploitation
- How to be careful with GTO
- Never be afraid to look stupid
- When to reshove and be aggressive in certain spots
- Bankroll management key tips
Manage your money for success
Rolle has pretty much diligently tracked every dollar since leaving his job as a shop clerk to grind $1 Sit-N-Gos. Even with a much bigger bankroll today, the founder of the Raise Your Edge training platform’s disciplined approach has changed very little.
“Bankroll management is so important,” says Rolle. “My advice is you should play with money that doesn't hurt you when you lose. And if it doesn't hurt when you’re losing, you shouldn't care about it.
I've been there. I started grinding $1 SNGs. I know all about the pain and hustle that the small-stakes and low-stakes grinders are going through. But I’ve always been very strict with bankroll management, and it's always been a huge, huge, huge, huge benefit for me.
Obviously, it hurts if we lose money, but the difference is the pros don't care about money in moments where it matters.
Let's say when they have to run a bluff or make a big lay down. In all those critical situations, the money does not affect them. It does not affect their decision-making process. That's what I mean when I say the pros don't care about money.”
For more in-depth strategy advice, watch the full interview above. You can also listen on Apple and Spotify.
