Oct 16, 2019 Pontoon Blackjack – Rules, Strategy and free game to play Pontoon, ironically, is considered one of the games from which blackjack evolved. The version of Pontoon you get at online casinos today is offered by different major software providers, including, among others. It is not, as popularly supposed, a variant of Blackjack nor is Pontoon derived from Blackjack, but both are descended from the early British version of Vingt-Un. In Britain, it first became known as Pontoon during the First World War, the name apparently being a soldier's corruption of its former French name. Pontoon was designed mainly to be played in British and Australian casinos, but also in casinos across Singapore and Malaysia. It is considered as a variant of Spanish 21 mainly played in America, and generally as a variant of blackjack, although it is a separate and unique game in itself.
There are two versions of Pontoon. One is the Australian variation, which is referred to as Spanish 21. The second one, the one we’re covering on this page, is the UK / British variation.
We cover the rules of this unique blackjack game below.
The idea behind Pontoon is similar to nearly every other blackjack game. You want to beat the dealer’s hand without exceeding 21 points. Go over 21 points and you lose your bet to the dealer.
Pontoon Blackjack is (usually) played with 8 decks, however, this will vary from casino to casino. For example, only 2 decks are used at Bovada. The cards are shuffled and dealt the same way as traditional blackjack, too.
There are a couple of unique differences, though.
One unique difference is that the 10-point cards are removed. Only the face cards remain. The second is that the dealer’s cards are dealt faced down.
These differences (obviously) put the advantage in the dealer’s favor, and as you might imagine, there are rules to offset this edge so that the player’s aren’t totally screwed.
Lets look at those now.
Player Options
- Players can stand on any 5-card hand, or hands valued at 15 points or more.
- Players can hit after doubling.
- Players can double once per hand.
- Players can double after splitting. That includes one double per split hand.
- Players can split like-valued hands. In other words, players can split KT, QJ, etc.
- Players can split up to two times, making 3 hands. That includes aces.
- Players can draw and double down after splitting aces.
- Two card 21s after splitting still count as Pontoons.
- Player ties lose.
Dealer Options
- Dealer’s cards are dealt faced down.
- Dealer checks for blackjack (Pontoon).
- Dealer hits soft 17.
- Dealer stops drawing at 5-card hands.
Remember: Since the dealer’s cards are dealt faced down, players can easily lose money splitting and double downing, only to lose to a dealer’s Pontoon.
Card Values
- Cards 2-9 are scored at face value.
- 10s are removed from the deck.
- Face cards are worth 10 points.
- Aces are worth 1 or 11 points.
Pontoon Payouts
The following are the payouts for the special hands in Pontoon. Note that these hands are listed in order from best to worst hand, and that a 5-card hand will always beat a 4-card hand, regardless of the value.
- Pontoon – Any hand with an ace and 10-point card, even after splitting. Pontoons pay 2:1
- Five-Card Trick – Any 5-card hand that has not busted. Winning hands pay 2:1.
- 4 (or less) cards – Any 4-card hand that has not busted. Pays even money.
- Busted (22+ point) hands.
Playing Pontoon Blackjack Online
Pontoon is available at Real Time Gaming, Microgaming, Cryptologic and Playtech casinos. The house edge is .38-.39 percent, depending on the casino. Exploding kittens.
There are rule variations that you might come across online. These include:
- Aces and 10-point hands after splitting aces is 21 points (not a Pontoon or blackjack. This increases the house edge by .49 percent.
- Dealer stands on soft 17, which lowers the house edge by .47 percent.
- Can’t draw on split aces. This increases the house edge by .49 percent.
- Two deck games (versus 8) increases the house edge by .35 percent.
How to Play Pontoon
Pontoon Blackjack Strategy
Pontoon is a British card game that is very similar to conventional American blackjack where players are trying to get closest to 21, without going over. The game is originally derived from the French card game Vingt-et-un.
This game can be played with two or more players, but 5-8 players are generally recommended for premium play. The game uses a standard 52 card deck of playing cards (using 2 decks is recommended for games with more than 8 players). Top casino apps for android. Players will also need either money or chips, to place their wagers.
Pontoon Basic Strategy Blackjack
How to Deal Pontoon
Before the game begins, one player is chosen to be the banker. The banker has an advantage in Pontoon so the first banker is usually chosen by having all players cut for a high card. The player with the highest card becomes the initial banker. The minimum and maximum bets are usually also decided before the game begins.
To begin the game, the banker deals one card face down to each player. The banker should start by dealing to the player to the left of the dealer and should end on the dealer. All players, besides the banker, can look at their card.
Starting with the player to the left of the dealer and going around the table clockwise, each player (other than the banker) places their initial bets within the agreed upon betting limits. After all bets have been placed, the dealer will deal each player a second face down card, which all players can look at. Each player should now have two face down cards.
How to Score Pontoon
The scoring of Pontoon is almost identical to the game of blackjack. All numbered cards are worth their face value in points. For example, the 6 of diamonds is worth 6 points. All paint cards (Jacks, Queens, and Kings) are worth 10 points each. The final card, the Ace, is worth either 1 point or 11 points, at the decision of the card holder.
Pontoon is scored by adding up your total points and trying to reach 21, without going over. If you achieve more than 21 points, you have busted and lose the hand. For example, if you were dealt a Jack and a 4, you'd have a total of 14 points. The game is won by reaching a total higher than the banker, without going over 21. If a player and the banker have equal points at the end of the hand, the banker always wins.
There are a few special card combinations in Pontoon that should be mentioned. The two important combinations are Pontoons and Five Card Tricks. Aside from these special combinations mentioned below, every other hand in the game is simply scored at its numerical value.
Pontoon
Pontoon is when a player is dealt two initial cards that toal 21 points, similar to blackjack. This is the best hand in the game and can only be achieved by receiving both an Ace and a 10 point card (10, Jack, Queen, or King). Pontoon hands receive a double stake at the end of the hand. If you wagered $5 and got a Pontoon, you'd be paid $10 on top of your $5 wager.
Five Card Trick
The second best hand in this game is called a Five Card Trick. A player has a Five Card Trick when they end up with 5 cards, without going over 21 points. A Pontoon beats a Five Card Trick. A Five Card Trick beats a three or four card 21, even if the Five Card Trick is less than 21. Five Card Tricks are also paid double stake when the hand is over.
Three or Four Card 21's
The third best hand in Pontoon are hands with 3 or 4 cards, that total 21. They beat all natural totals of less than 21 but do not beat Pontoons or Five Card Tricks. The next best hand would be 20, then 19, then 18, etc.
Player's Options
If the banker does not have a Pontoon (in which all players lose immediately), each player has several options for improving their hand. You should first begin by checking to see if you have a Pontoon. If you do, place the Ace face up on top of your bottom 10 point card. This hand is an automatic winner and you have no more options.
If your total is less than 21, you have the option of getting additional cards. Your first option is to buy another card by saying 'I'll Buy One'. You must increase your stake by placing a bet 1x-2x the size of your initial wager on the table. The dealer will then deal you another card face down. You can continue to buy cards until you reach 5 cards or go over 21. The second option for increasing your cards is to twist by saying 'Twist Me One'. With this option, your stake is not affected and the dealer simply gives you an additional card, face up. You can continue to twist until you reach 5 cards or go over 21.
If the total of your cards is at least 15, you have the option to stick by saying 'Stick'. Fanduel anything book. By sticking, you are opting to keep your current cards and total and you will not have the option of receiving any more cards.
The final major player option is to split. If you are dealt two cards of equal value, you have the option of splitting the cards into two separate hands. To split, you must turn over your matching cards face up on the table and place an additional bet equal to your initial wager, for your new hand. The banker will then deal a face down card to each of your two hands. You now play these hands with the same options mentioned above, including the option to split another two matching cards. Note that you cannot split a non-matching 10 point combination such as a Jack and a Queen. Both cards would have to be Jacks to be able to split this kind of hand.
Banker's Options
After all players, other than the banker, have had their turns, the banker turns his two cards face up on the table. Note that the hands of the other players still aren't visible. They are still face down unless they have busted, twisted, split, or declared a Pontoon.
The banker now has the option of adding more cards to his hand. He can continue to add face up cards to his hand until he is satisfied with his total or goes over 21 points. If the banker busts, all players are paid their winnings (even money on hands that aren't Pontoons or Five Card Tricks). If the banker ends up with a total below 21 and stays, all players will turn their cards over to determine the winners. Remember that the banker always wins in a tie situation.
The Next Hand
After all wagers have been settled, the dealer adds all of the used cards to the bottom of the deck, without shuffling them. This provides players a strategy option to remember which cards are out of play. However, if there was a Pontoon in the previous hand, the cards are then shuffled.
If a player other than the banker is dealt a Pontoon in the previous hand and the banker is not dealt a Pontoon, that player becomes the new banker and the game proceeds.
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