Pontoon

What Is Pontoon?

Pontoon is the British ancestor of Blackjack, popular in home games across the UK and Australia. Like Blackjack, you try to get as close to 21 as possible without busting. But Pontoon has two special hands that change the entire strategy. A Pontoon — an Ace plus any 10-value card — is the best hand and pays double. A Five Card Trick — five cards totaling 21 or under — is the second best hand and also pays double. Both are more powerful than a regular 21.

What You Need

• One standard deck of 52 playing cards
• Two to eight players — one player is the banker (dealer) and the rest are players

Card Values

• Aces: worth 1 or 11 — whichever is better for your hand
• Face cards (Jack, Queen, King): worth 10 points each
• Number cards 2 through 10: face value

Hand Rankings — Best to Worst

1. Pontoon: Ace plus any 10-value card in your first two cards — best hand, pays 2 to 1
2. Five Card Trick: exactly five cards with a total of 21 or under — second best, pays 2 to 1
3. 21 with three or four cards — beats all lower totals
4. Any total from 20 down to the minimum — lowest winning hand

Setting Up the Game

1. Choose the banker — traditionally the player who deals, and the role rotates when the banker busts or is beaten by a Pontoon.
2. The banker deals one card face-DOWN to each player and to themselves.
3. Each player peeks at their own card privately. Do not show it to anyone.
4. The banker deals a second card face-DOWN to each player. Again, everyone looks at their own cards privately. The banker does not look at their own second card yet.

Playing Your Hand — Your Options Each Turn

Starting with the player to the left of the banker, each player plays their hand. All player cards remain face-down during play — only the player can see them.

Declare Pontoon

If your first two cards are an Ace plus any 10-value card, announce ‘Pontoon!’ and place them face-up. You win 2 to 1 from the banker automatically — no further play needed.

Buy

Pay additional chips (up to your original bet amount) to receive one more card face-down. You can buy up to three times, giving you a maximum of five cards. You must buy before you twist. Once you have twisted even once, you cannot buy again.

Twist

Receive one card face-up for free. You can twist as many times as you want. After your first twist, you can only continue twisting — you cannot buy after twisting.

Stand

Stop taking cards and keep your current total. You must have a total of at least 15 to stand — you cannot stand on 14 or lower.

Bust

If your total exceeds 21 at any point, flip your cards over and pay the banker your bet immediately. You are out of this hand.

The Banker’s Turn

After all players have acted, the banker reveals both their cards. The banker then draws cards freely — no restrictions on standing or hitting. The banker can stand at any total they choose.

The banker wins all ties — if your total equals the banker’s total, you lose.

Payouts

• Pontoon: paid 2 to 1
• Five Card Trick: paid 2 to 1
• Any other win: paid 1 to 1
• Tie: you lose — banker wins all ties

Tips for New Players

• Always chase the Five Card Trick when you have four cards totaling 11 or less — one more card cannot bust you and you might hit the 2 to 1 payout.
• Buy rather than twist when your total is between 12 and 14 — keeping cards face-down gives you a small psychological advantage against the banker.
• The banker’s advantage in winning ties is significant — the player hands with the most upside are Pontoon and Five Card Trick.

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