| Updated: Based on Jacks or Better, Split Way Royal is an interesting online video poker variation from Betsoft. It features a classic design and single-hand gameplay, along with an unconventional paytable. In this game, the software provider defines two separate types of Royal Flushes, both of which pay 4,000 coins for the maximum five-coin wager.
Rules and Gameplay
Betsoft’s Split Way Royal is played with a single standard deck of cards. 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 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 card.
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, but one detail sets it apart from many other versions: the Low Royal Flush hand. It is 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 coins for a one-coin bet and 4,000 coins 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 achieve this theoretical return, however, players must adjust the basic Jacks or Better strategy significantly to account for the game’s specific payouts.