Nucleus Pontoon Review — Discover Why Players Prefer This Table Game

The Nucleus Pontoon Rules You Need to Know

The main objective of Pontoon is the same as blackjack — your aim is to beat the house by getting a hand with a higher score. The best score is 21, but going over it will bust your hand, causing you to lose. Card values also stay the same: Aces are worth 1 or 11 points, picture cards count for 10, while 2-10 have their face value. Now, let’s see what makes this game different:

General Rules

• Scoring a 21 from your first two cards is called “Pontoon.” It’s the strongest hand you can get. A Pontoon can occur as a result of splitting, which isn’t possible in regular blackjack;
• The Nucleus Pontoon rules state that the second strongest hand is called the “5-card trick.” It beats everything except for a Pontoon. The score of your hand doesn’t matter as long as it’s under 21 (e.g., a 5-card trick with a score of 20 can beat a 3-card 21);
• You’ll lose on ties. However, you have better payouts to make up for it;
• The game won’t allow you to stand if your hand totals 15 points or less;
• Multi-hand mode is enabled, allowing you to open up to three positions against the dealer;

Dealer & Card Regulations

• The dealer uses a playing shoe consisting of eight 52-card French decks;
• According to the Nucleus Pontoon rules, the croupier draws until 16, stands on hard 17s, and hits soft ones;
• While the dealer receives two cards at the start of each round, they are both dealt face-down. You won’t see them until your turn is concluded;
• If the house has a Pontoon, they’ll reveal it instantly. This saves you from doubling down at the wrong time. Taking insurance is not allowed;

Double Downs

• You may double down at any point before busting or scoring a 5-card trick;
• Hitting following a double is permitted;

Splits

• You may split once per hand if your two starting cards are of the same point value;
• You can hit and double following a split, including when dividing Ace pairs;

The “Sweet 16” Side Bet

Pontoon by Nucleus Gaming also includes an interesting side bet that can further enrich the main game. It’s called “Sweet 16” and will pay you out 1:1 when your starting hand contains an Ace or is worth between 16 and 21 points. Additionally, you’ll get a 2:1 payout if you receive two Aces from the start. This bet will return your money if you land any pair in the 2s-7s range and lose in all other cases.

Step by Step on How to Play Nucleus Pontoon Online

A successful adaptation to the rules and features of Pontoon will require some time and practice. Fortunately, you won’t have to spend a dime in your quest to attain mastery. We’ve prepared a step-by-step tutorial that can get you playing Nucleus Pontoon online for free in minutes:

1. Scroll up to the beginning of this review and take a look at our list of approved gaming sites. Pick one, then search for “Pontoon” in their table game/blackjack sections. In most cases, you’ll be able to play the demo without registering.
2. When the game loads, you’ll see that the “Place Bet” area in the middle is highlighted. The $1-$75 limits above it indicate the minimum and maximum possible bets per hand. To start playing Pontoon by Nucleus Gaming, select a chip from the bottom-right corner and put it in one or more of the designated zones. Note that the side bet won’t work unless you’ve put money on the main game.
3. Expectedly, you can employ basic strategy to Pontoon to minimize the house edge. However, you’ll need to adjust your approach to account for 5-card tricks, the fact that you’ll lose ties, and the lack of an up-card on the dealer side. Do your research and check out the “strategy” page on our website for useful information.

The Paytable and Expected Return Rates

In regular blackjack, you’re paid 3:2 when you score a natural and 1:1 in all other cases. Nucleus Pontoon online also pays even-money when you win with 16-21, but the reward for a natural (2-card) 21 and a 5-card trick is an improved 2:1. The fact that you lose on ties is regrettable, but it is somewhat alleviated by the liberal double down and split rules.

All things considered, you can expect an RTP rate of 99.62%, which is superior to most games of 21. Don’t forget that you’ll need to use a basic strategy chart that’s specifically designed for this release, as playing on a hunch is not beneficial in the long run. The “Sweet 16” side bet comes with a house edge of 2.52%. According to our Nucleus Pontoon review experts, you can skip this side wager or put money on it occasionally when you’re ahead.

The game’s house edge is consistent with the average for the genre and measures at 0.50%. In other words, the expected return rate is superior to almost all other casino games.

Ready to Play Pontoon by Nucleus?

To summarize, this Nucleus Gaming release managed to impress our experts. It plays a lot like blackjack but also offers additional rules and payouts to give you that much-needed sense of novelty. The most important aspect of this game is that you can benefit from one of the highest return rates in gaming if you play correctly. On top of that, you can always make things more interesting through the side bet and multi-hand mode.

With this, our Nucleus Pontoon review is concluded. Feel free to try out a demo by visiting one of the excellent blackjack casinos on our list. If you decide to stake real cash, make sure to check their promo sections and boost your deposits with a fantastic bonus.