Patent ID: 8371922

Claim:
A method for operating a wager game, including the steps of: accepting a first wager from a player to initiate the wagering game at a gaming device; providing the player with a set of game symbols for play of the wagering game; randomly or pseudo-randomly generating an initial outcome of the game including a set of initial outcome symbols with a processor; in accordance with the initial outcome displaying an initial game presentation including the set of initial outcome symbols matched with the set of game symbols to present one or more patterns, the one or more patterns being associated with one or more award values; randomly or pseudo-randomly generating a value and a set of additional outcome symbols, the number of additional outcome symbols being determined by the value; providing the player the opportunity to forego any potential winnings for employing the set of additional outcome symbols based on a potential detrimental effect that the set of additional outcome symbols may have on an award of a given pattern of the one or more patterns already achieved by the player; in response to providing the opportunity, receiving player input from an input device of the gaming device opting to employ the set of additional outcome symbols; in response to receiving the player input indicating the player has chosen to employ additional symbols, displaying a second game presentation including the set of additional outcome symbols, the set of initial outcome symbols, and the set of game symbols corresponding to a second outcome of the game; and providing an award corresponding to the second outcome.