Pontoon

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Pontoon

No of Players	2 - 10
Cards to be dealt	One card initially up to a maximum of five
Stake	As agreed
Object	To win money from the Banker by having a higher point count than the banker but without the hand exceeding 21. Aces count as 1 or 11….. Picture cards as 10…… Other cards - face value
Deal	Cut for Banker, who shuffles and deals in a clockwise direction, giving one card face down to each player (including the dealer).
Play	Stage 1 - Players, but not the dealer, look at their card and place a bet on the table.
	Stage 2 - The dealer then deals a second card face up to each player (including the dealer).
	Stage 3 - Each player in turn, commencing with the player to the left of the dealer/banker, has the following options.
	To buy a further concealed card or cards from the banker. The amount paid for each bought card must not exceed the original stake. Up to 3 cards may be bought bringing the hand up to a maximum of 5 cards. Once the point count exceeds 21 the hand is "busted"and the player loses all the money staked. Twist for a further card or cards which are provided without buying and dealt face upwards. Once a player has twisted for a card, he or she may not revert back to buying cards. Once again up to 5 cards may be held if the point count is less than 21. Stick - once the second card is dealt, a player may stick or exercise options 1 or 2 above. A player may choose to stick at any point after receiving 2 cards up to a maximum of 5 cards. This procedure is repeated with each player in turn, those with "busted" hands stacking their cards. The dealer plays last by turning over his hidden card and deciding to either stick or twist. If the dealer "busts" he or she will play even money to all the players left in the game. All players hands are revealed once the dealer sticks. The dealer will pay even money to the winners and collect the bets from the losers. Pontoon - Any player holding pontoon, that is 2 cards which add up to 21 (e.g. Ace and a picture or ten) will beat any other combination of cards that add up to 21. If the banker holds pontoon or his point count ties with any player, then the banker wins.
	Five Card Trick - Any hand that holds 5 cards with a point count of 21 or less will win with the exception of "pontoon". If the banker and a player both have 5 card tricks the highest scoring hand under 21 wins. In the event of a tie the banker wins. Splitting Pairs - If a player's first two cards are a pair, they may be split if the player wishes and treated as two separate hands. The player places the equivalent of the original stake on the second hand. The hands are then played in turn as if by two separate players. Change of Banker - The first player to beat the bank with a pontoon, takes over the role of banker.