Pontoon Calculator: The British Blackjack Alternative

Pontoon is British blackjack with unique rules—no hole card, dealer wins ties, but 5-card hands pay bonus. Our calculator shows optimal strategy, explains the distinctive terminology, and reveals why this variant offers comparable value to its American cousin.

What Is Pontoon?

Pontoon is a British blackjack variant with key differences: dealer's cards are both face-down (no hole card), dealer wins all ties, you must hit on 14 or less, and 5-card tricks (any 5 cards totaling 21 or under) pay 2:1. The hand called "Pontoon" (Ace + ten-value) pays 2:1 also.

How to Use Our Calculator

Use the Pontoon Calculator →

Determine optimal play with Pontoon rules.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Enter Your Hand: Two cards

2. No Dealer Card Visible: Both down

3. See Optimal Play: Best decision

4. Check 5-Card Potential: Bonus chasing

5. View EV: Expected value

Input Fields Explained

Field	Description	Example
Your Hand	Two cards	10♠5♦
Decision	Optimal	Twist
5-Card Possible	Bonus chase?	Yes
House Edge	Game edge	0.38%

Terminology Guide

Pontoon vs Blackjack Terms

Blackjack → Pontoon term:

Hit → Twist
Stand → Stick
Double → Buy
Blackjack → Pontoon
Dealer's hole card → None (both down)
Split → Split (same)

Hand Names

Pontoon (best):
Ace + 10-value on first two cards
Pays 2:1 (not 3:2)

5-Card Trick (second best):
5 cards, total 21 or under
Pays 2:1

21 in 3-4 cards:
Pays 1:1 (normal)

Key Rule Differences

No Hole Card

Dealer draws:

Both cards face down initially
Reveals after all players act
No peeking for blackjack

Impact:
Lose doubles/splits to Pontoon
No insurance offered
Strategy adjusts

Dealer Wins Ties

All ties = dealer wins:

Your 20 vs dealer 20 = you lose
Your 18 vs dealer 18 = you lose

Only Pontoon ties Pontoon
(Both push if identical)

Impact:
Big disadvantage
~8% of hands are ties

5-Card Trick Bonus

Any 5 cards ≤21:

Pays 2:1 (bonus!)
Beats dealer 21 in 3-4 cards
Only loses to Pontoon or 5-card 21

Impact:
Chase 5-card hands
Hit when might reach 5 cards
Different from blackjack strategy

Must Hit on 14 or Less

Forced action:

Cannot stick on 14 or lower
Must twist until 15+

Impact:
Some decisions removed
But changes standing strategy

Dealer Must Hit Soft 17

Dealer rules:

Must hit soft 17
Hits until hard 17+
More busts but more wins too

Strategy Adjustments

Hard Hand Strategy

No dealer upcard visible:

Play against average dealer strength
More conservative than blackjack
Stand earlier on high totals

Hard 15: Stick (don't twist)
Hard 16: Stick
Hard 17+: Always stick

Below 15: Must twist anyway

Soft Hand Strategy

Soft hands:

A-2 to A-4: Twist always
A-5: Consider 5-card potential
A-6: Twist/Buy situation
A-7: Stick most situations
A-8+: Stick

Buy (double) less often
No dealer info makes it riskier

Pair Splitting

Modified splits:

Split A-A: Always (Pontoon possible)
Split 8-8: Usually (16 is terrible)
Split 7-7: Situational
Split lower pairs: Often skip

Don't split 10s (never)
Don't split 5s (buy on 10 instead)

5-Card Trick Chasing

When to chase 5 cards:

4 cards totaling 11 or less: Twist
(Can't bust, might get bonus)

4 cards totaling 12-15: Careful
(May twist for 5-card 21)

4 cards totaling 16+: Stick
(Bust risk outweighs bonus)

House Edge Analysis

Edge Breakdown

Pontoon house edge:

Ties to dealer: -2.5%
No hole card: -0.1%
5-card bonus: +1.1%
Pontoon pays 2:1: +0.3%
Must hit 14: ~neutral

Net house edge: ~0.38%

Comparison to Blackjack

Game comparison:

Standard blackjack: ~0.50%
Pontoon: ~0.38%

Pontoon can be BETTER
Despite dealer wins ties
5-card bonus is valuable

Why 5-Card Matters

5-card trick frequency:

About 4.5% of winning hands
Paying 2:1 vs 1:1
Adds ~1.1% player value

This is the key advantage
Chase these hands appropriately

Real-World Examples

Example 1: Standard Decision

Hand: 10-6 = 16

In blackjack vs 10:
Tough—probably stand or hit

In Pontoon:
No upcard known
Dealer average is strong

Decision: Stick on 16
Less risk of bust
Hope dealer busts

Example 2: 5-Card Chase

Hand: 2-3-4-5 = 14 (4 cards)

Currently: 14 with 4 cards
Must twist (14 or less required)

After twist:
Get 7 = 21! 5-card trick!
Pays 2:1

Get 8 = 22, bust
Lose

Worth the twist:
7 or less = bonus
8+ = bust
Not optional anyway (must hit 14)

Example 3: Pontoon Win

Hand: A-K = Pontoon

Pontoon (21 natural):
Pays 2:1

$25 bet wins $50

Better than blackjack 3:2 ($37.50)

But if dealer also has Pontoon:
Push (tie—no money changes)

Example 4: Tie Loss

Hand: K-Q = 20

Strong hand, feel good

Dealer reveals: J-10 = 20

In blackjack: Push (tie)
In Pontoon: YOU LOSE

$25 bet lost
Despite having same hand

This is Pontoon's main catch

Common Mistakes

1. Using Blackjack Strategy

Mistake: Standard blackjack plays Problem: No upcard changes everything Fix: Learn Pontoon-specific strategy

2. Not Chasing 5-Cards

Mistake: Sticking on 4-card 16 Problem: Missing 2:1 bonus potential Fix: Evaluate 5-card value

3. Forgetting Tie Losses

Mistake: Expecting push on 20 Problem: Dealer wins ties Fix: Account for this in EV

4. Over-Buying (Doubling)

Mistake: Aggressive doubles Problem: No dealer info = risk Fix: Buy conservatively

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pontoon better than blackjack?

Surprisingly, often yes. Despite dealer winning ties, the 5-card bonus and 2:1 Pontoon payout can make edge 0.38% vs blackjack's ~0.50%.

Why does dealer win ties?

British/Australian tradition. Different historical development from American blackjack. Balances other player-favorable rules.

What's a 5-card trick?

Any hand of 5 cards totaling 21 or less. Pays 2:1 and beats regular 21. Second-best hand after Pontoon.

Do I really have to hit on 14?

Yes, must "twist" until 15 or higher. Can't "stick" on 14 or less. Removes some decisions but changes strategy.

Is card counting possible?

Yes, but modified. No dealer upcard makes decisions harder. True count still useful but application differs.

What if dealer and I both get Pontoon?

Push—the only tie that's a push. Dealer Pontoon otherwise beats any player hand.

Pro Tips

• Embrace the 5-card bonus: It's valuable

• Ties hurt: Expect to lose pushes

• Conservative doubles: Less info = less aggression

• Stick earlier: 15-16 are sticking hands

• Learn the terms: Twist, stick, buy

Related Calculators

• Blackjack Odds Calculator - Standard game
• Blackjack Strategy Calculator - Basic strategy
• Spanish 21 Calculator - Another variant
• House Edge Calculator - Compare games
• Expected Value Calculator - Bet analysis

Conclusion

Pontoon offers unique twists on blackjack—no hole card, dealer wins ties, but 5-card bonuses and 2:1 Pontoons compensate. Our calculator shows optimal strategy, explains when to chase 5-card tricks, and reveals why this British variant can actually offer lower house edge than American blackjack.

Calculate Pontoon Odds Now →

Your 20 feels strong until you remember dealer wins ties in Pontoon. Our calculator factors in this crucial rule change and shows why 5-card trick bonuses make this classic British variant worth learning.