Pontoon rules and basic strategy

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Blackjack Rules

Pontoon

Pontoon is a splendid 21 game offered in some of the best online casinos. The object of the game is still to get closer to 21 than the dealer. In Pontoon both of the dealer's cards are dealt face down, so you are playing your hand blind. The really good thing about this game is that when you play this basic strategy the house advantage is only .38%. That means if you bet $100 you are only giving up 38 cents in house edge!

NEW! Microgaming has added Pontoon Gold. The game has one slight rule variation. You are not allowed to take additional cards after splitting aces, so DO NOT split aces at Microgaming casinos.

Pontoon Rules
Pontoon pays 2 to 1
5 cards pay 2 to 1
Dealer wins ties
* Dealer's 5 card beats player's 5 card
Dealer cards face down
Dealer must hit on soft 17
Player must hit 14 or less
Double once anytime
Hit after double allowed
Split up to 2 times

LEGEND
HIT	STAND	DOUBLE	SPLIT
H	S	D	P

**NOTE - If you have a 3 card A,10 and you can not double then stand. This might happen if say you had 6,4 and doubled and caught an ace.

DO NOT split aces at Microgaming casinos.

Pontoon Basic Strategy
Total	Number of cards
21	4	3	2
20	S	S	S
19	S	S	S
18	S	S	S
17	H	S	S
16	D	S	S
15	D	S	S
14	D	H	H
13	D	H	H
12	D	H	H
11	D	D	D
10	D	D	D
9	D	D	H
8	D	H	H
7		H	H
6		H	H
5			H
4			H
A,10	D	Ds	S
A,9	D	D	S
A,8	D	D	S
A,7	D	H	H
A,6	D	H	H
A,5	D	H	H
A,4	D	H	H
A,3	D	H	H
A,2		H	H
A,A			P
8,8			P