Split Card Poker

Introduction

 

Split Card Poker is a video poker variant by IGT where two cards can occupy one position. When this happens, it is much easier to form high-paying hands. Split Cards are always suited and contain either the same rank or consecutive ranks. To enable the Split Card feature, the player must double his bet. The additional bet is a fee and does not increase any win amounts, except it adds a five of a kind to the pay table.

Rules

 

The following is my understanding of the rules.

1. The game is based on conventional mutli-play video poker.
2. For one to five coins bet per line the game will play like normal multi-play video poker.
3. If the player bets ten coins per line, then he shall enable the Split Card feature. All wins shall still be based on a bet of five coins per line.
4. One of the 52 normal cards shall be chosen at random to be replaced with a Split Card.
5. One of the two cards shown on the Split Card shall be the original card it replaced. The second card shall always be the same in suit and its rank shall be equal or one away from the original card it replaced. For example, if the original card were an ace, then the second card on the Split Card can be either another ace, a king, or deuce. All three possible second cards are equally likely.
6. If the player enables the Split Card feature, then he shall receive a Split Card on the deal approximately 25% of the time. This probability varies according to the game and pay table.
7. If the player does not get the Split Card on the deal, then he can still get it on the draw.
8. If the Split Card results in more than one win per hand, then the highest hand only shall be paid.
9. If the Split Card feature is enabled, then a line item for a five of a kind shall be added to the pay table.

 

Programming Note: For the perfectionists out there, let me say that I don't know exactly how this game is programmed. The way I assume they achieve the approximate 25% probability of a Split Card is to first determine outside of the cards themselves whether the player will get the Split Card. For example, if the probability were exactly 25%, then the game might choose a random Integer from 0 to 3 and if it is 3, then the player will get a Split Card. Then, whether or not the player is destined to get the Split Card on the deal, the game will deal hands behind the scenes until it gets one that has or doesn't have the Split Card, according to the player's fate. Either way, the draw will be naturally dealt with the remaining 47 cards, whether there is Split Card among them or not.

Following are the screenshots of the actual rule screens.

 

Examples

   

In the screenshot above, I got jack and queen of clubs in the middle position on the deal. I held that card and the two natural queens in the first and second positions. On the draw, I improved to a four of a kind, flush, and three of a kind between my three hands.

 

In the screenshot above, I got a Split Card of the two jack of spades on the draw in the first position of the bottom hand. That combined with two natural jacks gave me a four of a kind.

 

Note the bottom hand in the screen shot above has both a three of a kind and a flush. Only the higher hand, the flush, was paid for that hand.

Analysis

 

The following tables were provided to me for the games and pay tables available for Split Card Poker. However, the returns are those for conventional video poker. Please be patient while I inquire about the Split Card returns. (Updated: 12/2/15)

                       

Strategy

 

Sorry, you're on your own with that for now.

Acknowledgements

 

I would like to thank IGT for providing the return tables above and clarifications in the rules. I would also like to thank VideoPoker.com for the screenshots, which are used with permission.

Written by: Michael Shackleford