Payments

Regular paying methods

The paying methods can be roughly divided in three. The first method is used in the Asian (Chinese and Japanese) rules, the second method in the Western (European, Australian and American) rules. The third option is sometimes used in family or "friendly" games.

The way the winner is paid is determined by a payoff scheme. Four Winds supports several predefined payoff schemes and allows you to customize them. The most common payoff schemes are Chinese Classical (used by all Western versions, including the default European Classical rule preset), Chinese Modern (used by most modern Chinese versions), and Japanese (used by all Japanese versions).

a) To winner only

The winning tile is received from the Wall

Chinese Classical payoff scheme: All losers pay the winner the amount of final score of his hand. If the winner is the dealer (East), losers pay double, otherwise only the East player pays double (for his own part) and other losers normally.
Chinese Modern payoff scheme: All losers pay double, East does not pay/receive double.
Japanese payoff scheme: Same as Chinese Classical (in the case of self-drawn winning tile).

Examples:
East goes out with a self-drawn tile
West goes out with a self-drawn tile

The winning tile is received by claiming another player’s discard

Chinese Classical payoff scheme: Same as when winning tile is self-drawn.
Chinese Modern payoff scheme: Discarder pays double the winner's final score, other losers normally.
Japanese payoff scheme: The player who discarded the tile pays for all losers.

Example:
East goes out with a discarded tile
West goes out with a discarded tile

b) Between all players

In this version of the game the winner is paid as specified by the payoff scheme (see above), but in addition to payments to the winner, the losers pay each other the amount that is the difference of their total scores. The only option available for payments between losers is East receives and pays double.

Example:
Payments between losers

c) Only add-up scores

In this version players' final scores are simply added up, no payments are made between players. The only payment option available for this paying method is East receives double. Penalties are deducted directly from the final payment (though they may be doubled if the offender is East), and special payments (e.g., for Kitty, dealer's extra hands, etc.) are paid by using the specified sum directly (rather than multiplying it by the number of payers, as with other payment methods).

Example. East wins. The players' final scores are as follows: East 120, West 20, South 12 and North 0.
East receives 240 points (since the East receives double option is used), West 20 points, South 12 points and North 0 points. These scores are added to players' total points (points received for hands during the entire game).

Variations to the rule:
Variations of paying methods