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

Mike AP
  • 4.4 (38)
  • 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. Episode 128: Into the AP Badlands: Bankroll Trauma, Backoffs & Blackjack War Stories

    8H AGO

    Episode 128: Into the AP Badlands: Bankroll Trauma, Backoffs & Blackjack War Stories

    In this gloriously unhinged deep‑dive into the Badlands of advantage play Blackjack, host Mike AP sits down with Chris and Steve for Part 3 of their marathon four‑hour blackjack saga. What starts as a chat about obscure deviations quickly spirals into a full‑blown AP therapy session: bankroll trauma, emotional damage, tribal‑casino war stories, Reddit bans, ploppy encounters, and the eternal truth that blackjack is basically a never‑ending boxing match where the casino is a heavyweight assassin and you’re… well… you. The trio break down the real AP lifestyle — the wins, the losses, the “I just lost a house in one shoe” moments, the existential 2 a.m. parking‑lot stare‑downs, and the weird joy of using a deviation you practiced for months. They roast bad games, bad advice, bad risk‑of‑ruin math, and bad casino behavior. They also pitch a heartfelt recruitment ad for women APs (“please, for the love of God, email us”), share tales of side‑bet degeneracy, and explain why giving up your ID too early is the AP equivalent of tattooing your SSN on your forehead. If you love blackjack, advantage play, card counting, casino psychology, EV nerdery, and stories from the trenches, this episode is your buffet. If you’re a ploppy… buckle up. SHOW NOTES 📬 Contact Bad Chris & Bad Steve: blackalaskandiamond@hotmail.com Mike AP: tensandaces21@gmail.com • Why obscure deviations are fun and worth learning even when they’re worth 0.0000003 EV • Respecting the casino as a trained assassin trying to murder your bankroll • Bankroll reality: why most APs fail and why $50k is the real “starter kit” • Variance as a living demon that eats your soul • The emotional journey from “I lost $7k” to “lol that’s cute” • Risk of ruin: why 10% is insanity and 2% is still spicy • Game selection as the true AP superpower • Why women APs are unicorns and also terrifyingly effective • The art of not giving your ID unless absolutely necessary • Tales of tribal casinos, trespass forms, and signing “eat shit” • Ploppy interactions: unsolicited advice, confusion, and delicious irony • Buying other players’ blackjacks, side‑bet shenanigans, and EV thievery • Getting cheated by a “fair” casino and the joy of being told to pound sand • Reddit bans, hockey fights, and the dangers of saying “hit him in the jibs” • Backoffs, flaps, and the sweet moment when the pit tells you you’re “too good” • Why APs leave the table when someone else hits a big side bet • Team play, shared bankrolls, and the “pigs get slaughtered” problem • The eternal truth: blackjack is one long shoe, and the casino doesn’t care about your feelings • Blackjack podcast • Card counting stories • Advantage play strategy • AP lifestyle • Casino backoff stories • Blackjack deviations explained • Professional gambler interviews

    1h 18m
  2. Episode 94: Mailbag Redux

    1D AGO

    Episode 94: Mailbag Redux

    Here's a *BONUS* episode of imaginary radio! It's a Q&A Episode from the Tens & Aces Podcast archives, with friend of the show, Nubs as the guest co-host.

    57 min
  3. Episode 127: Table Time Kills Ghosts. N‑Zero Kills Doubt

    FEB 27

    Episode 127: 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.

    1h 37m
  4. Advantage Slot Play and Comp Hustling

    FEB 15

    Advantage Slot Play and Comp Hustling

    Episode 113: Down with the Clowns of the Illuminati! In this episode of our attempt at imaginary radio, we present the Tend and Aces Blackjack Podcast. Here, we talk to an AP named, "Sam." Sam isn't like most of our interview guests as he's not a Blackjack AP, but rather an AP who does slots and "other things" besides Blackjack. So, if this is the kind of thing you'd like to hear, listen up, because we're about to give you some T&A!

    1h 14m

  5. JAN 21

    Episode 126V: The Sunk Cost Fallacy (Video Version)

    This Is the Video Version of episode 126. Enjoy!

    1h 15m
  6. Episode 126: The Sunk cost Fallacy (UPDATED version with audio issues fixed)

    JAN 19

    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

    1h 15m
  7. Blackjack Mentorship, Sharing Knowledge

    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.

    4 min
  8. Shenanigans, Panties And No, You Can't See My ID.

    JAN 10

    Shenanigans, Panties And No, You Can't See My ID.

    We plan on having Nubs back on the show soon for an update on his AP career and to help me dive in to the mailbag and answer listener questions. So, for those of you who haven't heard him on this CLASSIC episode of our attempt at a transmission of imaginary radio, something that we like call the Tens and Aces Podcast, we present an interview with Nubs1981. Nubs is a Pro AP Blackjack player. He shares many entertaining, tragic and dare I say, informative in after school very special episode kind of way stories. So, if this is the kind of stuff you want to hear, well, listen up because we're about to give you some T&A! Things get wild in Episode 4 of the Tens and Aces Podcast as the crew dives into a night full of shenanigans, questionable decisions, casino vibes, and the ultimate party-stopping phrase: “No, you can’t see my ID.” From awkward bar encounters to ridiculous misunderstandings and stories that probably shouldn’t be told in polite company, this episode delivers nonstop laughs and unpredictable chaos. If you love comedy podcasts, casino stories, nightlife mishaps, and unfiltered conversations, this episode is right in your wheelhouse. Expect big laughs, outrageous moments, and classic Tens and Aces energy as the crew proves once again that what happens during shenanigans… definitely ends up on the podcast. Grab a drink, pull up a chair at the virtual card table, and get ready for another hilarious round of Tens and Aces Podcast madness. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro and setting the scene 05:12 – How the shenanigans started 14:40 – The panties incident 23:05 – “No, you can’t see my ID” moment 34:18 – Casino chaos and late-night decisions 45:00 – Final thoughts and wrap-up #blackjack, #cardcounting, #advantageplay, #gambling, #casino, #winning

    48 min
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4.4
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About

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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