Pontoon vs Blackjack – What’s the Difference?
Blackjack and pontoon often get lumped together, with a pontoon game regularly even referred to as British blackjack. However, there are quite a few differences. Unique winning conditions add an extra layer of strategy, whereas different rules determine what you are and are not allowed to do depending on how many cards you have and what their totals are. So while you will generally use a similar strategy between the two games, it can pay to learn the differences. In this guide, we’ll be covering those differences.
What is Pontoon?
One of the trickiest things about answering the question of what is pontoon, is that there is no single set of rules. Both it and blackjack come from the same ancestor game of Vingt-Un which originated in the 17th century. But it wasn’t until the early 20th century that it became a game of its own. Since then, dozens of iterations have developed – and even today it’s not uncommon for casinos to host their own unique variant of pontoon rules. However, there is one version that is more popular than others, and it’s that type that we’ll be covering.
Pontoon Card Game Rules
At the start of a hand, both players are dealt two cards, although both of the dealer’s are faced down. Pontoon cards have the same value as in blackjack. That means that 2–10 are worth their face value, jacks, queens, and kings are 10, and the ace is worth 1 or 11. Like blackjack, the goal is to get as close to 21 as possible without going over. Hand rankings, however, are a little different and are ranked as follows:
- A pontoon. This is when your two starting cards tally up to 21.
- Pontoon 5-card trick. Any combination of five cards that do not exceed 21.
- Ranked hands. A hand made of four or fewer cards with a value of 15 or greater, though less than 21. If both the dealer and player have a ranked hand, then the hand with a higher value wins.
- Busted hands. Any combination of cards that is over 21.
Both pontoon and a 5-card trick pay 2:1, whereas other winning hands pay out the standard 1:1.
Players must draw whenever their total is less than 15, though are given the option to stand once 15 is reached. A player may choose to double their bet when drawing, but may only do so once per hand. Once a player stands or has reached a 5-card trick, the dealer will show their hand and will draw themselves cards until they bust, reach a 5-card trick, or have a value of a hard 17 or better. If both the dealer’s and the player’s hands are still active, then the better hand wins according to the above hand rankings. If the hands are tied, the dealer wins.
Since blackjack and pontoon are similar, you can be successful with the same strategies, and so if you’re new to pontoon, we recommend you check out our blackjack betting strategy guide.
Blackjack vs Pontoon Rules: Differences
Despite both coming from the same ancestor game, there are some key differences between blackjack and pontoon. These distinctions aren’t so extreme as to require completely different strategies. However, skilled players should still be aware of them in order to make some minor tweaks.
Win Conditions
Both blackjack and pontoon require you to get your card total as close to 21 as possible without going over, but unlike blackjack, if you get a tie in pontoon, the dealer wins. This is a huge difference and something that you’ll need to keep in mind. The tradeoff for this is a unique winning condition – and if at any time you have five cards with a total of 21 or less, you’ll trump any standard ranked hand of the dealer and will be paid out 2:1.
Another difference that you’ll need to know is that while pontoon pays out 2:1 when getting a 21 on your initial hand, blackjack only pays out 3:2 when this occurs.
Dealer
The biggest difference between dealers is that whereas in blackjack the dealer shows one of their cards, in pontoon the dealer’s hand is a mystery until it’s their turn to act. Secondly, in all the most popular variants of pontoon, the dealer hits on a soft 17. For blackjack, while this is sometimes true, some dealers will instead stand on all 17s.
Hitting, Standing, & Doubling
In blackjack, when and whether you hit, stand, or double is completely up to you – with the only restriction being that you can only double for your first action. For pontoon, there are a lot more rules regarding what you can do and when. Doubling is always allowed, although only once, and standing can only be chosen as an option once you’ve reached at least 15.
Secondly, if at any time you get five cards, you’ll activate the five-card trick and will automatically stand. And while blackjack does have a similar rule with the five-card Charlie, most casinos tables don’t actually offer this anymore.
For a quick look at how blackjack and pontoon deal with similar issues, check out the table below.
| Blackjack | Pontoon | |
|---|---|---|
| Natural (21 on starting hand) pays | 3:2 | 2:1 |
| Is doubling allowed? | Yes, as first action | Yes, once per hand |
| Highest value without going bust | 21 | 21 |
| Standing | Always allowed | Allowed when value of cards is 15 or higher |
| Five-card rule? | No | Yes |
| In the event of a draw | Bets are pushed | Dealer wins |
| Are the dealer’s cards visible? | Yes (one) | No |
Gamblizard pontoon vs blackjack comparison table
Both games tend to have a house edge of about 0.5%, yet, another difference between the two lies is the volatility. In blackjack, you’ll win more often. On the other hand, the payout bonuses of getting a five-card trick or a pontoon balance out the differences. Though, with that being said, to achieve these win rates, you’ll need to alter your strategy slightly.
Of course, basic strategy between the two is very similar. But with blackjack, the optimal way to play weak hands (hands that total 12–16) will largely depend on what the dealer shows. Whereas pontoon card game rules make it so that you’ll usually want to stand as soon as you’re offered the chance, unless you’re nearing a five-card trick.
Conclusion
While both games have a similar look and are based around the similar principle of getting a hand as close to 21 as possible without going over, the truth is that blackjack and pontoon are very much their own games. For beginners, our blackjack strategy guide will be useful for both games. However, if you’re serious about becoming a pro, we recommend you check out our dedicated advanced strategy guide.
References
- Nakoa, Davis. “Pontoon Card Game Rules.” Gamerules. January 2, 2024, https://gamerules.com/rules/pontoon-card-game/. Accessed September 20, 2024.
- Parlett, David. “Blackjack.” Parlett Games, (n.d.), https://www.parlettgames.uk/histocs/blackjack.html. Accessed September 20, 2024.
