Pontoon

Objective of the Game

The goal of Pontoon is to get your cards closer to a total of 21 points than the dealer without exceeding (busting) 21 points.

Minimum: 2 players (1 dealer and at least 1 player), Maximum: no fixed limit, but ideally 6-7 players.

One player is designated as the dealer. The dealer shuffles the cards and deals two face-down cards to each player and themselves.

Bet: Each player places a bet.
Reveal Cards: Players look at their cards, and the dealer shows one of their cards (in some Pontoon variants, all dealer cards stay face-down until players stand).
Player Decisions:
Hit: Players can request another card to get closer to or exactly 21 points.
Stick: Players decide not to take any more cards.
Double Down: Players can double their initial bet and receive one final card.
Split: If a player has two cards of the same value, they can split them into two separate hands, each played with an additional bet of the same amount.
Dealer Plays: After all players have finished their turns, the dealer reveals their cards. The dealer must draw until they hold at least 16 points and stand on 17 or above.

If a player exceeds 21 points, they bust and lose their bet.
If the player's total is higher than the dealer's or the dealer busts, the player wins and receives double their bet.
If the dealer has a higher total than the player without busting, the player loses their bet.
If a player holds exactly 5 cards without busting, they automatically win a payout of 2 to 1 of the bet; this is known as a "5 Card Trick."

Blackjack/Pontoon: An Ace and a face card count as "Pontoon," winning 2 to 1 of the bet unless the dealer also has Pontoon.

If the dealer's card is weak (2 to 6), players should consider standing if they have 12 or more points.
Players should be cautious to avoid busting and assess risk properly.

Pontoon offers players many strategic decisions where both luck and judgment about the game progress play crucial roles.