Patent ID: 7666080

Claim:
A method of playing a wagering game on a gaming machine including at least an input device, an electronic output device, and a computing device, the method comprising: receiving a wager from a player on the gaming machine; allowing a player to continuously reveal concealed elements, via the input device on the electronic output device associated with the gaming machine, to create revealed elements until a terminating condition occurs, the terminating condition being dependent upon at least one revealed element; the computing device determining particular elements out of the revealed elements which combine to create a best combination with a highest payout to the player using a paytable, the particular number of elements being a predetermined number; and after the terminating condition occurs, the computing device awarding the player only the highest payout out of all possible combinations using the particular number of revealed elements; wherein the number of revealed elements is not predetermined but is variable based on when the terminating condition occurs; wherein the particular number is predetermined before the game begins; wherein during the game the number of revealed elements becomes greater than seven if the terminating condition does not occur beforehand; and wherein during the allowing, before all elements forming the best combination are revealed, an intermediate combination is identified by the computing device to the player if one exists, the intermediate combination forming a highest payout using the particular number of revealed elements at that time.