For a Player the main goal of Pontoon is to closely come to 21 without exceeding this point, but at the same time to beat the Dealer's hand by getting a higher total. Before the Player receives any cards, he must first place a wager. Having made an initial wager, the Player receives two cards face-up. The Dealer also receives 2 cards.  If the total of the Player's hand occurs to be closer to 21 than the Dealer's one, then the Player wins the same amount he has wagered. If the Dealer exceeds 21 then the Player also wins and he has not busted. When exceeding 21 with the hand, the Player is losing his amount bet.

Rules of Pontoon:
Pontoon is regularly played with 2 decks of cards.
After each hand the cards get re-shuffled.
Dealer hits soft 17.
All the Ties are won by the Dealer.
Any Dealer's 5-card hand with total of 21 or less wins.
Any Player's 5-card hand with total of 21 or less wins (unless the Dealer gets 5 cards).
Card Values:
Card Suits are of no meaning in Blackjack.
Cards 2-10 have the face value.
Jacks, Queens and Kings have the value of 10.
Depending on which is more advantageous aces can be equal to either 1or 11.

The Player wins if:
The Player has a hand with a higher total given that both the Dealer and the Player have 4 cards or less.
The Dealer's hand busts over 21.
The Player's hand achieves any 5 cards of 21 or less, while the Dealer's doesn't.
            
The Player loses if:
The Dealer's hand has the same or higher total given that both the Dealer and the Player have 4 cards or less. All the ties in Pontoon are won by the Dealer - there are no pushes.
The Dealer gets any 5-card hand.
Note that, when the Player gets a hand including a 6 and an Ace, it can be evaluated as 17 or it can drop to the value of 7. The Ace can be equal to either 1 or 11. Depending of the hand the value of the Ace can be changed.