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Blackjack Variations
The game of blackjack enjoys a surprising number of fun variations. Of these, one of the most famous is the game known as Pontoon. In fact the name 'pontoon' is often used to refer to two separate games. The game which Americans call Spanish 21 is called pontoon by Australians. When Americans say pontoon they are referring to an entirely different game, as you shall soon see.
Pontoon
In Pontoon, the cards have similar values as in classic blackjack and the overall goal of achieving a total of 21 is still the same. Thus, the most basic elements of strategy remain similar. There are some differences of fundamental importance though. The winning hand of an ace and a ten (or picture cards), totaling 21, is called a pontoon (like the name of the game). The next best hand is five cards of any value which have not busted (even if they have not totaled 21). Such a hand is known as a 'five card trick'. These two hands pay the lucky player a 2 to 1 value. Other winning hands pay out 1 to 1 just like in classic blackjack. At pontoon, doubling is usually only allowed once per round. Doubling is usually allowed after splitting, although only once for each split hand. Other significant changes include the fact that the dealer always wins on ties (which serves to increase the house advantage) and that there is no exposed dealer card (which again favors the house).
Pontoon Strategy
The stated goal of the game is to hit 21. Like in classic blackjack, the real goal is to score better than the dealer. Consequently, it is possible to analyze the statistical variables in order to strive for optimal play. This is often referred to as 'basic strategy'. Of course, with card counting techniques and with various fine points which can used to gain certain advantages, this strategy can be improved upon. These improvements are based on the fact that the basic strategy assumes an infinite deck where all cards are thus drawn completely randomly. In practice, eight decks are usually used for playing Pontoon and in some casinos even as few as two decks are used. This, of course, increases the impact of utilizing a variety of strategies.
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