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Game Rules
Pontoon
Type: Card Game – Variation of Black Jack
Versions: Multi-3 player
Premise:
Pontoon is the British version of the internationally popular game Twenty-one American Casino version Blackjack. The objective of Pontoon is for a player to come as close to 21 without going over, while still having a higher number than the dealer. This variation of blackjack makes betting more interesting by changing a few of the standard rules and payout.
The game is to have the rules and shortcuts of our current Black Jack game with the follow exceptions:
Summary of rules:
- Game is played with 8 52-card decks.
- Deck is re-shuffled after approximately one-third of the shoe has been dealt
- Dealer must Twist on 16 and Soft 17 and Stick on Hard 17
- Pontoon Pays 2 to 1
- 5 Card trick pays 2 to 1
- Player must twist on 14 or less
- Buy once anytime
- Twist after buy Allowed
- Split 2 times max
- Dealer wins Ties
- Splitting Aces Allowed
- No insurance available to the player
How to play:
Prior to receiving any cards, the player must place a wager. Once the wager is made, the player is dealt two cards face up. The dealer is also dealt two cards but they are placed face down. All face cards are valued at ten and the cards from 2-10 are valued as indicated. Aces can be valued at either one or eleven; if counting the Ace as eleven would put the hand over twenty-one, the Ace is automatically counted as one instead. You do not need to specify which value the Ace has as it's always assumed to have the value that makes the best hand. The value of a hand is the sum of the values of the individual cards. For example, a hand containing a Jack, 3, and 4 has a value of 17. If the total value of the player’s cards is closer to 21 than the dealer, the player wins as much as he wagered. The player wins if the dealer goes over 21.
Betting:
Your chips are stacked by denomination (£1, £5, £25, £100, £500) at the bottom of the screen above your User label. Select the amount you would like to wager on a given hand by clicking the left mouse button on the chip of that denomination. The amount wagered per hand may be increased or decreased by placing the mouse on the stack that you wish to add or subtract to your bet. Each time you click the left mouse button you will add a chip from that pile to your planned wager amount. Likewise by clicking on the right mouse button you can decrease your planned wager amount. You may repeat your last bet by simply hitting the "0" button of your numeric keyboard. Other keyboard shortcuts are summarized below. If you place a wager that is lower than the minimum table bet limit, your bet amount will be automatically adjusted to the minimum bet amount.
Multi-player rules:
In the multi-player version of Pontoon, each table can accommodate three players and the dealer. A bright white light will note your spot on the table. You may change your position on the table by clicking on the desired spot between hands. Each player begins a hand by placing a bet on the table as described above. Once you have placed a bet on the table, you may choose to skip the given deal (before your first card is dealt) by clicking on the "Pass" button or to proceed with the bet by pressing "Deal". If you do not bet or pass within 15 seconds from the beginning of your turn (marked by a light shining on your white circle), you will be automatically excluded from that particular hand. Note that if you join a table in the middle of a hand, you must wait until the round is over and after that you will be able to bet on the next hand. Each player will then receive two cards face up. The dealer will receive two cards face down.
When it is your appropriate turn (marked by a light shining on your white circle), and based on the cards you hold and the one visible from the dealer's hand, you can do the following by clicking with the left mouse button on the appropriate button:
Twist (Hit):
Any time but player must twist (hit) if they have a total of 14 or less before sticking (standing). The player should not be able to twist (hit) if they have 5 cards non-busted (under 21 total); it should automatically go to the next player.
Stick (Stand):
Requests that you receive no more cards. The hand as it currently stands will be judged against the dealer’s. You must have 5 cards or total of 15 or more total, non-busted (under 21 total)
Buy (Double):
Any time but only once per individual hand, hit after buy (double down) allowed until you bust or stick (stand). Example if you split your hand 3 times you will be able to buy (double down) 3 times, once for each hand. This option will be active all of the time and you will be dealt a minimum of one card after selecting buy button. You must still twist (hit) if you have a total of 14 or less before sticking (standing).
Split:
If you have any two cards of equal rank (two identical cards independent of suit) , a Split button will appear. This option will only be active immediately after you receive your first two cards. You can split your cards into two hands and play each hand separately. Your original bet will be duplicated for the new hand. Each hand will be played out as usual. You can split up to 3 hands max. A white box displaying your card total will appear over each hand indicating which hand is active. Split Aces are allowed and treated as if they are any other pair, you are allowed to twist (hit), buy (double down) or play. Just like if it was a pair of 8’s. This is different than regular Black Jack.
Pontoon:
Dealer will peek at their cards and check for a Pontoon (like blackjack 21) before any player action is available. If the dealer has a Pontoon it will be turned over and the dealer will collect all wagers and cards.
Payoffs:
| Result | Payoff |
|---|---|
| Winning Hand | 1 to 1 |
| Pontoon (2-card 21) | 2 to 1 (anytime) |
| 5-Card Trick - Total 21 or Less | 2 to 1 |
| Tie (Including on Pontoons) | Dealer Wins |
Betting Limits:
£2minimum initial ante
£1000 maximum bet
You may also set your table bet limit below the maximum specified limit by selecting Bet Options from the Game Menu. The Modify Table Bet Limit window will appear on the screen. To reduce your maximum table bet limit type in the new limit in the appropriate box Click on the OK button to complete the update. Please be aware that you can modify your table bet limit no more than once per week (Friday 12:00 AM EST) and that using the Modify Table Bet Limit function affects the bet limit for all games and not just the game that you are currently playing.
Card Values:
Suits of the cards have no meaning in the game. Cards 2 through 10 are the face value, Jacks, Queens and Kings are all valued at 10. Aces can count as either 1 or 11
Ranking of Hands:
- Pontoon (Ace and any 10-point card, including after splitting)
- 5-card trick that has not busted
3. Non-busted hand with 4 cards or less, these are all ranked according to closest to 21 without busting
Examples:
- 5-card trick will beat a 21 in 3-4 cards
- 3-card 18 with beat a 4-card 16
- Pontoon by dealer will beat any hand
Numeric Keyboard Shortcuts:
| Keyboard Entry | Action |
|---|---|
| 0 | Repeat last bet |
| Enter | Deal, Stick |
| + | Twist |
| * | Buy |
| / | Split |
Please note that these keyboard shortcuts are offered as a suggestion only. Some computers behave differently than others and therefore we cannot guarantee that the shortcuts will apply to all computers.
