What is Pontoon?
If you’re having fun with American blackjack,
you’ll surely have a great time playing “pontoon”.
Pontoon is blackjack,
It is an exciting game you should not miss to play. Moreover, you don’t need to be British to enjoy a game of pontoon.
One of the best features of Pontoon is that a 5 card trick will automatically win. The downside of Pontoon is that the dealer will win all ties, including if he receives a pontoon or 5 card trick. This means that getting 17 in pontoon is the equivalent of receiving 16 in blackjack; you need to hope that the dealer busts to win.
The Basics in Pontoon
If you like to experience the charm of pontoon, then you should first understand the rules and terminologies used. Pontoon has a different way of introducing the game to the players.
Instead of using the standard terms and rules, UK has a varied way of playing blackjack. Here are the different terminologies used in Pontoon:
- Twist - In American blackjack, this is called the “hit”. This means that you want another card.
- Stick – In American blackjack, this is called the “stand”. This means that you want to stay with the cards you’re holding.
- Buying – In American blackjack, this is called “doubling down”. This means that you’re going to double your bet and receive another card.
Pontoon is usually played with 8 decks of cards. The dealer’s hand is usually facing down and unlike the standard blackjack game which pays 3:2, pontoon pays 2:1. The dealer also needs to bust hands of 16 or less and must stand a hand of 17.
On the other hand, the player can make a twist if he has a hand of 14 or less. He can also buy or split but he’s not allowed to stick. After splitting, a hand with an ace and 10 is considered as the “pontoon”. The only drawback is the dealer ties all wins in pontoon.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Pontoon
The rules used in pontoon are definitely different from the rules of blackjack. In the player’s own perspective, playing pontoon has some advantages and disadvantages.
The major drawback in playing pontoon is the position of the dealer’s playing cards. Since the dealer’s cards are all facing down, it is hard to plan the next move. Another problem when playing pontoon is the fact that dealer ties all wins.
But, pontoon also has exciting benefits for players. Pontoon has a 2 to 1 payout. The game also allows players to buy or double your bet with three and four cards while the ace and 10 is considered as the pontoon, which is definitely an advantage.
