Replacement symbol selection in a method and apparatus for symbol play

Abstract

In a symbol providing game or video poker game, the player makes a wager to play an underlying symbol providing game such as a slot-type game or a draw poker game. An additional or side bet may be required to utilize the discard gameplay option. A predetermined number of cards are dealt face-up to form an initial hand. The player may select to hold none, one, some or all of the dealt cards. The player then may choose none or at least one of the unheld cards (“discards”)—if any discards are available—to receive a narrowed selection of possible replacement cards. The narrowing of the number of possible replacement cards will most likely increase the odds of receiving a replacement card that will ultimately enhance the initial deal. The narrowed replacement card selection is based on predetermined criteria relative to the discard, a player selection, or a processor selected basis.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a video game format or poker game format suitable for use in casinos, on the internet and in other gaming establishments as an electronic slot game or electronic poker game such as video poker. The invention relates to a video or mechanical reel format in which after an initial display of symbols to a player, fewer than all symbols (or all symbols) may be discarded and replacement symbols are provided with predefined parameters on the replacement symbols being provided or selected by the player. The invention further relates to video gaming play featuring an underlying draw game such as a symbol display game and especially a poker game which is enhanced by the allowance of unique game play options relative to the attributes of the discard. [0003] 2. Background of the Art [0004] Games played on apparatus and with physical symbol components (such as tiles or cards) have been played for...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0028] In a symbol providing game, once the symbols have been provided, a player will often find that it is possible that the replacement of one or more of a multiple number of symbols might provide the player with a high payout hand. For example, in a reel slot play, the player may have two jackpot symbols and a lemon. If the lemon were treated as a discard (as in poker) and a replacement drawn randomly, this might provide a maximum jackpot result. The present technology provides not only a method of enabling the player to replace the unwanted symbol(s), but to provide the replacement symbol in a way that gives the player the perception if not reality of an enhanced chance of a replacement symbol being a desirable symbol than would occur with a normal random selection for the replacement symbol. Although the selection according to the described technology is still random, the mapping (real or virtual) of replacement symbols is provided in the replacement selection of symbols in a way that the probability of a favorable symbol is enhanced by either adding more favorable symbols to the pool of symbols from which a replacement symbol is selected or the removal of adverse symbols from the pool of available replacement symbols.

Problems solved by technology

Additionally, the interchanging opportunity may be limited by way of constraints applied to movement of the symbols, time for interchanging, or other criteria, and may be conditioned on placing an additional or side bet.

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