Online Pontoon

Online Pontoon is a very popular blackjack variation that has become a player favorite at many casinos. It has changed a few of the blackjack rules to make the game more interesting. Some include the dealer only having one up card and wins on ties, while players that get a five card hand or a “Pontoon” (a 21 blackjack) get paid 2 to 1.

Other rules have also been changed in online Pontoon, all of which will be explained by our in-depth guide. Learn how to play Pontoon online with our step-by-step guide and find out which online casinos offer the game of Pontoon. End it all with a look into the best Pontoon strategy to get an edge while playing.

How to Play Pontoon Online

Online pontoon is typically played using a standard 52-card deck with multiple decks per shoe.

Card values in pontoon are ranked the same way as in regular online blackjack. This means all cards 2 through 10 are valued at their numerical rank, jacks, queens, and kings are valued at 10, and aces are valued at either 1 or 11 depending on the player’s hand.

The objective of online pontoon is to reach a total hand value closest to 21, without going over or busting. Just as in blackjack, any time an Ace combines with a card valued at 10, the result is an automatic winner, known as a “Pontoon”. The hand automatically ends whenever the dealer receives a pontoon while winning hands comprised of a pontoon pay out at 2 to 1 for the player.

While all of these subtle differences between pontoon and blackjack can be confusing at first, especially without experience playing the new game, you will be able to catch on quickly.

Pontoon Rules

Pontoon has a number of rules which are different than classic real money blackjack. Use the brief overview below to learn the new rules of Pontoon. Some rules deal with terminology only, because British gamblers often use different blackjack terms. I provide descriptions of key rules in greater detail in their own section below.

The 5-Card Trick is the signature rule in Pontoon, because it makes the game much different than most other forms of blackjack. The rule allows a player to win automatically when holding any 5 cards that equal 21 or less. Only when the dealer holds a pontoon does a player lose when completing the 5-card trick.

Because of the 5-Card Trick rule, players receive two different 2:1 payouts in the game (including the 2:1 pay for a Pontoon). Having two ways to win increased payouts tilts the game in the player’s favor. To give the casino a house edge, the casino wins when a tie occurs.

Most casinos allow players to either buy or twist a card. These rules give a player the option to increase the size of their bet, when holding a good card combination. The “Buy” option allows the gambler to double or triple the size of their bet. On the other hand, the tie rule means players sometimes lose when holding a three-or-four card 21.

Twisting a card simply means you stand. Players have the option to twist only when holding a 15 or more. Since a 12, 13, and 14 is going to bust about 30% of the time, the rule that “forces a twist” is another advantage for the house.

Readers might wonder about the difference between standard Pontoon and Australian Pontoon. These two games are not the same. Australian Pontoon is the name used in Australia, New Zealand, and India for “Spanish 21”.

Best Places to Play Pontoon Online

Although online pontoon is a relatively new addition to the online casino landscape, a number of prominent casino gaming software providers currently include the game on their menu.

The top online casinos that offer Pontoon include:

BetOnline (Pirate 21)

Las Vegas USA

Casino.com AU

Below you can find a list of the software providers powering online pontoon throughout the world’s most popular online casino platforms:

• Betsoft
• Microgaming
• Playtech

• RealTime Gaming
• Cryptologic

Online Pontoon Strategy

Another similarity between blackjack and pontoon is the presence of a mathematical foundation of the game. In any given situation the player can face, holding any combination of cards on the table, the optimal decision can always be calculated.

While most players aren’t interested in memorizing long lists of guidelines in order to have fun, simply get to know the Pontoon basic strategy is a great way to boost your bottom line. After all, when playing pontoon strictly by the book, you can lower the house edge against you to just 0.38 percent, making this one of the most favorable games on the floor for savvy players.

Even if you don’t memorize the complete basic pontoon strategy, just knowing the general structure of sound strategy can increase the frequency of winning sessions while reducing the damage to your bankroll in downturns.

Take a look at the table below for a full visual representation of basic pontoon strategy. By observing when it becomes correct to hit, stand, split, or double down based on the relative value of your hand, you can easily turn the often unpredictable game of pontoon into a winning proposition:

Seeing as how online Pontoon follows the same gameplay and uses similar rules as traditional blackjack, players should get familiar with blackjack strategy first. Afterward, you can start diving deep into the Pontoon basic strategy. Seeing as how there are many casino software developers that have created their own version of Pontoon online, some may have changed up the rules or house edge slightly. Even though the games are Pontoon, they diverge ever so slightly.

Be sure to have these handy the next time you are playing at a Microgaming or RealTime Gaming casino to follow their specific Pontoon strategy. It would appear that if you are able to remember and follow these two strategies, any other version of online Pontoon will be easy enough to play.

Conclusion

As you could see above, there can be many different forms of the same game. In this case, Pontoon can have slight differences that make it different but similar enough to still be called Pontoon. Wikipedia has a great list of Pontoon variations for you to check out if you are looking for different versions to try.

At first, Pontoon can be a bit confusing for players who’re used to playing traditional 21, so I suggest playing the free version offered by most of the best online casinos before playing for real money.