The Blackjack Apprenticeship Podcast

Darryl Purpose: Stories From a Lifetime of Beating Casinos | BJA178

Colin, SD1, and Joe748 talk with Blackjack Hall of Famer Darryl Purpose about how he got his start in card counting as a teenager after reading Beat the Dealer, eventually joining Ken Houston’s blackjack team. Darryl shares stories from decades of advantage play, including team dynamics, international trips, and memorable casino moments. The conversation also covers how blackjack has changed over the years and why understanding expected value and longevity is key for successful advantage players.

[Rebroadcast] The Courage of a Female AP with CurlyFry | BJA096

With 450 hours and counting in at the blackjack tables so far this year, BJA member and full-time card counter CurlyFry joins Colin and Joe748 to discuss: Betting $250 on a $2500 bankroll, Getting a cruise ship casino to change their rules, Getting backed off on a first date, Playing in Monte Carlo, the advantages and disadvantages of being a female AP and more!
**Originally aired Nov 9th, 2022**

2026's First Mailbag Q&A: Being Flyered, Loss Limits, Deck Estimation | BJA177

SD1 and Joe748 kick off the first mailbag episode of 2026, answering a wide range of questions from the BJA community. They dig into topics like deck estimation, one hand vs. two hands, advanced counting systems, session length, loss limits, CTRs, new tax laws, and whether double‑deck is worth playing with crowded tables. They also talk about comps, resizing bets mid‑session, and the reality of playing infrequently with a “rechargeable bankroll.”
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Lessons from a Lifetime at the Tables: JoeMiner’s 30-Year AP Journey | BJA176

Joe748 and SD1 sit down with longtime card counter JoeMiner, who shares his 30‑plus‑year blackjack journey—from his early days in the 90s to his modern approach as a retired AP. Joe talks about how the game has changed, transitioning from double deck to 6 and 8 deck, how aging has affected his play, and how joining BJA reignited his passion. He recounts memorable backoffs, training challenges, and what it’s like to operate as an older counter in today’s casinos.
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December Mailbag Q&A: Casino Theft, Best EV Game, Moving Bankrolls | BJA173

Joe748 and SD1 answer more questions form BJA Forums and socials about casinos not cashing your chips out, choosing the most profitable blackjack games, and whether other players’ decisions affect your results. They also explain how to handle back-room situations and the smartest ways to store or move money when you're working with large bankrolls. 

[Rebroadcast] Pitfalls and Planning With Full-Time Card Counter PirateAP | BJA092

Joining Colin and Joe748 in episode 92 of the BJA podcast is full time card counter and Blackjack Apprenticeship member PirateAP. They discuss: Receiving pushback on going full time, Playing blackjack like a ploppy, Travel hacks, How to choose casinos when planning a trip, and more!

Bluejack's Origin Story: High Stakes Double Deck, Heat, and Community | BJA172

Joe748 and SD1 sit down with BJA member Bluejack to talk about his journey into card counting. Bluejack shares how he went from discovering  BJA, starting out slow, and eventually moving into high-stakes double-deck play. He discusses heat, avoiding ID, backoffs, huge wins, painful downswings, and the importance of networking with other APs.

October Q&A: Handling Heat, Bankroll Management, Future of APing | BJA170

SD1 and Joe748 discuss strategies for handling high-minimum games, managing chip inventories to avoid CTRs, how to approach betting spreads with small bankrolls and the future of card counting amid changing casino environments, and whether new technologies like AI or cashless systems might threaten the game.

[Rebroadcast] Upswings, Downswings, and Networking with Markopolo212 | BJA089

In this episode, Colin and Joe748 are joined by full time card counter Markopolo212, and they discuss: Starting with a small bankroll, Almost losing his whole bankroll after hundreds of hours, Attending a bootcamp, Regrets from playing double deck, the midwest meetup, and more.

FloorModelRolex and 6FootShoe Discuss Team Play, Heat, and Road Stories | BJA169

Joe748 and SD1 sit down with full-time APs and BJA Members 6FootShoe and FloorModelRolex to trace their paths from dealer/health coach to road-warriors and card counters. They unpack big wins and brutal downswings, team play and trips, the realities of heat and mid-shoe back-offs, and the systems, discipline, and teamwork it takes to turn EV into AV at the tables.