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Variations on a Blackjack Theme: Pontoon
To every phenomenon, there must be a spin-off…or ten. Just a quick glance at a television schedule proves the point: 30+ versions of the Next Top Model series all over the world, too many Star Trek shows to even keep count, etc. The same is true in the world of casino gaming. For almost every game, there is at least one spin-off game, or often even variations on a game that still bear the original name, often with the name of the place or of the new style preceding it. Even more than that, within any one game, there are often multiple betting patterns used by players. One of the variations in betting patterns in Blackjack, for example, is the Pontoon Variation.
Pontoon Variations in Blackjack
The Pontoon variation of Blackjack takes it origin in Great Britain. Though it is a relatively old variation - from Britain of the 1950s - its popularity has just started to grow recently. The game is played with eight decks of 52 cards each, in which each cards has an equal value as blackjack. Each player is initially dealt two cards and these cards are placed face-up in front of the players. The dealer, in the other hand, is dealt cards which are placed face-down on the table in front of him (or her). Once all of the card-dealing is done, the dealer will have a chance to check the value of those two face-down cards. If the dealer discovers the pontoon card among those two cards, he (or she) wins instantly and the game is over. Needless to say, if not, the game continues. As in any game of Blackjack anywhere, the goal is the same: to be the player who gets closer to 21 than any of the other players - or exactly 21 - without going over that set limit.
The rules of the Pontoon variation of Blackjack are as follows:
- Every player may stand on any five-card hand, when any of the players achieve a hand of 15 or more.
- Any player may hit at the time, or times, of his or her choosing, including after doubling. Players may double on two to four cards, but only once. This includes after the player has chosen to split.
- Players may split the two cards of the same value and may also re-split only one additional time. This can only be done for three hands or less.
- If the player achieves a bust, the player then loses.
- The dealer compares cards to those of the player, and the players are paid out if they win.
- The dealer may hit a soft 17.
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