The Blackjack Apprenticeship Podcast

Author of “The Blackjack Life” Nathaniel Tilton | BJA042

Our latest Podcast is with Nathaniel Tilton, author of “The Blackjack Life.”For those who haven’t read it, “The Blackjack Life” is an excellent portrayal of how Nathaniel and his teammate spent several years as weekend warrior professional card counters. It illustrates the need for excellent skills, the double life of a card counter who keeps a day job, and the subterfuge needed to succeed as an advantage player.In this podcast we discuss:
- Nathaniel’s story
- His advice for teaming up with another card counter
- The what and why behind their cover strategy
- Life lessons from his time as a card counter

Infamous $15 Million Blackjack Hall of Famer Don Johnson | BJA041

While in Las Vegas for this year’s Blackjack Ball, I was able to interview Blackjack Hall of Famer, Don Johnson. For those who don’t know his story, you can read up on how he used Loss Rebates (and actually a lot more) to beat Atlantic City for $15 Million. In this podcast, we discuss:
– The unique background that laid the foundation for his massive advantage play
– The unique circumstances that led to his success
– What it was like when it all started coming to an end
– The parallels and differences with Phil Ivey’s Atlantic City AP play
– What it was like being inducted into the Blackjack Hall of Fame

Mixing a High Profile Corporate Life and a Successful AP Career with BJA Member “Peacock” | BJA040

Our most recent Podcast interview is with BJA Member, “Peacock.” Peacock has been a Member for several years now, is a multiple time Bootcamp attendee, and ran a two man team with another BJA Member.
One thing that makes Peacock’s story unique is that he fits in being a card counter around being President of a fairly large-sized company. But he enjoys the hustle of beating the casinos just as much as the next AP!
In this podcast we discuss:
- What would possess an executive to become a card counter
- What his training and testout process were like
- What the board of his company thinks of his “hobby”
- What motivates him now as an APPlaying outside the US- What he would do differently (if he did it all over again)
Enjoy the interview, then let us know what else you’d like to hear about on the Podcast!Podcast Interview with BJA Member Peacock

“The Phoenix” and the $300,000 Side Bet | BJA036

BJA Pro “The Phoenix” spills the beans on the side bet that made him $300,000 in 10 months!
In this interview we discuss:
- What “The Phoenix” has been doing since reaching his financial goals
- What led up to discovering the side bet that netted him $300k
- How he nearly walked away from the game
- The unique approach he took to keep everyone in the casino happy (for a while)
- How card counters “create their own luck”
Give it a listen!

Diversified Advantage Player and BJA Pro “JCnote” | BJA035

If you’ve spent any time on the BJA Forum, you likely know who JCnote is. He’s our Forum admin, a regular Bootcamp Pro and guest speaker, and he has been a professional AP for most of the last 6 years.
JCnote sat down with me to talk about:
- His journey into card counting and other forms of advantage play
- The differences between card counting and hole carding
- Highs and lows from his career
- His obsession with bad parking
- What being an AP has taught him about life (outside the casinos)
Enjoy the interview, then share your thoughts on the BJA Forum (JCnote just might reply)!

Pro Card Counter and BJA Member “HitA7” | BJA033

I recently sat down with BJA Member and successful card counter, “HitA7.”
HitA7 has become a friend over the past few years, and if you ever meet him (either one-on-one or at a Bootcamp), you’ll quickly learn that he’s not only a good card counter, he’s a really great guy. I’m sure you’re going to enjoy hearing his story…
In this interview we discuss:
- How he manages family life, a full-time job, and advantage play
- Working with a replenishable bankroll
- His creative cover strategy
- Dealing with having a losing year
- His carne asada recipe

“Million Dollar Video Poker”’s Bob Dancer Joins Colin | BJA029

In my most recent trip to Las Vegas, Bob Dancer was kind enough to sit down with me for a podcast interview.
For those who don’t know who Bob Dancer is, he’s a professional video poker player, author of “Million Dollar Video Poker” and several other books (primarily about video poker), and co-host of the amazing “Gambling With an Edge” podcast.
In this Podcast we discuss:
- The similarities and differences between card counting and professional video poker
- The bankroll requirements and variance to expect for professional video poker
- The current state of video poker
- The underlying motivation and thrill of beating casinos (for $$$)!

Interview With Professional Card Counters “Spartan” and “levimich” | BJA028

I was able to sit down recently with professional card counters, Spartan and levimich.
They have been members of the BJA community for a while, they proved their skills at a Bootcamp, and they have since become friends, even coming to help train others at our Blackjack Bootcamps.
In this Podcast we discuss:
- How each of them went from seeing a movie about card counting to becoming a full time card counter themselves.
- Their decision to team up, rather than keeping their bankrolls separate
- Their epic 8,000 mile blackjack road trip
- The value of networking
Listen below to find out what they have to share with the BJA community!
Until next time, keep generating EV!

Insights From International Blackjack Pro “Ultimate” | BJA027

Well, I had an opportunity to interview Ultimate to dive deeper into his story.
In this Podcast we discuss:
- How he went from home gambling nights with his friends to studying card counting
- How he fit his training around working a full-time job (and life)
- His trip to the US for a Blackjack Bootcamp, followed by a 300 hour card counting adventure!
- The highlights and lowlights of the US and its casinos
Until next time, keep generating EV!

Part 2: Blackjack Pro “The Phoenix” Interview | BJA026

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Blackjack Pro and BJA Member “The Phoenix”.
In Part II we discuss:
- How he dealt with a 2 months dry spell at the tables
- Money and emotions
- His advice both to those training and those actively counting cards in casinos
- Risk-taking
- How to handle a backoffs
Listen below to find out what he has to share with the card counting community!
Until next time, keep generating EV!