| Updated: September 24, 2025Based on Jacks or Better, Split Way Royal is an interesting variation of online video poker from Betsoft. It features a classic design and single-hand gameplay, yet it also comes with a rather unconventional paytable. In this game, the software provider defines two separate types of Royal Flushes, and both pay 4,000:1 when wagering the maximum of five coins.
Rules and Gameplay
Betsoft’s Split Way Royal is played with a single standard deck of cards, and before each deal, players must place a bet. They can choose how many coins to wager (1, 2, 3, 4, or 5) and set the coin value, which ranges from $/€0.01 to $/€1.00. Once the bet is set, players can start the round by pressing the Deal button.
Players can keep any number of cards by clicking on them or by using the Hold buttons below each card. After making their selections, they press Deal again, and all discarded cards are replaced with new ones. If the final hand is a winner, the prize can be collected immediately. Alternatively, players may choose to gamble their winnings for a chance to double them.
In the Double Up round, players are shown a face-up dealer card and four face-down cards – they must pick one and hope it is higher than the dealer’s.
Paytable and Specific Features
| Hand | 1 coin | 2 coins | 3 coins | 4 coins | 5 coins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low Royal Flush (2-6) | 800 | 1600 | 2400 | 3200 | 4000 |
| High Royal Flush (10-A) | 800 | 1600 | 2400 | 3200 | 4000 |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 100 | 150 | 200 | 250 |
| 4 of a Kind | 40 | 80 | 120 | 160 | 200 |
| Full House | 6 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 30 |
| Flush | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 |
| Straight | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 |
| 3 of a Kind | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 |
| 2 Pair | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| Jacks or Better | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Split Way Royal is a fairly standard video poker game, yet one small detail sets it apart from all other versions. That detail is the so-called Low Royal Flush hand. In fact, it is simply the lowest possible Straight Flush (2-3-4-5-6), but it pays the same as the traditional Royal Flush (10-J-Q-K-A): 800:1 for a one-coin bet and 4,000:1 for a five-coin bet.
Conclusion
When played with perfect strategy, Split Way Royal has a theoretical return of 99.97%, which is exceptionally high even for a video poker title. To secure long-term profits, however, players must adjust the basic Jacks or Better strategy significantly so that it fits the game’s specific payouts.