Pontoon

Pontoon is the British version of the internationally popular banking game - Twenty One or Blackjack. Pontoon is similar to Blackjack in many respects and significantly different in others. The general procedure, value of the cards and object of the game i.e. to beat the dealer by getting close to 21 are the same as in Blackjack. But in Pontoon each player gets two cards face up, and two cards face down goes to the dealer. And some of the pay offs in this game too vary from Blackjack.

Some approved rules of Blackjack are applied in Pontoon as well. It is also played with 52 cards and all cards have the same numerical value as in Blackjack - an ace is either one or 11 points, two is counted as two, and six is counted as six, while all picture cards are counted as 10 points. An ace with king, queen or jack is a pontoon. The player with a total of more than 21 'busts' or looses immediately. Six players can play simultaneously at a table against the dealer. The dealer will peek at his cards for a pontoon. If the dealer has a pontoon he will immediately turn it over and collect all wagers and cards. A player can increase his bet thrice by buying three more cards. He may buy two cards, but may only buy a third card if his total is above12. Five cards totaling '21' or below is a five card trick and pays three to one, losing only to the dealers Pontoon, the combination of 777 and 678 of the same suit. A combination of 777 of any suit and 678 of the same suit pays three to one. The combination of 777 is of higher value than 678.


PONTOON PAYOUT ODDS