A Pair can Break the Bank
In this computer version of the well known card game the bank starts with £500 and each player has £100. One or two players each play against the bank and aim to get a total of 21, which is Pontoon.
One card is first dealt face up to each player and one face down to the bank. A bet up to the total cash available may then be placed. The next card is dealt and various options are given to each player on their turn.
'S'tick. If the total is 16 or over then pressing 'S' will pass play on.
'T'wist. If another card is required this option may be taken by pressing 'T'.
'B'uy. Used when a hand looks good, to double the stake.
An ace will be taken to have the best value, i.e. 1 or 11 dependent upon the other cards. If at any time the card total exceeds 21 then play passes on. When both players have finished, the bank will then play its own hand to determine payout. It should be remembered that play is between the players and the bank, not against each other.
Wins and losses are calculated as follows: highest score is Pontoon with two cards, e.g. an Ace and a Queen. The next highest score is a 5-card trick, which may be any five cards which do not exceed 21 in total. Pontoon with any card permutation is the third highest score. If none of the above exist then the highest score wins. Where the bank's total equals that of a player then the bank wins.
The game continues until each player has lost all available cash or until the bank is bust. |
