The Blackjack Apprenticeship Podcast

Blackjack Apprenticeship
  • 4.8 (125)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Everyone wants to beat the casino. Hear from those who actually have. From practical tips and hard earned wisdom to epic stories of blackjack careers that went far better than expected, the Blackjack Apprenticeship podcast is for anyone interested in blackjack, card counting, or just ”sticking it to the man.”

  1. MAR 11

    March Mailbag Q&A: Generating Max EV, Best Time to Play, Is 10k Enough? | BJA179

    SD1 and Joe748 are joined by Colin to answer questions about bankroll requirements, optimal playing conditions, and advanced strategy decisions in card counting. The discussion covers whether a $10K bankroll is realistic, why bet spreads—not just deviations—drive most of a counter’s profit, and how casino conditions like table crowding or payout rules dramatically affect expected value. They also discuss practical tactics for maximizing EV, preserving local casinos, and avoiding unnecessary heat.

    33 min

  2. MAR 4

    Darryl Purpose: Stories From a Lifetime of Beating Casinos | BJA178

    Colin, SD1, and Joe748 talk with Blackjack Hall of Famer Darryl Purpose about how he got his start in card counting as a teenager after reading Beat the Dealer, eventually joining Ken Houston’s blackjack team. Darryl shares stories from decades of advantage play, including team dynamics, international trips, and memorable casino moments. The conversation also covers how blackjack has changed over the years and why understanding expected value and longevity is key for successful advantage players.

    53 min

  3. FEB 4

    2026's First Mailbag Q&A: Being Flyered, Loss Limits, Deck Estimation | BJA177

    SD1 and Joe748 kick off the first mailbag episode of 2026, answering a wide range of questions from the BJA community. They dig into topics like deck estimation, one hand vs. two hands, advanced counting systems, session length, loss limits, CTRs, new tax laws, and whether double‑deck is worth playing with crowded tables. They also talk about comps, resizing bets mid‑session, and the reality of playing infrequently with a “rechargeable bankroll.” Jump over to YT and sub to our new podcast channel @BJAPodcast

    39 min

  4. JAN 28

    Lessons from a Lifetime at the Tables: JoeMiner’s 30-Year AP Journey | BJA176

    Joe748 and SD1 sit down with longtime card counter JoeMiner, who shares his 30‑plus‑year blackjack journey—from his early days in the 90s to his modern approach as a retired AP. Joe talks about how the game has changed, transitioning from double deck to 6 and 8 deck, how aging has affected his play, and how joining BJA reignited his passion. He recounts memorable backoffs, training challenges, and what it’s like to operate as an older counter in today’s casinos. Don't forget, we now have a BJA Podcast YouTube channel - @BJAPodcast. Head over and give us a subscribe to help the algorithm learn that we're worthy of promotion!

    40 min

  5. 12/10/2025

    December Mailbag Q&A: Casino Theft, Best EV Game, Moving Bankrolls | BJA173

    Joe748 and SD1 answer more questions form BJA Forums and socials about casinos not cashing your chips out, choosing the most profitable blackjack games, and whether other players’ decisions affect your results. They also explain how to handle back-room situations and the smartest ways to store or move money when you're working with large bankrolls.

    41 min

  6. 11/19/2025

    Bluejack's Origin Story: High Stakes Double Deck, Heat, and Community | BJA172

    Joe748 and SD1 sit down with BJA member Bluejack to talk about his journey into card counting. Bluejack shares how he went from discovering  BJA, starting out slow, and eventually moving into high-stakes double-deck play. He discusses heat, avoiding ID, backoffs, huge wins, painful downswings, and the importance of networking with other APs.

    53 min

  7. 10/22/2025

    October Q&A: Handling Heat, Bankroll Management, Future of APing | BJA170

    SD1 and Joe748 discuss strategies for handling high-minimum games, managing chip inventories to avoid CTRs, how to approach betting spreads with small bankrolls and the future of card counting amid changing casino environments, and whether new technologies like AI or cashless systems might threaten the game.

    40 min

  8. 10/01/2025

    FloorModelRolex and 6FootShoe Discuss Team Play, Heat, and Road Stories | BJA169

    Joe748 and SD1 sit down with full-time APs and BJA Members 6FootShoe and FloorModelRolex to trace their paths from dealer/health coach to road-warriors and card counters. They unpack big wins and brutal downswings, team play and trips, the realities of heat and mid-shoe back-offs, and the systems, discipline, and teamwork it takes to turn EV into AV at the tables.

    51 min
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4.8
out of 5
125 Ratings

About

Everyone wants to beat the casino. Hear from those who actually have. From practical tips and hard earned wisdom to epic stories of blackjack careers that went far better than expected, the Blackjack Apprenticeship podcast is for anyone interested in blackjack, card counting, or just ”sticking it to the man.”

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