Play Pontoon Online for Free: Form of Twenty-One or Blackjack

Those who play blackjack have probably heard about Pontoon, but most players haven’t. So it is good to examine this exciting table game in more detail.

Pontoon is an original version of twenty-one or blackjack that emerged in Great Britain.

Key Features of Pontoon Game

• Casino game
• 5-8 Players
• 52 Cards in Deck
• 2-8 Decks of Cards per round

Pontoon is a card game that is played with 52 cards and five-to-8 payers at a table. The goal in this British version of blackjack is to collect a set of cards with a higher value than the dealer’s one and does not exceed 21 points.

How to Play Pontoon

A player gets two face-up cards at the beginning of the round, and the dealer receives two face-down cards. If the dealer has a Pontoon combination, the round ends immediately. If the round continues, players can double the value of their cards (one time per round), stick, or ask for an additional card. When all players have made their choices and no more cards are dealt, the round ends, and all cards are opened. 

There are several particular words used during the game, namely:

• Pontoon: announce Pontoon when Ace and ten are dealt.
• Split: when two cards have the same value, one hand can be split into two separate hands. Thus chances to get 21 points are doubled.
• Buy a card: players who choose this option should raise the bet before a new card is dealt.
• Twist: a card is dealt face-up, and the bet amount is unaffected.
• Stick: a player can stick when the value is 15 points or higher.
• Bust: players get busted when they have more than 21 points.

The odds are 2 to 1 if a winning combination is 21 points

The odds are 1 to 1 if a player wins with a combination that has a value of 20 or fewer points.

Combinations in Pontoon Card Game

What is the rank of cards in Pontoon?

• A is worth 1 or 11 points.
• K, Q, J, 10 give 10 points.
• Cards 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 have the corresponding value.

The combination hierarchy is as follows:

• Pontoon (two cards with a value of 21 points).
• Five Card Trick (21 points scored with five cards).
• Three or four cards that have 21 points.
• Hands with the closest value to 21 points.

Variations of Pontoon

Apart from the traditional version of Pontoon, there is Shoot Pontoon variation. The basic rules remain the same as in the conventional Pontoon game, but the betting mechanism is borrowed from Shoot. It means that at the beginning of the round, the dealer forms a “kitty”, a bet that consists of the amount of money between the minimum and maximum bets. When this bet is counted, players can place a shoot side bet if they want to.

Pontoon and Blackjack Differences

Although it is very similar to blackjack, Pontoon has certain differences, namely:

• A player cannot stand if the card value is less than 15 points.
• The highest win is the Pontoon combination. 
• Dealer sticks on a hand with 17 points.

Pontoon Game Strategy and Tips

Several game tips from experts are:

• Hit at least one card if the initial hand is less than 17 points.
• Hit one more card when you have a four-card hand to try to scoop Five Card Trick.
• Stand a four-card hand if its value is 18 points or more.