Pontoon Rules

Pontoon is the British variation of blackjack that is mostly played at Australian and Malaysian casinos. It is probably the least widespread blackjack game but still one of the most popular variations as it offers low house advantage. It is possible to reduce the house edge up to 0.38% using optimal Pontoon strategy.

Pontoon Basics

The rules of Pontoon are a little bit complicated if compared with the regular blackjack but still are not difficult. The objective of the game is to get the hand with the count as closer to 21 as possible without exceeding 21.

Pontoon is usually played with 5-8 players at the table. The standard deck of 52 cards is used at the game, but for up to 8 players it is recommended to use two or more decks.

Before the play starts the banker (dealer) is chosen and the bet amounts are indicated. Then each player is dealt one face down card and the dealer also takes one face down card. The banker is not allowed to look at his card while all the players can check their hands. The betting follows. All the players starting from the first position to the left of the dealer place bets according to the betting limits. When all the bets are placed the players are dealt one more face down card each. Now each player holds two FACE DOWN cards and this is the main feature that differs Pontoon from the regular blackjack. Then the gamblers play their hands as at the regular blackjack game.

Note: these are the most common rules of Pontoon but at some casinos the rules differ. For example, the players might be dealt two exposed instead of face down cards or the dealer doesn’t have the hole cards. Very often the players and dealer get two cards at once but not through a series of deals followed by betting.

Specific Pontoon Rules

Any five card hand that is not busted is paid 2 to 1 regardless its total count.
Pontoon (blackjack) pays 2 to 1 of the original bet.
The player whose hand (but not a Pontoon) beats the dealer’s one is paid 1 to 1 (or even money).
The dealer wins all the ties.
The players must Twist (Hit) on all 15s or less.
The players are allowed to Twist at any point even after Double Down.
It is allowed to Double Down on two, three and four card hands or on split hands.
Resplitting is allowed.
The dealer must Hit on all soft 17s.

Five Card Trick

Pontoon (or blackjack) is the highest hand at this game variation. The second best hand is called the Five Card Trick which is the five card non-busted hand. Five Card Trick hand beats any three or four card hands with the total count of 21 even if Five Card Trick count is lower than 21. The player with the Five Card Trick is always paid 2 to 1 of the initial bet regardless the dealer’s hand value. All the dealer’s Five Card Trick hands have the same value as the player’s ones.

Player’s Options

Twist (Hit) – to draw one more card. The player must Twist at all 14’s or less. The player who holds the Five Card Trick is not able to Twist, he is paid automatically.

Stick (Stand) – not to draw more cards. When the player chooses to Stick his hand is compared with the dealer’s one and the winner is indicated.

Buy (Double Down) – to double the bet. The player is allowed to double the original bet in case he is convinced that his hand is strong enough to beat the dealer on the next draw. At Pontoon the player can double down until he busts or sticks.

Split – to split the hand consisting of two cards with the same rank. When the player chooses to Split he gets two hands that can be played separately. It is allowed to Split up to three hands.

Rules Variations

Pontoon has a great number of variations. In fact, all these games differ by some of the rules while the main idea of the game is still the same.

At some Pontoon variations it is allowed to Split only Aces but not the other pairs.
Sometimes the player is able to Stick only when he has at least 16.
The Royal Pontoon hand may be used at some games. This is the hand consisting of three 7s which beats any other hand.
According to some rules Pontoon hand consisting of an Ace and any Face card beats Pontoon consisting of an Ace and 10.
At most Pontoon games all 10s are removed from the deck.