Pontoon Blackjack

Today many people know the game of Pontoon as Blackjack. There are many similarities but the most distinguishing difference is the continents that the game is played on and the number of players. The aim of Pontoon, like Blackjack, is to try and achieve a score of 21 or as close to with the cards that are dealt. This needs to be achieved before the dealer who is usually the banker as well, manages to get 21 or Pontoon as it is known in the game. Pontoon is played with a standard 52 card pack of cards if there are up to 8 players in the game. If there are more players, another deck of cards is added to the game. Within the pack or cards, the Ace can count as the value 1 or 11 and the face cards are valued at 10. All the other cards hold their value as written. A Pontoon is when a player or the dealer achieves 21 with just two cards; it must be made up of an Ace and one of the face cards or value 10 cards.

How to Play Pontoon Blackjack

The game of Pontoon commences with a card being dealt face down to each of the players, all the players can look at their cards apart from the dealer. Based on the initial cards that are dealt to each player, the players then choose how they will place their first bet. At the beginning of the game before the cards have been dealt, a minimum and maximum bet should be agreed. Once all the bets have been placed, the players, including the dealer are dealt a second card. Again the players can look at their cards. The dealer must turn over his cards without having checked what they are, if he has achieved a Pontoon then he collects twice the value of each players bet. If he does not have a Pontoon then the game continues and each player can decide on his next action.

Choices in Pontoon

Depending on the cards that each player holds will depend on the action he takes. A player can choose to stick if he has more than 15 in value and less than 21 or he can choose to twist a card which means to receive another card without any additional bet. Or you can choose to buy another card which involves adding another card with an additional bet which must be at least equal to but no more than double the initial bet. If a player has two cards the same he can choose to split the cards which basically means he begins to play 2 hands and has to place extra bets on one of the hands in addition to receiving two more face down cards from the dealer. The final choice for the player which is of course the best is Pontoon; if he has an Ace and a card at value 10 then he has won the round and collects the bests of all the other players.

Pontoon Variations

Considering that Pontoon is a very simple game to play there are many different variations of the game which are played in different casinos and private homes: from allowing splits to changing the payouts. For example there is a variation of Pontoon called Royal Pontoon where a player or dealer who lands Pontoon with an Ace and a face card i.e. a royal gets paid treble the value of the bet placed, an Ace and a 10 card pays out double in this game. Pontoon is a widely played game and is not always used as a tool for winning money; some just play it for fun due to its easy nature and exciting results. Pontoon is a game that offers so much, not just the chance to win money, but companionship when playing and excitement.