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

Mike AP
  • 4.5 (2)
  • 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 127: Table Time Kills Ghosts. N‑Zero Kills Doubt

    3H AGO

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

    Mike AP sits down again with Chris and Steve for a deep, funny, and brutally honest look at the realities of long‑term advantage play. The episode opens with surveillance stories — Steve being recognized from a binder full of aliases and “known associates,” pit bosses grilling him, and casinos sweating Ploppies while ignoring the actual threat at the table. From old school pit bosses throwing salt to modern casinos half-shoeing six-deck games out of paranoia, the trio break down how casinos often hurt their own bottom line more than APs ever could. They compare blackjack to advantage slots, explaining coin‑in, persistent states, and why a $50 slot spin can feel scarier than a $5,000 blackjack bet. They talk about AP frugality — like using two McDonald’s apps to save a few bucks — despite betting thousands without blinking when the edge is real. The conversation shifts to comps, travel, and the ethics of playing where you sleep. Steve tells a wild multi‑trip saga involving repeated backoffs, CTRs, being escorted off property on foot, and eventually having to call the same hostile security chief to beg for his passport back. They dive into the AP community: helping beginners, correcting bad information, and dealing with people who want free sims but won’t buy CVCX. Steve explains why serious players must learn the math, how Norm’s software has limitations, and why blackjack should be treated like a craft — like blacksmithing or carpentry — something worth doing correctly. He’s filmed 200 hours of his own play, had it reviewed by pros, and still drills deviations for sharpness. We close with obscure deviations, testing out twice a year, humility, and the joy of making a bizarre play that looks wrong to the pit but is mathematically perfect. The episode ends with contact info and a full album of Mike’s original music as a bonus. Highlights • Surveillance binders, aliases, and high‑stress pit encounters • Casinos sweating Ploppies while ignoring real AP threats • Half‑shoe games, bad procedures, and self‑inflicted EV loss • Advantage slots: coin‑in, persistent states, and $50‑spin psychology • AP frugality vs. betting big when the edge is real • Comps, suites, and why you don’t play where you sleep • The passport/CTR/backoff saga — escorted off property on foot • Massive losses, comped rooms, and casino incompetence • Surveillance employees who secretly admire APs • Helping beginners vs. dealing with low‑effort questions • CVCX, sims, and why serious APs must learn the math • Treating blackjack as a craft: drilling deviations, filming sessions, reviewing errors • Testing out twice a year to catch leaks • Obscure deviations as both cover and brain‑sharpening puzzles • Money philosophy: enough is enough, giving back, avoiding greed • Community, mentorship, and long‑term mastery Memorable Quotes • “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing correctly.” • “Never attribute to malice what can be explained by stupidity.” • “Table time kills ghosts. N‑zero kills doubt.” • “You might as well attempt to be the best in the world.” Contact • Chris & Steve: BlackAlaskanDiamond@hotmail.com • “If you spot a hole card, pay it forward.” Bonus • Full original album by Mike AP (non‑AP music) included at the end of the episode.

    1h 37m
  2. 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

  3. JAN 21

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

    This Is the Video Version of episode 126. Enjoy!

    1h 15m
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. Episode 125: The X You Want To Talk To

    JAN 9

    Episode 125: The X You Want To Talk To

    In this installment of our little experiment in imaginary radio, something that we like to call the Tens and Aces Podcast, we sit down with an advantage player who goes simply by “X” — a former athlete turned blackjack assassin whose journey from lacrosse fields to casino felt is anything but ordinary. What starts as a girlfriend‑sparked nudge (“you need direction”) turns into a full‑blown descent into the rabbit hole of Blackjack, Card Counting, and Advantage Play. X breaks down his obsessive year‑long training regimen — three to four hours a day with nothing but notebooks, fake bankrolls, and rage‑inducing variance — before ever stepping foot back into a casino. From a $2,200 starting bankroll to nearly 700 hours and over $50K in earnings, he recounts the highs, the brutal lows, and the psychological warfare of staying sane while the math does whatever the hell it wants. The conversation hits everything: emotional tilt, ploppy chaos, surrender stigma, insurance debates, back‑offs, sweaty shops, graveyard shifts, networking, traveling play, and the bizarre cast of characters who populate casino life — including rappers, degenerates, and the occasional rent‑money hero. It’s raw, funny, honest, and packed with real‑world insight into what it actually takes to grind out an edge in a casino ecosystem designed to chew you up. If you love stories from the trenches of Blackjack, Casino culture, and Advantage Play, listen up, because we're about to give you some T&A! Key Topics Covered • X’s “superhero origin story” in Blackjack • Transition from athlete to Advantage Player • Training for card counting without software • Building a bankroll from $2,200 • Emotional control, tilt, and mental toughness • Understanding variance and staying below EV • First back‑offs and navigating sweaty casinos • Playing graveyard vs. day shifts • Networking through BJA, regional chats, and AP communities • Using cover, table selection, and shift rotation • Ploppy behavior: insurance myths, surrender stigma, “bus card” drama • Stories from Vegas, rent‑money gamblers, and celebrity encounters • The importance of scouting, penetration, and dealer speed • Why promotions and side plays matter • Long‑term goals: hitting $100K and expanding beyond counting Highlights & Quotes • “I wasn’t stepping foot in a casino unless I was a threat.” • “Losing fake money in my bedroom pissed me off more than it should have.” • “Ploppies keep the lights on — but man, they make it hard.” • “My girlfriend made me a $10K trophy. Then I lost $17K in two weeks.” • “First rule of Fight Club: don’t yell ‘Mike AP!’ at the table.” Key Words: Blackjack, Card Counting, Casino Advantage Play, AP Blackjack, Counting Cards, Blackjack Apprenticeship, Back‑offs, Casino Stories, Blackjack Podcast, Advantage Player Lifestyle, EV, Variance, Penetration, Double Deck, Shoe Game, Blackjack Strategy

    1h 28m
  8. Whiskey A Go, Go, Go

    JAN 3

    Whiskey A Go, Go, Go

    In this transmission of this episode of our attempt at imaginary radio, that we like to call The Tens And Aces Podcast, We bring you an interview with an AP named Whiskey who's traveling around in a converted Sprinter Van going from city and city and state to state attacking casinos one by one. So, if this is the type of thing you'd like to hear, listen up, because we're about to give you some T&A!

    1h 6m
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4.5
out of 5
2 Ratings

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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