21: Pontoon Online Blackjack by RTG
In the world of casino games, blackjack is certainly one of the most popular games played online. At online casinos, players can find many versions of blackjack including classic European blackjack, 21 and pontoon. One of the more popular blackjack games is 21: Pontoon. Powered by Real Time Gaming, this online version of blackjack pays out 2:1 for any five card hand or 21 score. The player must hit on 14 or less with the dealer winning all ties. In the notes below, we are going to look at how the game works and how to play online.
How the Game Works
21: Pontoon is played in exactly the same way as any blackjack game. The online version of the game consists of a single pontoon table with the dealer at the top of the table and the player at the bottom. There is a single betting area in the middle of the table where the bets are placed. The game is played with eight decks of 52 cards with the game buttons and the players chips located at the bottom of the screen. The game begins with the player placing their bet on the table.
Placing Your Bet
In 21: Pontoon, the player can place their bet by clicking on the chips at the bottom of the screen and then clicking on the betting area on the pontoon table. In this game there is no side bet to be placed. Once the main bet has been place, the player can click on the deal button. The dealer will then deal the player two cards and himself two cards with one card showing. The aim of pontoon is to beat the dealer by getting as close to 21 points as possible without going over 21. Each card has a point value. Cards 2-10 are worth their number, face cards are worth 10 points and the ace is worth 11 or 1 point.
Sticking or Hitting
In a game of 21: Pontoon, once the cards have been dealt, the player has the option to stick, hit, split or double down. If the player has a high scoring hand, they can choose to stick and see if the dealer can match or beat their hand. If the player has a low scoring hand, they can hit and receive an additional card. If the player has two matching cards, they can split their hand into two. Players can also double down which means adding one card and doubling the bet.
Payouts in Pontoon
Once the player has stuck, the dealer will then flip his down-facing card and see if he can match or beat the player’s score. In 21: Pontoon, the dealer must hit on soft 17 and the player must hit on 14 or less. If the dealer cannot beat the player’s score or goes bust, the player will win even money. If the player gets pontoon (blackjack), the payout is 2:1. Players will also be paid out 2:1 for any 5 card hand of 21 or less. In this game, the dealer wins all ties and the dealer’s five card hand always beats the player’s five card hand.
