Pontoon has its own special vocabulary. To "twist" is to take another card (known in regular blackjack as to "hit"). To "stick" is to decline another card (the same as to "stand" in blackjack). The pontoon player is required to twist on any hand less than 15 (unless he has five cards). The player may twist at any point, including after doubling. The player can double but only once per hand. The player can split two cards of equal rank (including non-identical 10 cards, like a Queen and a King). The player may re-split once, up to a total of three hands, including aces. The two-card 21 after splitting aces counts as a pontoon. (This is different from regular blackjack, where a two-card 21 after a split does not count as a blackjack.)

If the player busts he immediately loses and forfeits his cards and total bet. After all the players have played out their hands the dealer turns his two cards face up. The dealer has to twist on all 17s. When the dealer's cards and remaining players' cards are compared, a player's pontoon or 5-card trick pays 2:1, other winning hands pay even money, and ties lose.