James Holzhauer had been taking the online tryout for “Jeopardy!” for about six years before he was finally asked to audition in person.

Determined to reach the “Jeopardy!” stage, Holzhauer solicited tips in an online poker forum: What could he do to get a spot on the show?

“The number one piece of advice he got was just, ‘Smile, look like you’re having a good time,’” said Ben Yu, a longtime friend and fellow professional gambler. Yu imagined Holzhauer thinking: “I am going to do whatever it takes. I am going to smile as forcefully as I can to make sure these producers put me on.”

[What is a spoiler? This story about “Jeopardy!” phenom James Holzhauer.]

The country has seen a lot of that strained toothy smile over the past month, but these days, Holzhauer, 34, doesn’t need to put on a happy face to prove he belongs on “Jeopardy!” Since early April, he has been raking in cash at a faster rate than any other contestant in the show’s history, making $1.7 million so far.