Pontoon Review – The Rules in a Nutshell
Pontoon is a game that’s actually a British variant of Blackjack, which in itself is a version of the French 21. All three games have similar rules but unlike Pontoon and Blackjack, 21 is not played at casinos anymore. Pontoon gained popularity being played at British homes and when it made its casino debut, it was originally designed to be played mainly in English and Australian casinos, while Blackjack remained the favourite in American casinos. Nowadays, however, online casinos have made it available to players from around the world who can find versions from various operators to cater to their tastes in terms of betting limits, side bets, design, and gameplay.
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- Exciting Gameplay
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With intriguing twists to the standard Blackjack rules, Pontoon is a very entertaining game that also has great winning potential.
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Although Pontoon is a standalone game, it does share a lot of similarities with Blackjack and is often regarded as a version of the standard game. It’s played against a dealer, usually with six to eight decks of 52 cards, but you can actually play with any number of decks you like. Just like in Blackjack, the aim of the game is to get a better hand than the dealer, as close to 21 as possible without going over (busting). If the 21 is formed by an Ace and a face card, you get a Pontoon – the equivalent of Blackjack. That’s just one of the main principal similarities between the two games. We explain all of them and, of course, the differences in detail in our review, so read on to find the ins and outs of the two versions.
Try the Game for Free – Play in the Demo Version
Before you go ahead and read all the technicalities, you can first try the game completely for free in the demo version available below. That’s the safest way for you to find out more about the game and its specifics, regardless whether you’ve had experience with Blackjack before or you’re just now discovering its rules and gameplay. Try different strategies, see how you like the betting range, and what possibilities you have in this version without spending any cash and once you’ve made up your mind and feel confident enough to play against a real dealer, go have some real fun!
Instant PlayPontoon vs Blackjack – Differences and Similarities
Like we said, Pontoon bears uncanny resemblance to Blackjack, so much so that you may question why the different name? To start off, the terms for the actions are different – in Pontoon, you have ‘twist’ instead of ‘hit’ and ‘stick’ instead of ‘stay’. The option to double down is replaced with buying and unlike in Blackjack, the round isn’t over when you have bought your additional card, so you can continue playing. Before any cards are dealt, players first place their standard bets, as well as any side bets they’re willing to make. When all bets are on the table, dealers will first deal two face-down cards to all players and check their cards for pontoon. This is the most valuable hand which is made up of an ace and a 10-value card. If the dealer has pontoon, they win and the game is over for all players. If they don’t strike that luck, the game carries on, players get their turn and decide whether to twist, stick, buy, or split.
- Pontoon: the player has a ten and an ace and wins.
- Split: the player splits cards of equal value, including aces.
- Hit: the player can ask for up to five cards.
- Twist: the player receives a new card without changing the bet.
- Stick: a player can stick if their hand values at least 15.
Pontoon is the highest-value hand, followed by a five-card trick that’s not busted, and a non-busted hand with 4 cards or fewer, ranked closest to 21 without busting. If you have a five-card trick hand equal to 21 or smaller in Pontoon, you can beat a hand with equal value but fewer cards, while in Blackjack, there is no five-card trick. Payouts are 1:1 for a winning hand, 2:1 for a Pontoon and a five-card trick. The dealer wins ties, unlike in Blackjack where all ties are pushed. Other differences include how many cards are dealt face-down – in Pontoon both are faced down, while in Blackjack only one is faced down. In addition, Pontoon gives you the chance to split an Ace twice, while in Blackjack you get only one chance to do it. Another difference is that in Pontoon, you have to hit 14 or less, while in Blackjack you can stand on any two cards. Also, while in Blackjack you can double only on the first two cards, in Pontoon, you have the option to buy (or double) on two, three, or four cards.
Pontoon Is One of the Most Exciting Blackjack Variants
Despite the many similarities between Blackjack and Pontoon, there is also a substantial number of differences that set the two games apart, meaning that if you opt to play Pontoon, you will get to experience a new and exciting way to play a classic game of cards. In addition to the refreshing feel of playing a new game, you will also benefit from a very low house edge and all the perks that Playtech give players like customisable layout and graphics to please the most demanding of gamblers.
If you like card games and trying something new, you will love this variation of Blackjack that has been played and enjoyed for centuries. Now, it’s resurging in online casinos with a polished look and refined gameplay thanks to Playtech, so you can get an authentic gaming experience up to the highest standards. Try it for real money at your favourite casino offering a range of Playtech games, like Ladbrokes where you can get a nice welcome bonus upon registering.