The Blackjack Apprenticeship Podcast

Richard Munchkin: Stories and Exploits from a Blackjack Hall of Famer | BJA152

In this special episode, Colin interviews Richard Munchkin — legendary advantage player, Blackjack Hall of Famer, and co-host of the Gambling with an Edge podcast. Richard shares incredible stories from his decades-long career, including how he put himself through college with backgammon and poker, broke into advantage play, mastered shuffle tracking and sequencing, and even smuggled casino winnings out of Poland. Beyond the exploits, Richard reflects on the real challenges of advantage play — from family sacrifices to the power of reputation and a strong network. This is a rare behind-the-scenes look at one of the most respected names in advantage play.If you'd like to see Richard instead of just listening to him, click here for the BJA Youtube video!

March Mailbag Q&A: Best Counting System, Negative Variance, and Bankroll Size | BJA151

Today, Joe748 and SD1 catch up after a successful Blackjack Bootcamp and dive into questions from the BJA forum and YouTube. Topics range from choosing the best card counting system to managing burnout and bankroll expectations. Both guys provide honest insight into the realities—glamorous and not—of life on the road as an advantage player. 

AP Life Skills: Realities of Gambling Addiction with Advocate Brian Hatch | BJA150

Continuing our AP Life Skills series, Joe748 and SD1 sit down with Brian Hatch, a former gambling addict turned advocate and host of All In: The Addicted Gamblers Podcast. Brian shares his 14-year struggle with gambling addiction, offering firsthand insight into its dangers. Together, they explore the fine line between professional advantage play and problem gambling, as well as the psychological traps casinos use to keep players hooked. As advocates for ethical and responsible advantage play, we believe that understanding these risks and staying mindful of your own mental health is just as important as mastering blackjack strategy.
Visit Brian's podcast All In: The Addicted Gamblers Podcast

Adventures of Nickels 2.0: Updates and Insights as a Battle-tested Advantage Player | BJA148

In this episode Colin reconnects with  full-time advantage player Nickels after nearly five years. Today, Nickels is BJA's forum moderator and the go-to for BJA member's advice. They discuss Nickels’ shift from blackjack to video poker, the nuances of high-variance AP strategies, and the common pitfalls of new card counters. Nickels shares wild casino stories, insights on industry trends and his strategies for handling the emotional swings of professional gambling.

Jkat Returns to BJA: Life as a Seasonal Card Counter | BJA147

Today Colin and Joe748 catch up with Jkat, a card counter and teacher who has just wrapped up his third summer-long Blackjack road trip. He shares stories from the road, including wild casino experiences, close calls with back-offs, and the reality of life as a seasonal Blackjack player. From navigating casinos across the country to finding unexpected ways to extend his playing time, Jkat offers an inside look at the highs and lows of professional card counting. Whether you’re an aspiring advantage player or just love a good gambling story, this episode is packed with insights, strategy, and plenty of laughs.
 
Watch our first conversation with JKat on the BJA YouTube: https://youtu.be/BQTVPoNgtac

[Rebroadcast] MMA Fighter, Real Estate Investor and Blackjack Professional ‘jcrox111’ | BJA056

Everyone is preparing for this weekend's Bootcamp, let's dig into the archives and check out jcrox111 for those who weren't around in 2019 to hear it the first time. 
Winning 150k from one local casino, getting comped a 2019 Mercedes and a $14,000 European Cruise. jcrox111 is a professional card counter.
In this interview we discuss:
– Winning 150k at a casino within walking distance of your house
– Getting comped a 2019 Mercedes lease and a $14k European Cruise
– “Blackjack bought me three houses” - jcrox111
– His unique and successful gameplan

Protect Your Bankroll: Asset Forfeiture w/ Former Federal Prosecutor | BJA146

Continuing our AP Life Skill series this year, Joe748 and SD1 talk with former federal prosecutor Stef Casella, an expert on asset forfeiture and money laundering. Casella explains how asset forfeiture laws work, their history, and how they impact professional gamblers carrying large sums of cash. They discuss the legal process, law enforcement’s perspective, and how to protect yourself from wrongful seizures while on the road.

[Rebroadcast] The True-Life Adventures of ‘Nickels’ the Advantage Player | BJA070

This week, we’re revisiting the first time Nickels—our incredible Community Moderator on the forums and chat—made an appearance on BJA. In this episode, we dive into his journey to becoming a professional advantage player, strategies for spotting and seizing opportunities in the casino, how to capitalize on rare (and valuable) casino promotions, and much more.

Mailbag Q&A Returns! Beatable Side Bets for Cover, Longevity, and Counting Abroad | BJA145

Joe748 and SD1 are digging into the mailbag today to tackle a wide range of questions from the nuances of beatable side bets and card counting strategies abroad to dealing with casino heat and maintaining longevity as an advantage player. They also dive into the psychological challenges of card counting, the corporate grind versus the freedom of advantage play, and even the strategy behind winning at UNO.

From Pit Boss to Pro Counter: Andrew Uyal Returns to BJA | BJA144

Today we're talking to Andrew Uyal, the author of "Blackjack Insiders". He began his career as a pit boss in Las Vegas before learning to count cards from his supervisor. With insider knowledge from the casino operations side the two teamed up to count cards across the country and built a sizable bankroll. Andrew ultimately made the decision to return to casino supervising, where his firsthand understanding of both sides of the table continues to shape his unique perspective on the industry.
 
You can also see the video of this podcast on the BJA YouTube channel!