How to Play Pontoon
Pontoon released by Playtech is an online card game created on the basis of the classic Pontoon but with some differences in the rules. The game is played using eight standard 52-card decks without jokers (we are going to remind you that the decks without tens are used in the classic variant). The cards are shuffled before each deal.
The aim of the game is to collect higher score compared to the dealer's cards without exceeding twenty-one.
Pontoon is available in several versions: single-hand, three-hand or five-hand. The range of bets is established according to the rules of each casino. At Tropez Casino it reaches three hundred dollars, and EuroGrand allows betting up to $1,250.
Let's discuss the basic rules and regulations:
- The croupier deals two cards to himself at once. He lays them both face down and checks for pontoon (an ace and any card worth ten points, the analogue of blackjack). If he has this combination, players don't take cards.
- The dealer hits on a 16 and a soft 17.
- The player can not cancel hitting if he or she has a 15.
- There is no insurance against blackjack.
- There is no draw. If the scores are equal, the dealer always wins.
- It is allowed to double on any cards. Any number of cards can be taken after a double.
- It is allowed to split any cards of the same values (for example, a ten and a queen).
- An ace and a ten in a hand formed as a result of a split are considered to be pontoon.
- Any five cards without bust beat a standard 21 (5-card Charlie).
Pontoon manufactured by Playtech has the following payouts:
- Ordinary box - 1:1
- Pontoon - 2:1
- Five-card Charlie - 2:1
The card values are classic for common rules of blackjack.