Pontoon
Blackjack with a Spanish twist
Pontoon is a game that is a fusion of the Filipino ingenuity and European innovation. Using Spanish packs of cards ( 1-9, J, Q, K ). The object of the game is to get a Pontoon (a hand having an ace and any card with a value of ten on its initial cards)or a score higher than the dealer’s hand without going over 21 points (bust). The score of a hand is determined by taking the sum of the point values of its cards.
A winning hand is paid even money. Hands with Pontoon, triple 7 or 6-7-8 (same suit) always win over the dealer’s hand and are paid immediately. As long as his cards do not bust, a player can surrender his hand or opt for business anytime.
In addition to the regular bets, the game also accepts pair bets. Pair bets are paid (10:1) when a hand’s initial cards constitute a pair.