Big Split Poker
Big Split Poker is a video poker game created by Leading Edge Design and manufactured by their partner, IGT (International Game Technology). Technically speaking, the game consists of two stud poker hands played at once. There is one 5-card and one 3-card stud poker hand that can have their cards swapped. The player selects which 5 and 3 card poker hands to submit for the pay. This concept is not new in the gaming world, as Pai Gow holds similar rules.
The objective of the game is to complete the highest paying combination for both poker hands. The Big Split Poker machine can be configured to hold this theme to 4 video poker variations:
- Big Split Poker (signature game)
- Big Split Deuces Wild
- Big Split Joker Poker
- Joker Joker Big Split Poker
The 5-card hand has a payout typical of the normal video poker game; if you have a qualifying hand you will receive a certain amount of chips for each coin-bet you placed on the hand. The 3-card had has an interesting function; it multiplies the 5-card payout by a certain factor depending on what combination of cards you have on the 3-card hand. The paytable for the 5-card and 3-card hand varies for each of the 4 video poker games. This is because some of these games have wild cards which modify the game’s odds.
Since this is a stud poker game there is no skill strategy to provide. However, the player must pay close attention when deciding which cards to submit for the pay. There are situations in which there is more than one paying combination, and one combination of cards may pays less than another. As a general tip we suggest the player always to take notice of the 3-card hand since getting a good hand here can substantially multiply the winnings of the 5-card poker hand.
Where to Play Big Split Poker
IGT supplies its gaming machines to casinos all over the country, but they
have become very popular in Nevada. Here’s a list of land based casinos that
currently offer Big Split Poker:
- Buffalo Billys Casino in Cripple Creek, Colorado
- Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut
- Argosy Alton in Alton, Illinois
- Empress Casino Hotel in Joliet, Illinois
- Greektown Casino in Detroit, Michigan
- Turtle Creek Casino in Williamsburg, Michigan
- Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada
- South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada
- Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada
- El Cortez in Las Vegas, Nevada
- Golden Nugget in Las Vegas, Nevada
- Peppermill Hotel and Casino in Reno, Nevada
- John Ascuagas Nugget in Sparks, Nevada
- Casino Fandango in Carson City, Nevada
- Seneca Niagara Casino at Niagara Falls, New York
How to Play BIG SPLIT POKER
The game is pretty simple but it takes time to get used to it. Place two simultaneous bets, one for the 5-card stud poker hand and another for the 3-card hand. The machine will deal 8 cards for the player which the player can rearrange as (s)he pleases. There must be a qualifying hand for the 5-card hand otherwise the game is immediately over.
The art of Big Split Poker is to find the highest paying combination of a 5-card and 3-card hand. Remember the 3-card hand will multiply the winnings of the 5-card hand.
In case you find a Big Split Poker machine with the 4 games mentioned above, select whichever game looks most appealing to you. The experiences are different for each because of the distinct paytables and different wild cards. Take a look at the differences:
|
Big Split Poker |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poker Hands | Coin 1 | Coin 2 | Coin 3 | Coin 4 | Coin 5 |
| Royal Flush | 50 | 100 | 150 | 200 | 1000 |
| Straight Flush | 20 | 40 | 60 | 80 | 100 |
| 4 of a Kind | 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 |
| Full House | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 |
| Flush | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| Straight | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| 3 of a Kind | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| Jacks and Twos (or better) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
This game is played with a 52-card deck that holds no wild cards. The minimum 5-card hand that applies for a payout is a Two Pair of at least Jacks and Two’s. There is an extra jackpot prize for a Royal Flush at the 5-coin bet. Any hand you complete from the chart above will be multiplied if you have any of the following cards for your 3-card hand:
| 3 Card Paytable | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| 3 of a kind | 16x |
| Straight Flush | 15x |
| Flush | 4x |
| Straight | 4x |
| Pair | 2x |
| High Card | 1x |
f you could not complete a pair or higher hand on the 3-card hand, then the 5-card payout is multiplied by 1x which means it stays the same.
Big Split Deuces Wild
|
Big Split Deuces Wild |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poker Hand | Coin 1 | Coin 2 | Coin 3 | Coin 4 | Coin 5 |
| Royal Flush | 75 | 150 | 225 | 300 | 1000 |
| 4 Deuces | 50 | 100 | 150 | 200 | 375 |
| Royal w/ Deuces | 9 | 18 | 27 | 36 | 45 |
| 5 of a Kind | 7 | 14 | 21 | 28 | 35 |
| Straight Flush | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 |
| 4 of a Kind | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 |
| Full House | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| Flush | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
This game is played with a 52-card deck but has 4 wild cards inside: the deuces. The Deuces can stand in as any other card’s rank and/or suit. The minimum hand to apply for this game is a Flush. Payouts from the 5-card paytable are multiplied by the chart of the 3-card hand:
| 3 Card Paytable | Multiplier |
|---|
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