Pontoon Blackjack
- A multi-hand blackjack game, Pontoon is an option where players can play as many as three hands at one time. With the dealer having no upcard, players are basically betting in the dark, hoping to get a Natural 21, as this will pay two to one odds.
- Pontoon is a Blackjack variant that was created in the UK. So, there are some slight contrasts between Blackjack and Pontoon. Read this guide if you want to know more about Pontoon.
- Pontoon blackjack is a British variation of American blackjack that can be a fun alternative to going out to the casino. Pontoon is ideal for home games and combines the betting action of blackjack with a few added twists to form a strategic and challenging game. The origins of pontoon can be traced to the French card game Vingt-et-un.
- Pontoon is a variant to traditional blackjack, providing a game with some favourable rules for the player and offering some of the lowest house edges in comparison to many other popular casino games. It’s also popular online at some of the best blackjack casino sites. Learn how to play and where to play in this article.
In fact, Pontoon is considered to be a British version of blackjack that has managed to become one of the most popular and widespread variation of this classic casino game. Still, what sets Pontoon apart from blackjack is that it does not have official rules so they may vary from one casino to another.
Blackjack card game has a lot of variations all over the world, and this fact makes it even more interesting and attractive for gamblers as they can choose one perfect blackjack variation for themselves to play. Among all these blackjack variations, Pontoon takes the special place because it is the most popular European blackjack game.
Pontoon has many features in common with a traditional American blackjack though it can show you some specific rules and conditions to gamble it of course: today Pontoon can be easily found in all online casinos, and the object of this blackjack variation stays the same: to beat a dealer without exceeding 21 points.
Terms
Due to the fact Pontoon is the British card game its players should know British English names of terms a bit in order to play Pontoon confidently and without any problems. Some blackjack terms sound differently if you play Pontoon and it would be not out of place to learn them in order to understand this game properly. So.
- Pontoon = Blackjack
- Twist = Hit
- Stick = Stand
- Buy = Double Down
Pontoon Rules
Actually, there are not many differences between traditional blackjack's rules and Pontoon's once: card values are the same for both games, the object of the game is also the same. So, what makes Pontoon being so specific for gamblers to play? The list of rules differences are shown below.
1. Pontoon is played with 8 decks of 52 cards; 5-8 players take part in the game.
2. Every player can actually be a dealer when plays Pontoon: initially, the dealer is a gambler whose up card is the highest; as for minimum and maximum bets, players determine them themselves.
3. Pontoon strategy differs a bit from the one of conventional blackjack.
4. Two cards of a dealer are usually dealt faced down while a player's two cards are always faced up.
5. A dealer will always be a winner until the time s/he BUST: a dealer has a right to take additional cards till the time s/he reaches 21 points or bust.
6. Pontoon offers three special rules which can not be met at conventional blackjack: Pontoon, 3-4 Cards of 21 Points and Five Cards Trick.
7. Payouts for Pontoon and Five Cards Trick are 2:1; all other card combinations are paid as 1:1.
Special Card Combinations of Pontoon
Pontoon Blackjack Rules
Pontoon: the combination of 2 cards, the same with Blackjack - an Ace + a Face card or 10's = 21 points = Pontoon.
3-4 Cards of 21 Points: if your 3 or 4 cards give you exactly 21 points, you will beat all other card combinations except Pontoon and Five Cards Trick.
Pontoon Blackjack Difference
Five Cards Trick: if your hand of 5 cards does not exceed 21 points, it will beat all hands except Pontoon.