How To Play Microgaming (Apricot) Pontoon Gold?

Apricot (former Microgaming) Pontoon Gold is a variation of Blackjack in popular online casinos in New Zealand.

Pontoon is played in the UK and Australia as a version of Blackjack. It is a blackjack-based variation mostly played in land-based casinos.

There is a lot of confusion regarding the number of cards in a deck while playing Pontoon. Does it have 10s (non-picture cards) or not? Can they be dealt or not?

According to my research and information from the Gambling Regulatory Authority and the Department of Internal Affairs in New Zealand, while playing Pontoon, the deck consists of 48 cards, excluding the 10s of hearts, diamonds, spades, and clubs.

It stands to reason that as Apricot (former Microgaming) is one of the world’s leading online casino software developers, they would come up with several different versions of Blackjack.

Pontoon is a variation, and the rules are familiar but with a few twists and exceptions.

Playing this version of this game allows for specific features you may not find with other software.

For example, speed control has four speeds: slow, medium, fast, and fastest. Sounds may also be manipulated and turned off. Auto-play and strategy cards may be used in expert mode.

There are five betting spaces, and up to five hands may be played with a maximum bet of 200 and a minimum of 1.

How do you play Pontoon Gold?

However, I have explained the gameplay of the Blackjack-based Pontoon Game below:

The gameplay of Pontoon is generally very similar to that of blackjack, but some small differences play a significant role.

In Blackjack, there is one dealer and three players. However, in Pontoon, all four players participate, and one player is chosen to act as the banker.

All four players play together. Another difference is that the deck has no 10s (non-picture cards), making it a 48-card deck.

Each player is not dealt two cards. Instead, everyone, including the banker, is dealt two face-down cards. Everyone checks their first card and decides whether they want another card.

If the cards do not get closer to 21, players can hit another card. After this, players check who gets closest to 21. Remember, the banker is also playing as a player.

With minimum wager standing at a mere $1 and maximum bet being $200, Pontoon Gold can cater for a wide range of online gamers, who may have a slight disadvantage because dealer cards are dealt face down. Still, two ways to receive a 2 to 1 payout should prove enough to compensate.

Terminology:

• “Twist” is used instead of Hit or Draw.
• “Stick” is used when you do not want to receive any more cards.
• Clicking on “Buy” will double your initial stake (only once per hand).

While the minimum bet is $1, available coin denominations are $1, $5, $10, and $25, so select the preferred stake and place your wager on one of the five seats or bases.

Starting the Game:

• Click on “Deal” to start the hand.
• Auto-Rebet and Quick Deal options are available.
• Move your cursor to the black field in the upper left-hand corner to read essential game rules.

Gameplay of Pontoon

Suppose four people are playing: Me, David, Steve, and Michael. David is the banker. He deals cards to all four players, both face down.

Now, everyone checks their cards.

1. Me: J and 5 = 15
2. David: J and 8 = 18
3. Steve: 9 and 8 = 17
4. Michael: 9 and 2 = 11

Michael and I decided to “Twist” (ask for one more card) since we are far from 21. The other two decide to “Stick” (not take any more cards).

I receive a 7, and Michael receives a K. The new totals are:

• Me: 22 (busted – went over 21)
• Michael: 21

I am busted because I went over 21, so I lost. Michael wins this hand as he gets closest to 21. The other two also lost.

You might be wondering if Michael got a Pontoon. No, a Pontoon can only be claimed with the two initial cards dealt. After twisting or sticking, you can’t achieve a Pontoon.

Rules of Pontoon Gold

The game is played with eight decks of cards. While the Dealer receives two cards, the player cannot see either.

The Dealer, or banker, then checks for Pontoon, which is the same as Blackjack in the more conservative variations of the game.

The good news is that the player’s 21 or Pontoon is always a more substantial hand than the banker’s 21 or Pontoon.

The player has three ways of winning the hand

• Regular Win: Pays 1 to 1.
• Pontoon: A hand consisting of an Ace and any ten-value card pays 2 to 1.
• 5-Card Trick: Any five-card hand with a value of 21 or less pays 2 to 1.

Here’s the list of winning hands from low to high:

• Pontoon or Blackjack – Getting 21 in the initial bet
• Five Card Trick – Getting 21 with 5 cards
• 4 Card Trick – Getting 21 with 4 cards
• 3 Card Trick – Getting 21 with 3 cards

While the banker must stand on all 17, the player must draw if the current card value is less than 15.

In case of a push, the dealer wins the hand, whereas the double-down option can be used once per hand on 2, 3, or 4 cards.

Payout Odds of different hands in Pontoon

Result	Odds
Pontoon	3 to 2
5 cards totaling 21	3 to 2
6,7,8 mixed suits	3 to 2
7,7,7 mixed suits	3 to 2
6 cards totaling 21	2 to 1
6,7,8 same suits (except spades)	2 to 1
7,7,7 same suits (except spades)	2 to 1
7 or more cards totaling 21	3 to 1
6,7,8 all spades	3 to 1
7,7,7 all spades	3 to 1
All other winning wagers	1 to 1

In betting terms, “3 to 2” means that for every 2 units you wager, you will win 3 units in return.

For example, if you bet $2 and win a “3 to 2” payout, you will receive $3 in winnings plus your original $2 bet, totalling $5.

Remember, a banker gets replaced whenever the other person strike a “Pontoon” and then again the game repeats.

After the players’ hands have been completed, the banker will play their hand, and potential wins will be calculated.

Guide to Betting and Playing the Pontoon Game

Playing Pontoon as opposed to Blackjack online will see you have to be aware of the ever so slightly different playing and betting decisions that will be available to you, and you will also need to be mindful of how the Dealer is going to be playing off his hands too with the following information:

1. Low House Edge

One of the most important aspects of playing any casino card game is that you will always be best advised to stick to the games that offer you a low House edge when played perfectly and with the best playing strategy.

For reference, the Apricot version of Pontoon has a house edge with optimal play of just 0.38%, which is lower in value than some Blackjack games!

2. Dealer Soft 17 

Once you have made all of your playing and betting decisions on your hand or hands when playing Pontoon, it will then be the turn of the Dealer to play off his hand, and he will play his hand off until he reaches a Sot 17 valued hand or any high valued hand which he will then stand.

If the Dealer has a 16-value hand or anything lower in value, he will keep twisting his hand until it reaches a Soft 17 hand or something higher in value.

3. Ace Cards

You will be allowed to split and re-split a pair of Ace that have been dealt out to you; when you do so, you can form up to three hands by splitting and re-splitting. However, if you break any Pair of Aces, just one additional card will be dealt out to each of them, and you will not be able to twist those hands.

4. Buy a Card

Playing many blackjack games will allow you to double down your initial two-card hands. That betting decision is known as buying a card when you are playing Pontoon online, and you will be permitted to buy a third card no matter what your initial two-card hand’s value is.

When you buy a third card, however, the cost of that betting decision will be the same amount you wagered on the base hand, and you will only be able to buy a card once per hand.

However, you can buy a third card if you split a pair.

5. Winning Payouts

The final thing is how much you will receive with a winning hand combination.

A winning Pontoon Hand, which is a base Ace and any ten-valued card, is rewarded with a winning payout worth 2 to 1; the same 2 to 1 winning payout is awarded to players if they are lucky enough to form a five-card trick, even after initially splitting any pair of cards.

All other winning players’ hands are paid out at the standard rate of even money. One final thing to note is that a Pontoon 2:1 winning payout can be achieved even after you split a pair of cards.

Editor’s Verdict

Now that you understand how to play Pontoon, playing first for free or in demo mode is advised, so you should practice the game thoroughly and know the rules before indulging in real money betting.

Also, remember that you can tailor your unique playing session by clicking on the options setting tab at the foot of the Pontoon game screen.

So, spend a few moments playing around with those option settings to configure the game in a way you find preferable based on your preferred option settings.

The gaming experience of Pontoon and Blackjack is very similar with just small differences.

FAQs