Pontoon

Pontoon is the British version of the internationally popular banking game Twenty-one, perhaps now best known in the form of the American Casino version Blackjack. The game Pontoon and its name are derived from the French Vingt-et-un (21). The variation Shoot Pontoon makes the betting more interesting, by incorporating the betting mechanism of Shoot. Pontoon can be played by any number of players from two upwards – it works well with 5 to 8 players – using a standard 52 card pack. For a large number of players, say 8 or more, two 52 packs can be mixed together. The players also need a 슬롯머신 supply of money or chips for betting. The cards have values: ace is worth 1 or 11 at the holder’s choice, kings, queens, jacks and tens are worth ten, and the remaining cards are worth their pip value. Each player’s basic aim is to form a hand whose total value is as near as possible to 21, without going above 21. One player is designated as the banker. The banker has an advantage, so the first banker is chosen at random. In each hand, each of the other players bets on having a better hand than the banker.

How to Play

This takes place in a number of stages.

-The banker deals one card to each player, including sled. The punters examine their cards and bet on them. (See Stage 1).

-The banker deals a second card all round. (See Stage 2).

-The banker addresses the players in turn, who either complete their hands or are busted. (See Stage 3).

-When all punters have been accommodated, the banker’s hand is turned over. The banker is free to add cards face up to it, stopping when satisfied or is busted.

-Debts are settled. The banker pays all punters whose hands beat the banker’s hand, matching the punters’ stakes, and collects the stakes of the losing punters.

Stage 1

The punters look at their cards then put them back face down on the table, indicating their bets by placing counters beside them.

Stage 2

When all the punters have bet, banker deals a second card face down all round.

Stage 3

The banker now addresses each punter in turn, starting with Eldest. A punter has three options and a possible fourth as follows.

-Stick. The punter, whose hand must total 16 or more, elects to have no more cards. If the hand is pontoon, the Ace is turned over to indicate this.

-Twist. The punter elects to receive a third card. Banker deals this face-up off the top of the pack. If the cards, together with the two hidden cards, total more than 21, the punter is bust. The punter announces this; the banker takes up the punter’s cards and places them at the bottom of the pack, then appropriates the punter’s stake. If not busted, the punter can elect to receive further cards in the same manner until satisfied (“stick”) or bust.

-Buy. The punter opts to receive a card face down. For this privilege, the punter must bet again, but not more than the original stake. Another card or cards may subsequently be bought, or the punter can elect to twist. A bet may be decreased but never increased and a punter who elects to twist cannot subsequently buy.

If a punter has four cards and opts for a fifth in an attempt to complete a five card trick, the card is dealt face up whether the punter buys or twists. However, if the four cards total 11 or less the fifth card cannot be bought since the bonus hand is a certainty.

-Split. A punter who receives his first two cards of the same rank can elect to split them – to form two hands, one with each card. A stake equivalent to that placed on the first card is place on the second, and the banker deals another card to each hand. If there is a further match, the punter may split again. Each hand is then played out as above.

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