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Pontoon is a game that has been around much longer than American Blackjack and is generally considered to be the second oldest version of blackjack after vignt-eh-un, the French version of the game. There are many similarities between Pontoon and Blackjack and many differences as well.

Setup

There is no “house” to be spoken of in Pontoon, but rather the game is setup with two or more players in each hand and a rotating banker that effectively plays the position of the house in a single hand. Normally, one deck is used unless there are eight or more players playing, in which case two decks are used.

The Initial Deal

Players cut for the high card and the person that gets it ends up being the banker for the first hand. The banker then deals one card face down to each player, starting to their left and ending with them. Each player except for the banker is allowed to look at their card before making a bet against the banker’s hand.

Game Play

Once the bets have been put down, the banker will deal a second card to each player and look at their own cards for the first time as each player examines their second card. Any player that already has a point value of 21 in their hand (aces are 1 or 11, face cards are 10 and all other cards are their face value) is said to have a Pontoon and they therefore end up sitting out the rest of the hand. If the banker has a Pontoon, then everyone else automatically loses.

From this point in the game, play starts with the player immediately to the left of the banker and then proceeds in a normal blackjack form. Depending on the specific variant of blackjack being played, the options for the players and the banker might be different, but the basics of the game work like any other game of blackjack throughout the rest of the hand.

In a typical Pontoon game however, each player is given the chance to buy another card face down (requires an increase in bet amount) or to twist another card face up at no extra charge. Splitting is also allowed in Pontoon and of course any player that goes over 21 during the process of adding cards to their hand ends up busting and losing their bet regardless of what happens with the banker’s hand.

End of Hand

Once each player has gone through their particular turn, the banker turns up their own cards (without affecting any cards from the players that might be face down) and goes through their own turn. Once the banker is satisfied, all remaining hands are compared with ties being won by the banker. All of the used cards are then placed at the bottom of the deck without shuffling and a new banker is selected by some mutually agreed upon method (i.e. a rotation around the table or the best win in a specific hand with high card tiebreaking).

Triple 7s Blackjack is a new online blackjack game loosely based on the standard blackjack, but with a side bet that qualifies the player for a progressive jackpot of hundreds and thousands of dollars. In order to win at triple 7s, one has to get three diamond 7s in a row from the first hand of his hand. While it is not at all an easy feat to achieve, one will be over the moon if that indeed happens.

Triple 7s blackjack is played using five standard decks of 52 cards that are thoroughly shuffled before the start of each game. The side bet is mandatory, and it is automatically set for each player when they play the game. It is equivalent to one coin or credit. Like in the standard blackjack game, here as well, the objective of the player is to beat the dealer’s hand sans going over 21 or force the dealer himself to go bust (going over 21).

Now, here are some of the rules that govern play in Triple 7s:  The dealer has to stand on 17 and split on 16. Splitting and re-splitting are permitted. Aces can be re-split as well. But one can’t split cards that has the same value, but with different denominations. That is, one can’t split a ten and Jack even if both have a value equal to ‘10’. Further, doubling down is permitted only in hands with a value of 9, 10 or 11. Also, one can’t double after splitting. Finally, in Triple 7s blackjack, a player can play only one hand at a time.

Regarding value of cards, in Triple 7s blackjack, all face cards have a value of 10. Aces have a value of 1 or 11, depending on how a player wants it in his hand. A hand can have a maximum of 11 cards. If the hand still does not go over 21, the hand stands. If a player is dealt a 10 card (including picture cards) and an ace, he has a blackjack (referred to as ‘natural’) and such a hand automatically stands. A natural blackjack can only be matched, and can’t be defeated. In the rare even of both the player and dealer having a blackjack is called a ‘push’ in which case the player is paid his original bet amount.

As mentioned above, the biggest draw of Triple 7s blackjack is the progressive jackpot of hundreds of thousand of dollars. Apart from the progressive jackpot, Triple 7s also offers other bonus jackpots, which pays well even though it is no match for the progressives. For example, three 7s of the same suit - other than diamonds - win $1,000. Triple 7s of different suits win $250. In fact, two 7s, and sometimes even a single 7 wins bonus jackpots. No wonder, the Triple 7s is becoming popular amongst online casino gamers.

Even though Triple 7s blackjack is similar to standard blackjack in many ways, it is advisable that one may read and understand the game rules before start gaming. It is always better to go prepared than committing some silly mistake and lose the game.