Pontoon is an exciting multi-hand type of Blackjack that offers players the opportunity of playing up to three hands at the same time. Each hand is played only against the dealer independently, which basically provides players with the chance of winning several times.
Pontoon is known as a variation of the Spanish 21 and is popular in casinos located in the U.K., Australia, Singapore and Malaysia. It is quite popular in these countries and usually offers bets that are a lot better than the ones provided by regular conventional blackjack, with a house edge considerably lower. There is also another variant of blackjack that is known as Pontoon and is played in the U.K. and Commonwealth with regular decks consisting of 52 cards.
Australian Version Rules
As the original blackjack, Pontoon is also an arithmetical game that is played at a table with exactly the same layout that is used for blackjack. The aim of the game is similar to the one of the standard game. The player is required to beat the dealer by making a hand which value is as close to 21 as possible, but it should not exceed it, otherwise they are “bust” and lose.
A hand of 21, which consists of an Ace and a 10-valued card is called a pontoon. An important rule of the game is that a 21-valued hand or pontoon made by the player always beats a 21-valued hand or pontoon generated by the dealer.
The game is played with four to eight “Spanish” decks, which are regular 52-card decks with the 10-spot cards removed. The cards from 2 to 9 are worth 2 to 9 respectively, the face cards count 10 each, and Aces can be valued at 1 or 11 depending at the holder’s choice.
The Australian version of Pontoon has almost the same rules as the Spanish 21, but there are still some differences that cannot be ignored. Still, the dealer hits soft 17, and doubling after splitting is permitted. In addition, no hole card is taken by the dealer.
Players are allowed to double on 9 to 11 only, and they are have a permission to use the “Late Surrender” Rule. The “Double Down Rescue” Rule, which means that players may surrender after doubling, is also applied.
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Hole Card Rules
First, there is a European no-hole-card rule, which is considered as favorable to the player. This is due to the fact that as mentioned above, a Pontoon or a 21-valued hand made by the player automatically beats the dealer’s hand, even it the latter has managed to generate a 21 or Pontoon.
What happens when the player gets a pontoon (21) after doubling or splitting, depends on the casino’s policy. In most cases, these rules are followed only in countries that offer Australian version of Pontoon. There are some specific terms used only when it comes to Australian Pontoon:
Original Bets Only (OBO)
This rule is primarily followed in casinos located on the territory of North America, where players lose only their original bet in case that the dealer gets a 21 (Pontoon/Blackjack). If a 21 is possible, the dealer will usually peek at the hole card in order to end up the game quickly. The Original Bets Only Rule is not applied in Australian casinos, but there are some other countries that use it, so it deserves to be mentioned anyway.
Busted Bets Plus One (BB+1)
When this rule is applied, the player loses any hands they busted, plus an amount that amounts to their original bet.
Original and Busted Bets Only (OBBO)
Any hands busted by the player will be lost, including an amount that is equal to their original bet per hand in case that the dealer gets a blackjack. If we have to put this in other words, under this rule, players are penalized for splitting, but not for doubling.
European No Hole Card (ENGC)
In case that the dealer gets a 21 (Pontoon, Blackjack), the player loses every wager on the table under the terms of this rule.
British Version Rules
Pontoon can be played by any number of players, but it works best with players 5 to 8 players. Standards 52-card decks are used, but when it comes to a large number of players (over 8), two packs of 52 cards can be mixed together.
There are cards with higher values – tens, jacks, queens, kings and aces. All of them are worth ten, except for the aces, which are worth 1 or 11 at the holder’s choice.
The basic objective of the game is the same as the one of the original game – beating the dealer’s hand with a total value as near to 21 as possible, without exceeding it. Each payer is dealt two cards that are placed face up, while the dealer’s cards are placed both face down. This is exactly the main difference between traditional blackjack and the British variation of Pontoon.
In some versions, the second card of the dealer is dealt only after the players have already played their hands. This is also considered as a player’s advantage because it provides them with the opportunity to hit until they get 21, even if the dealer has a Natural.
British Pontoon Terms
When it comes to the British Pontoon, the regular player options are given different names in comparison to the ones in classic blackjack.
Twist
This is practically the “Hit” option, which allows the player to ask for another card. In British Pontoon, players are permitted to Twist in case that their hand equals to a sum lower than 15, unless they have a 5-card hand. The player’s bet is unaffected, and if the player’s total is still below 21, they are allowed to ask for a fourth, and even for a fifth card.
Stick
This is the regular “Stand” option. Players are allowed to just stop and ask for no more cards. The player is bust in case that the total value of their hand exceeds 21 at any time buying or twisting a card.
Buy
This option equals to the standard “Double Down” option with a small difference, which is considered in favor of the player. The latter is allowed to Buy on a card. If their total is still smaller than 21, they are allowed to buy another card. In addition, they are provided with the opportunity to Twist after they Buy, which is an option that is not offered in the traditional form of blackjack.
When using the Buy version, players are required to increase their stake by adding a sum that is at least equal to and not more than twice their initial bet.
The Banker’s Turn
The dealer’s two cards are turned face up when all the players have had their turns. This basically means that the players’ cards will not be visible, except for the cases when they have split, twisted, gone bust, or declared a pontoon.
The dealer is allowed to add more cards to their hand, but they must deal them face up one at a time. They are also provided with the opportunity to “stay” in case they are satisfied with the hand.
There are three possible outcomes:
The dealer makes a five-card trick
Only Pontoons are paid by the dealer, who doubles the players’ initial stakes. Everyone else, including the dealer, loses double their stake in case that they had a Five-Card Trick.
The dealer stays on 21 or less with a hand consisting of four or fewer cards
Every player who has a higher-value hand in comparison to the dealer is paid an amount equal to their stake. Five-Card Tricks and Pontoons are paid double. If the dealer manages to make a 21, they will pay Pontoons and Five-Card Tricks only.
The dealer goes bust
If the dealer adds more cards to their initial two and they go over 21, the dealer goes bust and loses. They, they are required to pay an amount equal to their bet to all the players who have not gone bust. Double stakes are paid to any player who has a Five-Card Trick or a Pontoon.
