Blackjack Variations

Pontoon is the British version of blackjack, it's almost as old as the original blackjack game, but only recently has it started gaining popularity in the online casino world.

Pontoon is a game played with eight standard 52-card decks, all the card have the same value as in blackjack. Each player is dealt two cards face up, while both of the dealer's cards are dealt face down. As with blackjack, players are trying to get a total card value of 21, or closer to 21 than the dealer without going over. Hands are ranked as follows:

1. Pontoon - ace and any 10-point card, including after splitting.
2. 21 points or less-Non-busted hands that value 21 points or less with four cards or less. Hand strength is equal to the total number of points.
3. Five-Card Trick - five-card hand that does not bust, regardless of total point value.

After all players have received cards, the dealer will check his cards for a pontoon. If the dealer holds a pontoon, he will expose his cards and collect all wagers and cards. If the dealer does not hold a pontoon, play continues according to the following rules:

• Players may stand on any five-card hand, or on a total value that is greater or equal to 15
• Players may hit at any time, including after doubling. Doubling is allowed on two to four cards, but only once per hand. That includes after splitting and once for each split hand
• Players may split two cards of equal rank and may re-split once, up to a total of three hands. When the player splits, the first card dealt to each hand shall be automatic
• If a hand busts, the player immediately loses
• After players have played their hands, the dealer exposes his two cards and will draw until their value totals 17 points or more, or results in a five card hand
• The dealer hits a soft 17
• The dealer then compares his hand to each players hand and pays winning pontoons and five card hands 2-1 while all other winning hands pay 1-1