{"podcast":{"title":"T&A: Tens And Aces. An AP Blackjack podcast. Turning the tables from Las Vegas to Local Casinos","slug":"t-a-tens-and-aces-an-ap-blackjack-podcast-turning-the-tables-from-las-vegas-to-local-casinos-2994489","podcast_index_feed_id":2994489,"rss_url":"https://anchor.fm/s/3bea66dc/podcast/rss","website_url":"https://tensandaces.com/","image_url":"https://d3t3ozftmdmh3i.cloudfront.net/staging/podcast_uploaded_nologo/9952175/9952175-1757716787976-2115c62adc159.jpg","author":"Mike AP","episode_count":113,"summary":"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?","last_synced_at":null,"page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/t-a-tens-and-aces-an-ap-blackjack-podcast-turning-the-tables-from-las-vegas-to-local-casinos-2994489"},"episode":{"title":"Episode 124: The Elusive Back Room","slug":"episode-124-the-elusive-back-room","published_at":"2025-11-16T15:11:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/t-a-tens-and-aces-an-ap-blackjack-podcast-turning-the-tables-from-las-vegas-to-local-casinos-2994489/episode-124-the-elusive-back-room","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/t-a-tens-and-aces-an-ap-blackjack-podcast-turning-the-tables-from-las-vegas-to-local-casinos-2994489","url":"https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ta21/episodes/Episode-124-The-Elusive-Back-Room-e3b0142","audio_url":"https://anchor.fm/s/3bea66dc/podcast/play/111198786/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2025-10-14%2F9afb7228-86ec-976d-0568-5fc411ba002f.mp3","summary":"Midwest Mike recounts a marathon gambling trip, during which he logged an extraordinary 350 hours at the tables in just a month. Far surpassing the 40 hours a month that most consider "full-time" for an advantage player in blackjack . He shares stories of remarkable variance, including wins totaling $52,000 and a grueling $10,000 losing streak, ultimately leaving a casino with a substantial profit despite a "polite back off" after 90 hours of play. The episode shifts focus to networking and the unpredictable value of making connections at the tables. In one memorable story, Mike strikes up a rapport with a fellow player, the CEO of a telecom company and big-time high roller. This relationship brings unexpected opportunities, including personal hosts, comped hotel rooms in Vegas, and recognition at other casinos. Conversations emphasize how genuine connections can create long-term opportunities beyond immediate gains. Mike also describes an awkward and intense experience at a northern Michigan casino, where he deals with odd staff behavior, uncomfortable dealer comments, and ultimately gets trespassed after a significant win. Rather than reacting with hostility, Mike handles the situation with humor and composure, even joking about being a "sex addict" when pushed toward a back room, turning a tense situation into a story of defiance and levity. These stories show the unpredictable nature of casino life, both in terms of profit swings and personal encounters. SHOW NOTES * Midwest Mike updates the audience about his AP play after a long hiatus from the podcast. *Reflection on the grind350 hours of play in a month, average session over 9 hours; balancing time between playing and communication. *MW Mike ended the trip up $52,000.Polite back of…","meta_description":"Midwest Mike recounts a marathon gambling trip, during which he logged an extraordinary 350 hours at the tables in just a month. Far surpassing the 40 hou…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":95061,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/t-a-tens-and-aces-an-ap-blackjack-podcast-turning-the-tables-from-las-vegas-to-local-casinos-2994489/episodes/episode-124-the-elusive-back-room/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/t-a-tens-and-aces-an-ap-blackjack-podcast-turning-the-tables-from-las-vegas-to-local-casinos-2994489/episode-124-the-elusive-back-room.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}