Pontoon Basic Strategy

Posted By admin On 04/04/22

Because pontoon has an element of player choice, players can reduce the casino advantage to less than 0.5% (with the exception of Adelaide, with house edge 0.62%), by playing optimally. The complete set of optimal plays is known as basic strategy, and is highly dependent on the rules.The computer-generated Pontoon basic strategy and house edge tables below are reproduced from The Pro's Guide. The Pontoon card game strategy is a good deal different from basic Blackjack strategy due to all the different rules and variations. So we really recommend that you have a look at our Pontoon card game strategy chart below which pretty much sums up all you need to know in visual format! Click here for the Free Pontoon Strategy Chart Printable. Pontoon was designed mainly to be played in British and Australian casinos, but also in casinos across Singapore and Malaysia. It is considered as a variant of Spanish 21 mainly played in America, and generally as a variant of blackjack, although it is a separate and unique game in itself. However, with the appearance of online casinos, players from all around the world began playing Pontoon. Pontoon uses a standard 52-card deck. Players are forced to hit any hand 14 and under. There is a separate value hand just below a blackjack which is called “pontoon” in this game. It is a five-card trick. There are many strategy changes due to the unusual rules. Make sure to learn the basic strategy for Pontoon before playing. BLACKJACK STRATEGY CALCULATOR. This calculator generates a blackjack strategy table based on the programmed set of rules. Select the Switch to Advanced Calc button to add support for less common rule selections including 5-card 21 bonuses, charlie bonuses, 777 bonuses; split restrictions; and peek on 10. See the blackjack page for more information about the rule options.

Pontoon Basic Strategy Definition

jamesong
Referring to the following pontoon rules at Genting:
1) Dealer draws to hard 16 or soft 17
2) Only allow surrender if dealer's first card is an Ace or any Picture card
3) No hand can be split more than thrice into more than 4 hands
4) For Ace pair split, Player can only split once and draw only one additional card for each hand
5) Double down allowed on first two cards
6) Surrender after doubling down allowed
Payouts
5 cards totalling 21: 3 to 2
6,7,8 mixed suits: 3 to 2
7,7,7 mixed suits: 3 to 2
6 cards totalling 21: 2 to 1
6,7,8 same suits (except Spades): 2 to 1
7,7,7 same suits (except Spades): 2 to 1
7 or more cards totalling 21: 3 to 1
6,7,8 all Spades: 3 to 1
7,7,7 all Spades: 3 to 1
Is the Pontoon basic strategies from Wizard of Odds suitable for the above rules?
jamesong
Sorry, unable to include links in my post.
Pontooncharliepatrick
Thanks for this post from:
See https://wizardofodds.com/games/spanish-21/ or https://wizardofodds.com/games/pontoon/australian/ . Note a Spanish deck has 10's removed.
Hopefully one of these describe your game.
jamesong
Charlie, Thank you very much!

Pontoon Variation

How To Win At Pontoon

  • Pontoon is a popular basic blackjack card game performed in Australia and Malaysia as a known variant of Spanish 21.

    The game has one of the lowest house edges and thus it's highly favorable to amateurs.

    The standard blackjack card game forms the basis of Pontoon - lends the game its basic notions, mechanisms and rules.

    Even though Pontoon card game obtains its specific features which may be formulated in the following way:

    • Eight card packs shape the shoe;
    • 2:1 pay for blackjack;
    • 2:1 pay for 5-card winning hand;
    • Even money pay for other win combinations;
    • The dealer blackjack defeats the player blackjack (here pontoon) and 5-card winning hand;
    • The dealer distributes all the player cards face-up;
    • The dealer initial hand is dealt face-down;
    • Having less than 15 total the hit for a player is a must (up to 5-cards hand);
    • The dealer checks his hand for pontoon at once;
    • Doubling is okay once for hands with 2, 3 or 4 cards;
    • Having less than 17 total the hit is a must for a dealer;
    • 2 splits is a max for one round.

    Also we may distinguish the next term differentiations in Pontoon in comparison with the regular blackjack card game:

    • twist = hit
    • stick = stand
    • buy = double down
    • pontoon = blackjack

    PONTOON STRATEGY TABLES

    It's a useless thing to occupy the tournament blackjack chair without knowing the Pontoon basic strategy mechanism.

    In the tables given below we provide you with helpful decision tips and recommendations.

    Hit → H Stand → S Double → D (if it's not okay then hit) Split → P

    *Double if it's okay, otherwise stand.

    You may easily use these charts performing your online casinos gaming. Just print the data given above or open this page on your browser tab.

    You should memorize the mechanism of Pontoon basic strategy if you play real casinos. In live gambling houses the game etiquette bans any additional stuff usage.