Pontoon Rules
Pontoon, often seen as the British version of Blackjack, belongs to the broader family of games known as Twenty-One. It has its own unique Pontoon rules and terminology. In this article, we’ll cover the key points to help you get started easily.
Objective of Pontoon
The objective is to beat the banker by getting a stronger hand. These are as follows:
- Pontoon (Ace + 10): The best possible hand.
- Five-Card Trick: A five-card hand that totals 21 or less.
- Higher Total: Any hand that is closer to 21 than the banker's one.
- Banker Busts: All remaining players win if the banker busts.
The game is usually played with a standard 52-card deck with no Jokers. According to the rules for Pontoon, 2 to 10 are worth their face value, all face cards (J, Q, K) are worth 10, and Aces can count as 1 or 11, depending on which helps your hand more.
What Could You Do on Each Turn?
Each round begins with the banker dealing two cards to each player, including himself. Before the deal, the players place their bets. Once everyone has their cards, it is your turn. Here are the main moves you can make according to the Pontoon card game rules:
- Twist: If your hand is below 15, you must ask for another card. Once you reach it, you can choose to twist again to improve your hand or stop if you are afraid of busting.
- Stick: Do this when you are happy with your total. This means you are done drawing cards and will keep your current hand for the rest of the round.
- Buy: This option doubles your bet on the current hand and adds one more card. After you buy, you can still twist, but you cannot buy again.
- Split: If your two cards are of the same value (such as two 8s), you can split them into two hands and play them separately. Not every version handles splits the same way, so it is always wise to check the rules of the game you are playing.
Let's say you are dealt a 9 and a 7, giving you a total of 16. You twist and draw a 3, making your total 19. You stick. The banker has 10 and 6, then draws an 8 and goes over 21. As he busts, you win the round.
Below is a quick guide to help you decide which move to make based on the hand you are holding.
| Hand Situation | Best Move | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Total under 16 | Twist | You need a higher total to complete |
| 17 to 20 | Stick | You are already close to 21 |
| Two high-value cards (7's, 8's, Aces) | Split | It helps avoid a weak hand and gives a chance at a strong one |
| 10 or 11 | Buy | High chance of a strong hand and bigger profit |
Note: Different versions with their own rules can slightly impact this strategy. The table doesn’t cover every detail, but it gives you a general idea.
Game Variations
The game comes in several versions. Some of them are British, Asian, Pontoon 21, each with different rules. Here is a quick look at how they work and what sets them apart.
This is a classic game with a standard 52-card deck. Everyone starts by placing a bet, and then two cards are dealt face down to each player, including the banker.
When it is your turn, you can twist, stick or buy. If you are dealt two of the same cards, you can split them into two hands and play them both. The best possible hand is a Pontoon, followed by the Five Card Trick as the second best.
The house edge is usually between 0.5% and 1%. This is because the banker wins all ties and there is no insurance. It can vary depending on the house rules, but the basic rules of Pontoon remain the same in most casinos.
Also known as Pontoon 21, it is played with 4 to 8 decks, and all 10s are removed. After betting, players are dealt two cards, while the banker gets one card face up and another after all players are done with their turns.
As in the British version of the game, you can twist, stick or buy. Doubles are allowed on any two cards, even after a split. You can split any pair, including Aces, and continue to draw after splitting. If you split and get an Ace plus a 10, it does not count as a winning hand under typical Pontoon cards rules.
Australian Pontoon is one of the best versions for players, with a very low house edge, which is around 0.34% to 0.42%, depending on where you play.
The Asian variant, sometimes called Malaysian Pontoon or Treasury 21, is played with 4 to 8 decks with all the 10s removed. Each player is dealt two cards, and the banker only has one card. The second card (the hole card) is dealt later, after all the players have finished their turn. If you get a two-card 21, you win immediately, even if the banker gets the same card later. This is a unique aspect of the Asian Pontoon game rules.
You can twist, stick or buy after the first two cards. Doubling is often limited to hands that total 9, 10 or 11. Splitting is allowed, but usually not more than twice per hand. Resplitting Aces is usually not allowed. In many versions, aces only count as 1 unless the hand is doubled.
The house edge is usually between 0.34% and 0.49%, depending on the rules of each casino.
If you are not sure which version of Pontoon to try, the table below shows the main differences in a simple way.
| Feature | British | Australian | Asian |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decks | 1 (52 cards, all 10s included) | 4–8 decks (48 cards each, all 10s removed) | 4–8 decks (48 cards each, all 10s removed) |
| Banker's Cards | 2 face-down | 1 card to start | 1 card to start |
| Pontoon after Split | Allowed | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Immediate Win with Pontoon | No | No | Yes, even if the banker gets the same later |
| House edge | 0.5% – 1% | 0.34% – 0.42% | 0.34% – 0.49% |