Abstract

Using an electronic video poker gaming machine, an initial five card hand is dealt and displayed to a player. The player selects which cards to hold and the unheld cards are discarded. Replacement cards are dealt to the player and the poker hand ranking of the final five card hand is determined. If the player has achieved a losing hand, the player is offered the opportunity to replay the initial five card hand. The player may hold the same or different cards when he replays the initial five card hand. The remaining cards are reshuffled and new replacement cards are dealt to the player. Winning hands are paid. The player must make a separate wager each time the player wishes to replay the initial five card hand. In one version, the player is only offered the opportunity to replay the initial five card hand if the player has a losing hand on the first play of the hand. In another version, the player is offered the chance to replay the initial five card hand regardless of whether the player wins or loses on the first play of the hand. The number of replays offered to the player for any particular initial five card hand can vary. In yet another version, the player is randomly offered an opportunity to replay a hand.