Chef Dimas Montoya believes he knows what has given him two whopping lottery wins in six years.

In 2016 the Charles County resident scratched a $100,000 prize from his Crossword Deluxe scratch-off card on Friday 13.

But it wasn’t the date and superstition that bought him a second win a few days ago.

The 48-year-old grabbed a $50,000 Powerball prize from a $2 quick-pick. He has also been winning various small prizes from his scratch-offs.

He believes his lottery success secret is having a routine and playing certain games often.

While Dimas enjoys playing all lottery games, the crossword instant tickets are his favorite.

"Even as a kid, I loved words, vocabulary," the native of El Salvador told Maryland Lottery officials in 2016.

"I always pick out crossword games."

His latest Powerball win had the potential to score the Nov 7 jackpot of $2.04 Billion.

He bought some scratch-offs and a few Powerball tickets for the drawing from the 7-Eleven store on Smallwood Drive in Waldorf.

“I checked the ticket at a gas station that I go to,” said the Waldorf resident.

“The cashier was so happy for me when she said I needed to cash it at lottery headquarters because it was so high.”

As he looked at the $50,000 ticket in disbelief, Dimas saw that he matched four of the five white balls and the red Powerball for his win. He had missed out by one ball.

“So many thoughts were going through my head, knowing that I missed the jackpot by one number,” he said.

For a short while after the win his wife did not believe that he had won until he showed her proof of his $50,000 windfall.

Dimas plans to use some of his prize money for a family vacation and increase his savings account. He will also continue to play his favorite lottery games.