Electronic video poker method and system having multiple poker hands

An electronically implemented method of playing a poker game including:

• a) accepting a player a wager;
• b) dealing and displaying a plurality of at least partial poker hands according to conventional poker rules, each plurality of at least partial poker hands including a unique simulated character associated therewith;
• c) providing means for said player to select one of said at least partial poker hands to play;
• d) distinguishing said simulated character corresponding to said player's selection of one of said at least partial poker hands;
• e) dealing remaining cards to complete said plurality of at least partial poker hands according to conventional poker rules;
• f) revealing said player's selected complete poker hand;
• g) comparing said completed selected hand to a predefined set of winning hands;
• h) if said completed hand is a winning hand, paying said player an award amount according to a preestablished pay table;
• i) revealing each unselected poker hand dealt;
• and
• j) paying the player a bonus amount if said player's poker hand is the highest poker hand revealed.

An electronically implemented method of playing a poker game including:

• a) accepting a player wager;
• b) dealing and displaying a plurality of at least partial poker hands according to conventional poker rules;
• c) providing means for said player to select one of said at least partial poker hands to play;
• d) dealing remaining cards to complete said plurality of at least partial poker hands according to conventional poker rules;
• e) revealing said player's selected complete poker hand;
• f) comparing said completed selected hand to a preestablished set of winning hands;
• g) if said completed hand is a winning hand, paying said player an award amount according to a preestablished pay table;
• h) revealing each unselected poker hand dealt;
• i) paying the player a bonus amount if said player's poker hand is the highest poker hand revealed;
• j) dealing a poker game bonus round contingent upon said player receiving a predefined poker hand comprising;
• i. dealing and displaying a second plurality of at least partial poker hands according to conventional rules;
• ii. providing means for said player to select one or more of said at least partial poker hands;
• iii. completing said one or more of said selected partial poker hands;
• iv. comparing said selected completed poker hands to a second preestablished set of winning hands;
• and
• v. paying said player according to a second preestablished pay table based on the strength of the one or more selected five card hands.