Pontoon rules explained

In the following review the rules of the exciting game of Pontoon will be explained. Pontoon is an interesting variant of blackjack. The rules of blackjack and pontoon differ slightly. We'll explain the differences in rules between pontoon and blackjack on this page. Furthermore we'll provide interesting background information together with our recommendation where to play pontoon online.

When you decide you want to play blackjack, visit our blackjack game rules section.

Pontoon history

Pontoon is the British variant of one of the oldest and most legendary casino games in the industry, Blackjack. Blackjack is the American variant of ‘21’. All three games are played against the dealer with a standard 52 card deck. Unlike Blackjack and Pontoon, 21 isn’t played in modern casinos, therefore we will not consider it in this edition of game rules explained.

The role of the banker explained

Pontoon can be played with any number of players. Pontoon can be best played with 5-8 players. As said, pontoon is played with a regular 52 card deck. When you play Pontoon with more than 8 players you have to mix two decks of cards.

Before starting a game of Pontoon the banker has to be selected. The banker has an advantage, when the player and the banker have two hands of equal value, the banker wins. Therefore the banker is selected by drawing cards. According to the rules, the player who draws the highest card becomes the banker. When playing pontoon online you can only play against the bank. You cannot become the bank yourself.

Let’s get started

Before dealing the cards, all players place their bets on the table. There’s also a side bet possible. This side bet is called the Sweet 16 and is based on the first two cards dealt. Sweet 16 offers the following payout:

Hand	Pay out
16 or 21	1:1
Ace	1:1
Pair of aces	1:1
Pair of 2's	Push
Pair of 7's	Push

After placing the bets, the banker will deal two cards, face-down to all players involved in the game. The banker will check his cards for pontoon. Pontoon is the highest value hand in a game of pontoon. A pontoon hand consists of a 10-value card together with an ace. When the banker has pontoon it’s game over, he wins! If not the game continues with the player’s turn!

Player's turn

When the banker doesn't have Pontoon, the game continues. For a player the following situations can occur:

Pontoon: player has Pontoon and wins.

Split: player split's cards because they are of equal value. Aces can also be split.

Hit: players ask up to 5 cards as long as they don't exceed 21.

Twist: when a player asks for a twist he will receive a new card without changing his bet. This can be done until the magic number of 21 is reached.

Stand / Stick: when a player's hand values at least 15 he can stick

Banker's turn

When all players have had their turn, it's up to the banker. According to the rules, the banker can stick at any time during a game of Pontoon. The following situations can occur:

Bust: the banker exceeds 21 and goes bust.

21 or less: the banker may stick on 21 with 3 or 4 cards. The banker will pay every player who out-valued the banker's cards.

Five-Card-Trick: the banker has a Five-Card-Trick Nobody will be paid except the players who have Pontoon.

Rules concerning Pontoon card and hand values

In the following table all card values are explained. Below the card value table you will find an overview with all Pontoon hands explained.

Cards	Value
Ace	11 or 1
King	10
white	10
Jack	10
2 / 10	2 / 10

Just like playing a game of blackjack, the whole Pontoon game is about creating a better hand than the banker. The best hand possible is Pontoon. This hand is valued 21 with just two cards (Ace + 10 valued card)

The second best hand consists of 5 cards, these cards can equal 21 or less. This combination is called a Five-card-trick.

Hands that value 21 and consist of 3/4 cards can only be beaten by the two hands described above.

All other hands rank their value, the closest to 21 will win.

Every hand ranked more than 21 is bust.

Differences between pontoon and blackjack

As said the rules of pontoon and blackjack are pretty much the same. There are a few noticeable differences though. We explain these below:

When playing pontoon you can double your bet together with every new card dealt. Unlike blackjack, pontoon allows you to play further after you double your bet. You may double your bet as many times as you like.

The second best hand consists of 5 cards, these cards can equal 21 or less. This combination is called a Five-card-trick.

Hands that value 21 and consist of 3/4 cards can only be beaten by the two hands described above.

All other hands rank their value, the closest to 21 wins.

Every hand ranked more than 21 is bust.

To conclude our article, pontoon rules explained: one recommendation

Unfortunately, not every online casino offers pontoon. Besides, there might be small differences in the pontoon rules in the various pontoon versions. Play at our recommended pontoon casinos for an unforgettable online pontoon experience.

. US: Rushmore Casino offers pontoon gold, marvelous game play and a $888 welcome bonus!

. Europe: Casino Bellini knows how pontoon works! By far, the best pontoon experience for the European market!

Our explanation of the pontoon rules will contribute to your success when playing pontoon online. The game rules and background information on this page will help you understand why thousands of online gambling lovers adore this game. Visit our game rules explained section for more background information and game rules of the most popular casino games!

Learn the rules of other casino games: Red Dog Poker