Patent ID: 8734235

Claim:
A method of operating a gaming system including a plurality of gaming devices configured to communicate with a controller, said method comprising: (a) enabling each player playing at one of the gaming devices to select a plurality of game characteristics including one of a plurality of different modes; (b) based at least in part on the game characteristics selected by the players including the selected modes, causing the controller to operate with the gaming devices to match at least two of said players to compete against one another in a play of a wagering game, said play of the wagering game including: (i) a wagering game value, and (ii) a plurality of opportunities to make designated bets; (c) enabling a first one of the matched players to make a first designated bet at a first one of the opportunities in said play of the wagering game; (d) enabling a second one of the matched players to accept or reject the first designated bet; (e) if the second one of the matched players rejects the first designated bet, causing the controller to operate with the gaming devices to terminate the play of the wagering game for said second one of the matched players; (f) if the second one of the matched players accepts the first designated bet: (i) causing the controller to operate with the gaming devices to increase the wagering game value; (ii) enabling the second one of the matched players to make a second designated bet in said play of the wagering game at a second one of the opportunities; and (iii) for any subsequent opportunities that occur in said play of the wagering game, only enabling the first one of the matched players to make a subsequent designated bet after the second one of the matched players makes the second designated bet; (g) after a final one of said opportunities to make one of said designated bets, causing the controller to operate with the gaming devices to determine which of said matched players competing in said play of the wagering game is a winning player; and (h) providing the winning player with an award based on the wagering game value after said final one of the opportunities.