A method and apparatus for playing a partial outcome reel-type slot machine game. To initiate play, a player places at least one wager in the slot machine. At least one partial outcome is generated and displayed by the slot machine in a pattern which may be, depending on the game architecture, determined by the slot machine or selected by the player. The player then strategically selects one or more pay lines based on the displayed partial outcome. The final outcome is generated by the slot machine and the player is rewarded if a winning combination is present in the selected pay line or lines.