Pontoon Review

One of the more interesting blackjack variations is Pontoon. This game plays similarly to blackjack with a few key rule changes.

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Pontoon Blackjack Game Review

One of the more interesting blackjack variations is pontoon. This game plays similarly to blackjack with a few key rule changes. First, there is no up card for the dealer, so your plays are based entirely on your own hand. Third, having 21 on the first two cards is called a pontoon instead of a blackjack. Third, making a five card hand beats any other hand besides a pontoon. These rule changes create a situation where your main strategic indicators are the number of cards in your hand and what the value of your hand happens to be. It’s also worth mentioning that you can only double once per hand, though you can double with any number of cards. Additionally, you cannot stand with totals worth less than 15 unless you have a five-card hand, and ties lose in this game.

How to Play Pontoon

Playing well in pontoon is generally based on knowing when to be aggressive and knowing when to slow down. When you have four-card hands, you can typically be very aggressive because any card that comes that doesn’t bust you out will give you a very strong five-card hand. The logical continuation here is that you should double with any soft hand with four cards since it’s impossible to go bust in that situation, and you’ll always pick up a five-card hand. With hard hands that have four cards, you’ll want to double when you have a total of 16 or lower. If you have a hard 17 with four cards, then just go ahead and hit instead. Hard totals of 18 and up will need to simply stand.

Three Card Hands

Three-card hands are a little more difficult since you have to balance aggression and protecting yourself from going bust. Double with soft hands that are 19 and up, but just hit with soft hands that are 18 and lower. The reason for this is that if you pick up a favorable card, you can always double on the next play. With hard hands, you’ll need to only double if you have a nine, ten or eleven. Always stand with 15 or higher, and hit the rest of the time.

Two-Card Hands

Two-card hands are where you’re be making most of your decisions. It never makes sense to double with a two-card soft hand because of the ability to double later in the hand if things become more favorable. Along these lines, just stand if you have a soft 19 or better, and hit if you have a soft 18 or lower. Hard 10s and 11s should be doubled when you have just two cards, and you should stand when you have a hard 15 or higher. Hitting the remainder of the time is the way to go.

When to Split in Pontoon

When it comes to splitting, you should always split aces and eights. Other than that, you should play your hand like a normal hard total. Splitting doesn’t usually get you anywhere fast in pontoon since you can’t see either of the dealer’s cards when the hand begins.

Rated 5/5