Pontoon Blackjack

Pontoon Blackjack software

The majority of software developers that create online casino games have their own versions of online pontoon for you to enjoy. These include Microgaming, Playtech, Real Time Gaming and Betsoft to name a few. All of these developers offer a dazzling collection of exciting games, all of which promise to deliver tons of entertainment. In fact, many of these games look stunning and are a visual treat thanks to the gorgeous graphics that accompany them. And when it comes to gameplay, there is no shortage of dynamism and potential for hours and hours of satisfying fun.

Rules of pontoon blackjack

In Pontoon, as in Blackjack, the object is to make a hand that is as close to 21 as possible, without going over 21, and that is better than the dealer's hand. An online Pontoon table looks much like an online Blackjack table, except for the insurance bet line; the cards have the same value (Ace=1 or 11; Face cards=10). Most online Pontoon games are played with a single deck of 52 cards.

At the beginning of the game, each player, including the dealer, is dealt two cards; the player has one card face up, while the dealer has two cards face down. The dealer inspects his cards to see if he has pontoon, which, like blackjack, consists of an ace and a face card. If the dealer has a boat, the players automatically lose.

If the dealer hasn't hit the pontoon, players have the option to hit, stand, split, or double. When all players have had their turn, the dealer reveals his cards. The dealer must hit up to a soft 17 and stand on a hard 17 or a five card trick. Once the dealer stands, the highest ranking hand wins. In online pontoon, the only hands that beat 21 are a pontoon and a five-card trick. Pontoon and five-card tricks pay 2-1, while other winning hands pay 1-1.

Features of online pontoon:

• A pontoon is a hand that contains an ace along with any picture card or a 10 (can be hit after splitting).
• A five-card hand that totals 21 or less is called a five-card trick and pays 2 to 1.
• The dealer wins on a tie; there is no push an insurance option does not exist at most online gaming locations, competitors are not able to stand at less than 15 players can double on 2, 3, or 4 cards, but this can only be done once per hand after splitting, doubling can be done once per hand it is possible to split two equal cards into two hands and then re-divide one of them into two hands, It is possible to split two of the same ranked cards into two hands and then split one of those hands again, making a total of three hands. If two of the same ranked cards are involved and no other reshuffles have taken place after the split, each player is automatically dealt one card.

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Odds in Pontoon blackjack

The house edge in Internet pontoon is 0.38%, except in Microgaming casinos where it is 0.39% (because you can't draw and double when you split Aces). This is quite favorable compared to blackjack, whose house edge is extremely variable. In fact, there's a lot more variation in the rules from game to game and from casino to casino, especially when it comes to splitting. And because splitting creates two hands that can be played quite differently (e.g., you can double one hand but not the other), there's also a lot more variation in the versions of Blackjack that are out there.

Of course, to take full advantage of this comparatively small house edge, one must understand and apply basic strategy. This is not identical to Blackjack Basic Strategy, but the essence is the same; in any given situation, an informed choice must be made between the options presented. And if you're going to make that informed choice, you might as well do it with the small house edge in mind.

Top 5 pontoon blackjack tips

Making Simple Strategy Work in Pontoon Pontoon is a simple game; there are not many cards to consider, as you must always act as if you have five cards. This is true whether you actually have five cards, or whether you are currently holding four cards and hoping to draw a card that will make your "hand" worth 21, or a "five card trick". (The term "trick" may seem a bit odd when referring to a five-card combination that beats an ordinary blackjack hand, but Vieille France is famous for its old-fashioned meanings and uses. Pontoon is notorious for such "unorthodox" terms as "hit" and "stand". In contrast, Blackjack uses the more apron-friendly term "drawing" a card).

Here are five tips that you should always adhere to if you want to use Basic Pontoon Strategy effectively.

• Aces and 8s are the only pairs you should split; for all other pairs, play them as you would normally play your hand. If the rules don't allow you to split Aces, you should hit; if you can't split 8s, you should stand.
• If you have 7 or less, you should always hit, regardless of how many cards you have.
• When holding a hard 12, 13, or 14, you should hit with three cards or less, but double with four cards.
• If you have a hard 17, you should stand with three cards or less, but hit with four cards.
• You should always double if you have a hard 10 or 11.

Bottom Line

In the end, whether you like pontoon or blackjack better is a matter of personal preference. But if you have never played pontoon before, we highly recommend that you give it a try. You may end up liking it very much, not only because getting a pontoon is always a win, but also because Blackjack can sometimes result in a push (which is like a win that doesn't feel very good), and with the Five Card Trick paying at 2-1, pontoon gives you even more chances to win.

We recommend casinos that allow you to play Pontoon for free in either Flash or Demo mode. This will allow you to try out the game and test the basic pontoon strategy tips we have outlined above before playing for real money.