Free Daily Podcast Summary
T&A: Tens And Aces. An AP Blackjack podcast. Turning the tables from Las Vegas to Local Casinos: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Mike AP
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?
Latest Episodes
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- Aug 22, 202659 min
Episode 140: Spy Me A Blackjack
Episode SummaryIn 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 AnnouncementsWelcome to the Tens and Aces Podcast.Join the conversation and episode threads on our Reddit community: r/TApodcast.Spy AP’s Origin StoryDiscovering 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 CountingHow 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 BuildingReturning 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 PlayThe 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 ParanoiaA 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 EnvironmentThe 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 BlackjackWhy 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 TeamBouncing 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 TripExpectations 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 VoicemailA 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 ApprenticeshipReddit Community: r/TApodcastSteven Bridges (YouTube)NOTE: Originally Episode 93 and interview conducted in 2024
- Jul 8, 20261h 13m
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?
- Jul 6, 202641 min
Episode 138: More Mailbag Time
In this transmission of our attempt at imaginary radio, we bring you part two of the mailbag episode with BJA Pro, Nickels as he and I try an tackle more questions that were sent in from the listeners. NOTE:Some of this was originally recorded and published in 2021 as Episode 15 of the Podcast. Updated in July 2026. We added some things here and there as well. Our apologies for the poor audio quality as it was recorded via Skype and before we had a clue about audio production! We fixed it the best we could, and it absolutely sounds better, we think. But, audio aside- there is still some entertaining and useful AP content here! We'll see you down the felt! - Mike AP
- Jun 27, 202659 min
Episode 137: Math Teacher Gone Wild
Episode Summary:In Episode 137, Mike AP sits down with A1 Blackjack—former math teacher, blackjack instructor, content creator, and advantage player. A1 shares how a simple curiosity about card counting evolved into a full-time career teaching blackjack, creating content, and exploring other forms of advantage play.The conversation covers his journey from practicing deck counts in his basement to building one of the largest blackjack-focused social media audiences online. A1 discusses working with Blackjack Apprenticeship, developing training tools and flashcards, and why perfection - not just proficiency - is critical for aspiring card counters.The discussion also dives into the world of slot advantage play, how experienced APs identify profitable opportunities, and why many successful APs diversify beyond blackjack. Along the way, A1 shares stories about networking with well-known APs, getting backed off casinos, content creation, sponsorships, and the realities of making a living in the AP world.Topics Covered• A1's AP origin story and discovering card counting• Learning blackjack through BJA content and self-study• Building deck-counting and deck-estimation skills• Creating blackjack training videos and social media content• Growing a large YouTube and Instagram audience• Developing blackjack flashcards and educational tools• Working with Blackjack Apprenticeship• Transitioning from teaching math to full-time AP content creation• Introduction to slot advantage play• Casino comps, RTP, and profitable machine opportunities• Stories of casino back-offs and heat• Networking with Spartan, Math Prof, and other APs• Why perfection matters in blackjack• Advice for new advantage playersKEY TAKEAWAYS:• Card counting is simple in theory but difficult to execute perfectly in live casino conditions.• Successful APs often expand beyond blackjack into other advantage opportunities..• Networking with experienced players can dramatically accelerate your learning curve.• The best APs focus on eliminating mistakes and continually improving their game.• Advantage play can create opportunities far beyond the casino floor, including education, content creation, and community building.SPECIAL OFFER FOR OUR LISTENERS:A1 is offering podcast listeners 50% off their first month on his Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/cw/A1BlackjackUse coupon code: TA21Patreon members get access to blackjack training resources, downloadable flashcards, bankroll challenge content, and information on additional advantage play opportunities.
- Jun 14, 20261 min
Come Join Us At The Blackjack Roundtable!
The Blackjack Roundtable is a new Subreddit on Reddit. It's a free, inclusive community for beginners and experienced players alike. It's a place to network and share stories and ideas about Blackjack and other AP and non-AP play.You can find us on Reddit at:https://www.reddit.com/r/blackjackroundtable/
- Jun 11, 202655 min
Episode 136: OG Mailbag With Snowman
In this episode, the now-infamous Snowman joins the show as he and I dive into the mailbag and answer your questions.What you're hearing is a significantly improved version of the original recording from November 2020, back when we were recording over Skype and doing our best to stay sane during pandemic lockdowns. If we're being honest, this entire AP Podcast project started out of pure boredom. There wasn't much to do, but I had a bunch of friends with great stories, so we started sharing them. Somehow, that little lockdown experiment grew into what Tens & Aces is today.The original audio quality of this episode made me cringe a bit when I revisited it in 2026, so I dusted off some of the ninja-level audio editing skills I've picked up over the years and cleaned it up as best I could. The sound is better now, but the real reason I wanted to bring this one back is because the content remains one of my favorite episodes we've ever done.So why not give it a listen?Thank you for all of your support over the years. We couldn't have done this without you, and we're just getting started. Here's to many more years ahead!I'm also using this episode as a test of our new podcast feed after some jackass decided to attempt to get the show's feed taken down because he wasn't a fan of certain truths being discussed. We stand by the truth with our integrity 100% intact. He remains standing in his web of lies and toxicity. He's shown his true self to this community with his continued actions. But, like we've said in the past, the best way to get rid of a troll is to ignore the. So, let's get back to doing exactly that! We'll leave it at that!Anyway... here we go...
- May 12, 202656 min
Episode 135: David Vs. David
In this episode of Tens and Aces, host Mike AP sits down with returning guest Xipo, an advantage player and veteran software developer, to break down one of the most talked-about controversies in the blackjack community. Well, at least on Reddit and other online places of note in the AP community.At the center of the discussion is a dispute involving Blackjack Tools and Blackjack Apprenticeship, raising serious questions about intellectual property, proprietary datasets, and software integrity in the world of advantage play.With over 30 years of experience in software development and cybersecurity, Xipo walks through the technical evidence—from identical outputs at extreme decimal precision to suspicious code changes and AI-generated patterns that may suggest attempts to obscure underlying data sources.But this episode goes beyond code.Mike and Xipo explore the broader implications for the AP community: trust between players, the value of paid vs free platforms, and the ethics of building tools in a space built on shared knowledge. They also discuss how AI tools like ChatGPT and other LLMs are changing the way software is written—and how those tools leave detectable fingerprints.Despite the controversy, the conversation remains balanced—acknowledging innovation in competing tools while emphasizing the importance of transparency, originality, and respect for the work that powers successful advantage play.Whether you're a card counter, aspiring AP, or just interested in the intersection of gambling, software, and ethics—this episode delivers a rare, insider-level breakdown.EPISODE TOPICSblackjack advantage playBlackjack Apprenticeshipblackjack tools controversyAP software toolsblackjack EV calculatorcard counting strategygambling software analysisAI in coding (ChatGPT, LLM)intellectual property disputeblackjack community discussioncasino advantage play podcastEV optimization blackjack tools
- May 2, 202637 min
Episode 134: A Pack Of Smokes, A Porno Mag And a Lottery Scratcher
In Episode 134 of The Tens and Aces Podcast, host Mike AP sits down with Doug, an advantage player (AP), software developer, and founder of savvyscrath.com. Doug’s incredible journey connects multiple worlds—online and live poker, blackjack, machine advantage play, comp hustling, and even a tech-driven edge in lottery scratcher ticket prediction. This episode explores how data, networking, and innovation can transform gambling into a measurable skill—and even a profession.Doug began in the golden age of internet poker, grinding on Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars before the 2011 “Black Friday” crackdown reshaped the landscape. Transitioning to live poker, Doug’s curiosity led him into blackjack apprenticeship, where he honed card counting skills and gained real-world experience as a banker at a California card room—a unique legal structure where players compete against each other, not the house.Doug dives deep into the quirks of California card rooms, explaining how they operate legally under player-banker rules. However, growing pressure from tribal casinos and regulatory shifts have forced many to close. His insider perspective reveals how policy changes can reshape entire ecosystems of legal AP opportunities.Never content with one niche, Doug advanced into machine advantage play and comp hustling—leveraging casino promotions and rewards for profit. He even built small teams to sign up players for bonuses, showing how creative networking and data collection unlock hidden value in casinos.Doug stresses that advantage players shouldn’t define themselves solely as card counters: diversification is survival.Doug’s crown achievement is a groundbreaking data-driven lottery system. His platform, savvyscrath.com, tracks state lottery data—sales, ticket availability, and prize pools—to calculate real-time expected value (EV) for scratcher games in over 19 U.S. states.Key innovations include:Automated analysis of public lottery dataDynamic probability models to find “+EV” ticketsModel Context Protocol (MCP): a proprietary AI interface allowing conversational data queries for personalized strategy insightsDoug’s system effectively turns government-released data into actionable advantage play—bridging gambling, analytics, and software engineering.Doug shares how AI is reshaping discovery and marketing, but warns about hidden bias in search results and AI outputs driven by affiliate marketing. True advantage play now includes data skepticism—learning to question information sources and use AI as a lens to uncover niche opportunities others overlook.Echoing Richard Munchkin’s mantra that “Your network is your net worth,” Doug emphasizes the power of connections in the AP world. Information-sharing circles can be the difference between profit and burnout. For Doug, advantage play is not a hustle—it’s a mindset applied to everything from travel and spending to career optimization.Doug recalls buying his first scratcher on his 18th birthday, netting a $150 win—an early glimpse of the edge-seeking determination that defines his career. His nostalgic storytelling blends humor and insight, contrasting the analog gambling days with today’s data-driven ecosystem.Diversify your edge: Don’t rely solely on one AP method—adapt and expand.Leverage tech: Data tools and AI open new, overlooked profit zones.Stay networked: Collaboration and relationships multiply opportunity.Adopt the AP mindset: View everyday life through the lens of efficiency and edge-finding.advantage play podcast, blackjack, card counting, online poker history, California card rooms, machine advantage play, comp hustling, lottery scratcher analytics, savvyscrath.com, Doug advantage player, Mike AP podcast, Tens and Aces Episode 134, data-driven gambling, AI in casino strategy, Model Context Protocol MCP, AP mindset, gambling technology trends, blackjack apprenticeship
About T&A: Tens And Aces. An AP Blackjack podcast. Turning the tables from Las Vegas to Local Casinos
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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