Pontoon has the same roots as blackjack, which is popular in American casinos,. It is also known as vingt-et-un. It was the most popular game of British soldiers. Up to ten may play with the standard 52-card pack. First banker is decided by cutting, Ace being high, and the banker deals a card face down to each player including himself. Each player except the banker looks at his card and stakes accordingly. It is advisable to agree a minimum and maximum stake before playing. The object of the game is to achieve as near as possible a total of 21, Ace counting as i or i i at the discretion of its holder, court cards as io and other cards at their pip value.

When all players have staked, the banker deals a second card to all players, himself included. A player dealt two Aces may split them by putting up a stake equal to his original stake on the second Ace and regarding each Ace as the first card dealt to him, receiving a second card to each.

The banker then deals with each player in turn, beginning on his left. A player satisfied with his two-card total stands. Players may stand on totals between 16 and 21. Alternatively, he may buy additional cards, but cannot hold more than five. He may buy each card by increasing his stake by any amount not greater than his original stake.

A player with a four-card total of eleven or less must announce that he cannot bust and his fifth card must be twisted. A third option open to the player at any time is to twist, which means he receives an additional free card face up.

He may twist as often as he wishes, provided his hand does not exceed five cards. A player who once twists may not subsequently buy a card. If in buying a card, or twisting, a player’s total count exceeds 21, he busts and loses immediately and the banker collects his stake.

The highest hand is a ‘pontoon’, formed by an Ace and a 10 or court card. A player holding this hand declares it immediately by turning his cards over. A five-card hand beats any other except a pontoon.

When all players have stood or bust, the banker turns over his cards. If he has a pontoon, he wins from all players. Otherwise he may stand or deal himself as many additional cards as he pleases.
If he exceeds 21, he pays all players still in the game. If he achieves a five-card hand, he wins from all players except those with a pontoon. When he decides to stand, he wins from all players with an inferior or equal total to himself, and loses to those with a superior total and to those with five-card hands.


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