T&A: Tens And Aces. An AP Blackjack podcast. Turning the tables from Las Vegas to Local Casinos

Mike AP
  • 4.5 (45)
  • Games
  • Updated Weekly

A podcast about the real lives and experiences of advantage players of the game of Blackjack. We'll share both positive and negative stories, because as any Blackjack pro knows, the positive and negative variance of this game and how to take advantage of the positive situations while working our way through the negative one, is what rising above mere gambling and winning long-term in this game is all about. Blackjack is, along with Poker, one of the few games in a casino that a disciplined and skilled player can have a long term edge playing. Are you ready for some T&A?

  1. Aug 22

    Episode 140: Spy Me A Blackjack

    Episode Summary In this episode of the Tens and Aces Podcast, host Mike AP sits down with young advantage player Spy AP to discuss his journey from a 15-year-old inspired by the movie "21" to a profitable, professional card counter. Spy shares his origin story playing in Washington state casinos, the intense practice required to master basic strategy and deck estimation, and the realities of early wins and losses. They dive deep into managing casino heat, the unique challenges of being a young AP with a "baby face," and essential cover plays to avoid backoffs and ID checks. Spy also reveals the process of forming a blackjack team, getting officially "tested out" by Loudon Often, and the lucrative lessons learned during a three-week trip to San Diego and Las Vegas. Finally, stick around for our new listener voicemail segment, featuring a wild story about a degenerate gambler friend, a misplayed pair of twos, and the chaos that followed at the blackjack table. Intro & Community Announcements Welcome to the Tens and Aces Podcast. Join the conversation and episode threads on our Reddit community: r/TApodcast. Spy AP’s Origin Story Discovering card counting at age 15 through the movie "21". Hitting Washington state casinos at 18, losing his first bankroll, and deciding to beat the game. Mastering the Craft of Card Counting How Blackjack Apprenticeship (BJA) and Steven Bridges' YouTube vlogs fueled Spy’s training. The hours spent mastering counting down a deck and perfecting basic strategy using the BJA mobile app. The First Big Win & Bankroll Building Returning to the tables with a $1,000 bankroll and walking away with an early $500 win at a double-deck game in Lakewood. The illusion of easy money and the harsh reality of variance. Casino Heat, ID Checks, & Cover Play The challenges of being a young card counter who constantly gets carded. Spy's top cover plays for looking more mature: wearing a suit, nice watches, and bringing a date to the casino. Aggressive Backoffs & Casino Paranoia A crazy story involving a confiscated player’s card and real police in a Southern California casino. A discussion on why casinos waste money sweating low-stakes counters and altering game rules to their own detriment. Surviving the Casino Environment The gloomy reality of casino culture. Why APs must unplug, step into nature, and reset their dopamine to maintain a sharp game and avoid becoming "robotic." Advantage Play Beyond Blackjack Why you should never just beeline for the blackjack tables. Scouting for other EV (Expected Value) opportunities, including casino promotions, "match play" coupons, and advantage slots. Forming a Blackjack Team Bouncing back from early bankroll depletion by networking on Reddit. Forming a three-man team, pooling resources, and passing a rigorous checkout with Loudon Often. The San Diego & Vegas Trip Expectations vs. reality on a major team trip. Dealing with sweaty casinos in San Diego and grinding out $15,000 in EV over three weeks. New Segment: Listener Voicemail A listener shares a hilarious and frustrating table story about a degenerate gambler friend. What happens when a ploppy refuses to split a pair of 2s against a dealer 4, ending in a heated confrontation and a dropped slur at the table. Mike AP’s thoughts on how bad players can inadvertently provide great cover for card counters. ⁠Blackjack Apprenticeship⁠ Reddit Community: r/TApodcast Steven Bridges (YouTube) NOTE: Originally Episode 93 and interview conducted in 2024

    Episode 140: Spy Me A Blackjack

  2. Aug 12

    Feed Two Birds With One Scone (Part 2 With Calthor And Steve) Episode 122

    T&A PODCAST - Part 2: Steve & Kal Thor InterviewThis episode covers dealer mistakes, hole card plays, side bets, backing off strategies, and wild casino stories from experienced advantage players. KEY TOPICSDealer Tells & MistakesDowntown Vegas dealer who'd ask "are you sure?" revealing no made handPost-COVID rusty dealers making obvious peeking errorsLucky Stiff side bet dealer paying unqualified hands (cost casino $3-4K)New casinos = inexperienced dealers = more mistakesSide BetsLucky Ladies +EV at +6.5 true count (Hi-Lo)1000:1 payout for suited queens w/ dealer blackjackTIP: Cash out immediately after big wins to avoid surveillance reviewBacking OffBe unmemorable - don't argue, just leaveStory: Flat-bet to $25 while "ploppy" betting $1000 allowed to continueDealer's response: "We let you bet $1000 - what does that say about your play?"Protecting Your IdentitySlot hand-pay tip: Refuse consent for automatic player's cardScript: "I do not consent to giving my information for creating a player's card"Only legally required to show ID to police, not securityRated vs Unrated DebateSome casinos require cards for premium gamesHard Rock: unrated players limited to 1 hand, 4x table minWeigh short-term comps vs. long-term accessKEY TAKEAWAYSLook beyond blackjack tables for opportunitiesScout new casinos and new table gamesSide bets = high variance despite +EVNetwork with other APs for intelProtect identity strategicallyCONTACT & RESOURCESEmail: tensandaces21@gmail.com Reddit: r/tapodcast Use code T21 at Blackjack Apprenticeship SUPPORT THE SHOWSubscribe for $4.99/month: Video episodes, ad-free audio, 3-day early access Main podcast always 100% FREE! LINK TO SUBSCRIBE #Blackjack #AdvantagePlay #CardCounting #Casino #Gambling

    Feed Two Birds With One Scone (Part 2 With Calthor And Steve) Episode 122

  3. Season 6 Trailer

    Blackjack Mentorship, Sharing Knowledge

    This is an almost 4 minute preview clip of our upcoming episode with AP playing partners Steve and Chris.

    Blackjack Mentorship, Sharing Knowledge

  4. Jul 24

    In Until You Win

    In this episode of our experiment in imaginary radio, something that we like to call The Tens and Aces Podcast, we submit part two of our recent conversation with advantage player "Nickels" and discuss Blackjack, advantage play and so much more. If this is the type of thing you'd like to hear, listen up, because we're about to give you some T&A!

    In Until You Win

  5. Jul 21

    Table Time Kills Ghosts. N‑Zero Kills Doubt

    EPISODE 127 DESCIPTION Mike AP is back in the studio for part two of three of an interview with former guests, Chris and Steve for a deep, hilarious, and occasionally brutal look at what it actually takes to survive the long-term grind of Advantage Play. This isn't your "get rich quick" fluff; this is the reality of life behind the curtain. The guys kick things off with some legendary surveillance stories from Steve being spotted in a binder full of "known associates" in a certain infamous casino database to pit bosses who couldn't find a counter if they were told that counter was "wearing a green shirt in pit 3" but still manage to sweat the Ploppies while ignoring the real threat at the table. amping other things, we break down the paranoia of modern shops and why casinos often do more damage to their own bottom line than an AP ever could. SHOW NOTES SLOT STORIES Why a $50 slot spin can feel more gut-wrenching than a $5,000 max bet on the felt. THE JUXTAPOSITION OF AN AP'S MINDSET Why do we sweat using two McDonald’s apps to save $3 while betting thousands on a single hand without blinking? THE PASSPORT SAGA Steve recounts a wild multi-trip disaster involving backoffs, CTRs, and the humbling moment of having to call a hostile security chief to beg for his passport back. THE CRAFT OF THE COUNT Why blackjack is a trade, just like blacksmithing or carpentry is. If you aren't constantly brushing up on and reviewing your own game, you’re just a gambler in denial. THE TOOLKIT Why you need to buy CVCX. Plus discussion on the limitations of software, and why "good enough" math is a recipe for a bankroll funeral. CLOSING THE COUNT We wrap up with a dive into obscure deviations, the humility of biannual testing, and the pure, degenerate joy of making a play so bizarre the pit thinks you're a moron right before your AP play helps you take their money. BONUS MUSIC 🎵 Stick around until the end for a full album of Mike AP’s original music. Keywords: Card Counting, Blackjack Strategy, Casino, Advantage Play, Casino Surveillance, CVCX, Bankroll Management, AP Community, Blackjack Deviations.

    Table Time Kills Ghosts. N‑Zero Kills Doubt

  6. Jul 21

    Canadian Shenanigans!

    In this episode of our attempt at imaginary radio, we present an interview with former guest and friend of the show, Chris. He's a full-time professional Blackjack Player and Advantage Player. #Blackjack #Card Counting #Advantage Play #Gambling #Casinos

    Canadian Shenanigans!

  7. Jul 21

    Episode 126: The Sunk cost Fallacy (UPDATED version with audio issues fixed)

    In this installment of our attempt at imaginary radio, something that we like to call The Tens and Aces Podcast, host Mike AP sits down with returning guest Chris and his playing partner “Bad Steve” for one of the most candid, technical, and brutally honest AP conversations ever recorded on Tens & Aces. Steve walks through his origin story — from growing up with nothing, to learning basic strategy in college, to joining early teams that paid him certainty‑equivalent hourly rates while he played underage. He explains how he built a bankroll, got backed off everywhere, attended a blackjack science seminar, learned EV and risk‑of‑ruin math from a legendary AP mentor, and eventually moved into advanced plays like hole‑carding, next‑card knowledge, and exploiting dealer procedures. The three dig into the psychology of casinos, why APs are a rounding error yet still hunted, and how ego, pride, and incompetence shape surveillance decisions. They share stories of disguises, misdirection, obscure deviations, misdeal opportunities, shuffle‑tracking, and the soft‑skills that separate elite APs from basic counters. Networking, trust, and the emotional toll of variance take center stage as Steve describes losing huge sums while still having a massive edge — and why most new APs underestimate the psychological cost. The crew breaks down bankroll swings, team dynamics, bad intel, and the importance of character when trusting someone with tens of thousands in chips. This episode closes with reflections on how AP thinking transfers to business, why some brilliant people choose crime over legitimate opportunity, and a reminder that more of this marathon interview is coming soon. In Part 1 of this multi‑episode interview, Mike AP sits down with professional advantage players Chris and “Bad Steve” to explore the real world of blackjack AP — from card counting and hole‑carding to shuffle‑tracking, misdeal exploitation, and advanced casino‑beating techniques. Topics include: • Steve’s AP origin story and early team play • Building a bankroll and surviving backoffs • Hole‑carding, next‑card knowledge, and obscure deviations • Casino psychology, surveillance mistakes, and ego‑driven decisions • Networking, trust, and the dark side of AP misinformation • Bankroll swings, variance, and the emotional cost of professional play • How AP skills translate to business and real‑world opportunity If you’re serious about blackjack, AP networking, or understanding the mindset behind long‑term advantage play, this episode is essential listening — and just the beginning of a much deeper conversation. Now, are you ready for some T&A? Contact information for Networking Chris & Steve: Blackalaskandiamond@hotmail.com

    Episode 126: The Sunk cost Fallacy (UPDATED version with audio issues fixed)

  8. Jul 8

    Episode 139: Advantage Slot Play & Comp Hustling (Updated 7/7/26)

    This is one of our favorite episodes that we've done in the fairly recent past. We're currently going though episodes and re-editing them. Throughout this summer, we'll be posting updated versions of legacy episodes as well as mixing in some new content as well. This one touches on aspects of AP besides blackjack play. We've gotten some great feedback regarding this episode, so if you haven't yet heard it, here you go. If you have, maybe listen again?

    Episode 139: Advantage Slot Play & Comp Hustling (Updated 7/7/26)
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A podcast about the real lives and experiences of advantage players of the game of Blackjack. We'll share both positive and negative stories, because as any Blackjack pro knows, the positive and negative variance of this game and how to take advantage of the positive situations while working our way through the negative one, is what rising above mere gambling and winning long-term in this game is all about. Blackjack is, along with Poker, one of the few games in a casino that a disciplined and skilled player can have a long term edge playing. Are you ready for some T&A?

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