Pontoon

Pontoon is the British version of Blackjack, and the games are so similar that they are often perceived as being one and the same. However, this isn’t the case at all, and those of us who play online blackjack should make sure we understand the key differences so that we can play effectively.

As in the game of Blackjack, the aim of Pontoon is for the player to get a hand total that is as close to 21 as possible without exceeding that number. The cards have the same values as in Blackjack, with cards 2 to 10 being worth their face value, Aces counting as 1 or 11 and pictures cards being worth 10.

However, in Pontoon both of the dealer’s cards are dealt face-down, so the player must proceed without having a clue about the potential strength or weakness of his opponent (although the dealer will check to see if he has Pontoon at the outset).

If the player gets closer to 21 than the dealer then he wins, and his hand is paid off at odds of 1/1. If he gets a hand total of 21 with just two cards, he has Pontoon and is paid off at odds of 2/1. If the player gets a hand of five cards totalling 21 or less, he has a 5 Card Trick and is paid at odds of 2/1. In tie situations, the dealer wins.

In Pontoon, the terms Twist and Stick are used instead of Hit and Stand. Whereas the Blackjack player can stand on any hand, the Pontoon player must twist on hands totalling 14 or less, unless he has already made a 5 Card Trick. The dealer must twist on soft 17 and stick on hard 17.

Because the rules of Pontoon are obviously different than those of Blackjack, it is advisable to spend some time playing the game in practice mode before putting any money on the line. That said, Pontoon is an entertaining game in its own right and will be a nice challenge for Blackjack enthusiasts who fancy playing something a bit different.

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