Pontoon
IF YOU ALREADY KNOW HOW TO PLAY BLACKJACK, you'll find mastering the game of Pontoon an absolute no-brainer. In fact, Pontoon is another form of Blackjack which - by the way - is also commonly known as Twenty-One.
History of Pontoon
Prior to the existence of Blackjack, the French invented what they referred to as ‘Vingt et Un' - or ‘Twenty-One' as we say in English. The game's beginnings can be tracked to French casinos as early as the 18th Century. When Twenty-One first arrived on US shores, it failed to win much attention. Thus casinos commenced offering new forms of bonuses in their efforts to attract more players.
How to Play Pontoon
Though Pontoon games vary from online casino to online casino, playing Pontoon could not be simpler. Like Blackjack, the goal is to create a hand adding up to as close to 21 as possible, without going over. The game begins with you being dealt two cards face-up. The dealer also receives two cards, however, face down. The dealer is obligated to hit (take another card) when holding 16 or less, or a Soft 17, and stick on Hard 17.
Hard & Soft 17s
A Soft 17 is a hand comprising at least 1 Ace and the card-total equals either 7 or 17. For instance, a hand with an Ace, 3 + 3 is a Soft 17, and a hand having an Ace, 7 + 9 is a Hard 17 because the Ace cannot be worth 11. Should there be a tie (push), the dealer (House) wins.
Pontoon & Blackjack Differences
However subtle, the differences among Pontoon and Blackjack include:
In Pontoon, two hands can trump a regular 21: Pontoon, which is a hand having an Ace and a 10 or picture card, and a 5-card trick, that is, the player draws 5 cards without busting (going over 17), no matter what the total value of his/her hand is.
Players must hit when holding a hand of 15 or less.
The dealer's cards are dealt face-down and remain that way until the player(s) either stand or bust.
A player may only split cards having equal ranks, meaning 2 sevens may be split as well as Jack, Queen or King, which are each worth 10 points.
The dealers will check their cards immediately after they are dealt. If the dealer has a Pontoon, his/her cards are turned face-up immediately and the player loses the game and their bet.
After doubling, players may draw as many cards as they desire.
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