Pontoon

Pontoon is a British variant of standard blackjack. When played with 8 decks, the house edge is only 0.38%, lower than almost any other blackjack variant. As with traditional blackjack the object of the game is to get a total as close to 21 without busting. The main difference between pontoon and blackjack is that the dealer’s cards are dealt face down. This means that playing strategy is based on your hand alone and cannot be altered based on the dealer’s card.

Getting 21 is called ‘pontoon’ rather than blackjack and pays at 2:1. Additionally the game has the additional benefit of the ‘five card Charlie’. This means that if a player gets five cards without busting they beat any other hand (except pontoon) and are also paid at 2:1.

The basic game rules are as follows:

• Generally played with eight decks
• Pontoon pays 2 to 1
• 5 card trick/Charlie pays 2 to 1
• Dealer wins ties (no ‘push’)
• Dealer’s cards dealt face down
• Dealer must hit on soft 17
• Player must hit any total of 14 or less
• Player can double once in the hand after being dealt any number of cards
• Hit after double allowed
• Hands can be split twice.

As well as having different rules, pontoon also has its own game terms. As mentioned above, an ace and ten is called ‘pontoon’ rather than ‘blackjack’. If a player wants another card they ‘twist’ rather than ‘hit’. The term to stand is ‘stick’. Rather than ‘doubling down’ the player ‘buys’. As with blackjack when buying the player doubles their original bet and is dealt just one more card.

Since the rules differ quite substantially from blackjack the player will see advantages and disadvantages of playing pontoon. Clearly the biggest disadvantage is that the dealer’s cards are dealt face down, meaning the player has no idea what the dealer has. Also the dealer wins any ties between them and the player (no pushes).

On the other hand there are a number of advantageous rules for the player. Being paid 2:1 on pontoons and five card Charlie’s is the biggest advantage. Also the ability to double after any number of hands means a player with a soft 19 can always double and be assured a sizable win without busting (provided the dealer does not also make a five card hand). Clearly then pontoon is no better or worse than blackjack. Individual player preference will dictate which they prefer to play.

Pontoon has a different basic strategy to blackjack because of the five card rule. The strategy card is based on the number of cards that the player has, rather than what the dealer holds. For example with a total of 17 over two or three cards, pontoon strategy says to stick. The same total over four hands dictates that you should twist because the chance of being paid 2:1 on a five card Charlie outweighs the risk of busting.

See the basic strategy card here

In pontoon, we double all soft hands and any hard hand with a total of less than 17 when we have four cards. In fact, the only four card hand that you would stand with in pontoon is one totalling 18 or more.

For a blackjack player hitting a four-card hard 17, or doubling a four-card hard 16 may seem crazy. It is important to follow the correct basic strategy for the game. You will quickly learn that the chance of making a five-card hand (and being paid 2:1) outweighs your gut saying you’ll bust. By doubling soft four-card hands, as we know they cannot be busted we are guaranteed a 4:1 payout on our original bet provided the dealer does not also make a five card Charlie. Good times!