Added: June 18, 2015
Pontoon is a card game listed under blackjack at Australian online casinos. The gameplay is very similar to blackjack, but there are some marked differences. In Pontoon both the dealer’s initial cards are dealt face down. Therefore you have to play your hand with no idea of what the dealer is holding. This makes Pontoon more challenging than other blackjack variants. You are compensated by some changes in the rules. The nomenclature used in Pontoon is also different. A blackjack is referred as pontoon. To hit is referred to as to twist. To stand is referred to as to stick. To double is referred to as buy a card.
The biggest compensation you receive for not knowing the dealer’s cards is a payout of 2 to 1 for Pontoon. Also a five card hand that has not busted pays at 2 to 1 against any dealer hand except a pontoon. These rules over compensate for you, so some changes are made in favor of the dealer. The main one is that the dealer wins ties. You should check out the detailed rules at your Australian online casino, because not all changes have been described in this article.
Like in any other online blackjack variant, making the strategically correct moves is essential for registering average returns of over 95.5%. Optimum strategy is based on your hand value and the number of cards dealt to you at that time. After the two initial cards are dealt the basic strategy for sticks and twists is as follows. You should stick for hard totals of 15 and more and for an ace with an eight, nine or ten and twist in all other conditions. When you have been dealt three cards the basic strategy is as follows. You should stick for hard totals of 15 and more and twist in all other conditions. When you have been dealt four cards the basic strategy is as follows. You should stick for hard totals of 18 and more and twist for a hard total of 17. When you have a five card hand that has not busted he should stick in all conditions.
The above basic strategy does not include details of when you should buy a card and when you should split. Actually the optimum strategy is best followed from the Pontoon strategy card. Many of the Australian online casinos recommended by us include this card along with the game so that you will not make any wrong moves.
