Episode 130: Five Guys, One Chat

What happens when five advantage players with completely different backgrounds sit down to talk shop? In this episode of the Tens and Aces Podcast, host Mike AP is joined by Xipo, Loki, LimaTime, and Skeleton to sit down and discuss the reality of life on the felt, along with other AP endovors. From Martingale mishaps and the legality of using another person’s player’s card to the psychological warfare of "hiding in plain sight," this episode covers the full spectrum of the journey. The group dives into creating cover personas, leveraging online resources and tools, such as the Blackjack Apprenticeship (BJA) community to battle loneliness, the hidden value of AP on cruise ships, and why the house kicking you out is the ultimate proof of concept. The "Smart Gambler" Cover: LimaTime explains how his professional background helps him blend in. By playing up the "successful guy with too much money" stereotype, he avoids the "young counter" profile that attracts pit boss scrutiny.Player's Cards & Legality: The panel tackles a sensitive topic: Is it fraud to use someone else's player's card? A discussion on breaking "casino rules" vs. breaking the law, the syndicates trying to "bust out" promotions, and why most casinos usually just cancel your comps.The Loneliness of the Road: Why networking via the Blackjack Apprenticeship app, Discord, Reddit and other online communities is vital for modern players to stay mentally on top of their games and battle the loneliness that often accompanies AP play, as compared to the isolation players faced 20+ years ago before before social media and the proliferation of supportive on-line communities.Family Misconceptions: Dealing with family who don't understand the math. The guys discuss explaining swingy sessions, the difference between losing and "bad counting," and the reality that you can't pay a phone bill with Expected Value (EV).Casino Logic (or Lack Thereof): Stories of casinos backing off losing players or "ploppies" simply because they were uncomfortable with the action, proving that the house isn't always as sharp as they think.AP on the High Seas: Loki and Xipo discuss the opportunities and limitations of AP on cruise ships. They cover the reality of the games, leveraging "conditional promotions" to pay for family trips, and why keeping these plays under "lock and key" is essential for longevity.War Stories & Game Protection: A look at how License Plate Readers (LPR) can get your grandmother banned, the rare beauty of spotting a hole carding opportunity, and the legendary "they got us" back-off prank.TO SUPPORT THE SHOW BY BECOMING A PAID SUBSCRIBERFOR THE PRICE OF ONE CUP OF COFFEECLICK HERE -----------] anchor.fm/ta21Key Terms in This Episode:#CardCounting #Blackjack #AdvantagePlay #CasinoComps #CoverPersona #APLife #TensAndAces #BlackjackApprenticeship #BJA #ExpectedValue #CruiseShipAP #CasinoSurveillance #MikeAPIf you enjoyed this round table of advantage players, make sure to subscribe so you can have Part 2 of this conversation sent automatically to your feed when it's released.Resources Mentioned:Blackjack Apprenticeship (BJA): Training, community, and player networking.Tens and Aces Podcast: Real stories from real advantage players.

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 information "BAD CHRIS" & "BAD STEVE" [email protected] [email protected]• 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” in Chris's opinion• 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

If you don't already know, we're also pretty big baseball fans here at the T&A Podcast. We're specifically big Seattle Mariners fans.Today was opening day for most of the MLB, including the Mariners. Mike has a side podcast project where he hosts a Mariners podcast. If this isn't your thing, don't fret, as actual AP-related episodes are coming up very soon! We have five AP/BJ related episodes already recorded and in post-production.We know several MLB fans listen to the T&A feed. So we're putting the first episode of the MLB season into the main feed. Go Mariners!

This is just a short little bonus episode we put together while we're editing down and doing post-production on the latest four interviews we conducted for the show. More full-length episodes to come soon!

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.

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 NOTESSLOT STORIESWhy 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 SAGASteve 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 COUNTWhy 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 COUNTWe 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.

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!

This Is the Video Version of episode 126. Enjoy!

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 opportunityIf 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 NetworkingChris & Steve: [email protected]

This episode is a quick audio tutorial of blackjack basic strategy.