Starting a new game

Four Winds lets you play both local games against computer players and multi-player games against human players (up to four players).

To start a new game against computer players or to host a new multiplayer game:

Choose New Game on the Game menu, or press F2.
Specify the Number of matches to play. Setting the value to zero allows an infinite number of matches.
Note: Specifying 0 or a value greater than 1 is considered a tournament. Tournament games cannot be replayed. Notice that "match" refers to complete cycle of rounds with at least 4 deals per round (it is not the synonym of "deal").
Select the desired rules from the Rules drop-down list. The current rules (selected in the Preferences dialog box) are the default choice. Notice that if the current selection is Customized (meaning a user-defined, non-saved collection of rules saved only in the system registry), you will lose these rules, if you select any other rules and start playing with them. If you want to save your customized rules, close the dialog box by clicking Cancel and save your customized rules using the options of the Preferences dialog box.
If desired, click the Overrides button to open the Rule Overrides dialog box, where you can easily turn off certain rules (e.g., the use of minimum point requirement, Flowers and Seasons, and penalties) for the game you are about to begin, without needing to modify the rules.
Check the Change seat order box if you want players to change their seats during the game. Normally this option is used for tournaments only. If you enable the option, specify how and when the seats should be changed:
- Whenever a round changes. Changes seats before each new round begins (i.e., normally four times per match).
- At the start of each match. Changes seats each time a new match begins.
- Specify how the seats should be changed by using the options of the Method of changing drop-down list. The possible options are Random order, 4- round rotation (keep dealer seat), 6-round rotation (random dealer seat)and MCR 4- round rotation (keep dealer seat).
  Note: "4-round rotation" refers to the method of changing seats in the following order: ABCD, BADC, CDAB and DCBA (dealer always occupies the same seat after the change of seats). "6-round rotation" refers to the method of changing seats in the following order: ABCD, DACB, BADC, BCAD, ABDC and CDBA (the dealer is determined by dice). "MCR 4-round rotation" refers to method of changing seats according to the MCR rules: ABCD, BADC, CDBA and DCAB (dealer always occupies the same seat after the change of seats).

Specify the options for tournament scoring. Keep total points simply adds the total points for each match together. Use separate tournament scores uses the total points for each finished match to determine specific tournament scores. When a new match begins, each player starts again with initial points. The winner of the tournament is the player with the highest total of tournament scores.

Equalize points with end points. Often used in modern Japanese Mah Jong. The losers subtract the specified amount of end points from their total points for each played match. The result is added to player's tournament points. The winner gets the absolute of the sum of losers' equalized points. E.g., if the equalized points for losers are 2,000, -200 and -3,500, the winner would receive abs(2,000 + -300 + -3,500 points) = 1,800 points.
Note: If there are two or more winners, the winners share the amount achieved by adding the absolute of losers' equalizes scores. E.g., if the final points of player A and B are 30,000 points and those of player C and D 20,000 points, C and D would each pay 5,000 to both A and B (so the equalized final points of both C and D would be -10,000 points, and final points of both A and B would be 10,000 points).
Rounding. Specify whether the total points should be rounded before equalization is performed. You can specify that the total points are rounded up (20->100) or off to nearest 100 or 1000. If the points are rounded off (rather than up), you can also specify, whether the rounding is done up from 5x (e.g. 50->100, 49->0, 500->1000, 499->0, depending on the unit used), or up from 6x (60->100, 59->0, 600->1000, 599->0, etc.).

Prizes. Specify the points each player should be given depending on whether his total points for the match were highest, second highest, third highest or fourth highest. If equalization is used, the points specified here are added to equalized points. This option is often used in modern Japanese Mah Jong (the practice is called Uma).
The following table lists some common prize schemes:

Scheme	First	Second	Third	Fourth
No prize	0	0	0	0
5-10	+10,000	+5,000	–5,000	–10,000
10-20	+20,000	+10,000	–10,000	–20,000
10-30	+30,000	+10,000	–10,000	–30,000
20-40	+40,000	+20,000	–20,000	–40,000
7-5-3 schemes
1 +	+15,000	–3,000	–5,000	–7,000
2 +	+10,000	+5,000	–5,000	–10,000
3 +	+7,000	+5,000	+3,000	–15,000
SIZUMI-UMA
1 +	+30,000	–10,000	–10,000	–10,000
2 +	+20,000	0	–10,000	–10,000
3 +	+10,000	0	0	–10,000

Note: If two or more players have equal final scores, their prizes are summed up and the resulting amount is shared by players having equal scores. E.g., if the prizes are 20,000, 10,000, –10,000 and –20,000, and final points of players A and B are 30,000 points and those of players C and D 20,000 points, the prizes would be as follows: for players A and B 15,000 points (total of 20,000 + 10,000 divided by 2), and for players C and D 15,000 points (total of –20,000 and –10,000 divided by 2).

Multiplayer game. Check this box if you want to start a new multi-player game as a host. When the dialog box is closed, the Multiplayer Game Wizard appears and guides you through the game setup. For more information, see Starting a multiplayer game.

To start a disrupted or a saved multiplayer game, or to join a game hosted by another computer:

Choose Start a Multiplayer Game on the Game menu.
Follow the instructions of the Multiplayer Game Wizard.
For more information, see Starting a multiplayer game.

Note: If a game is in progress, you must first stop the currently ongoing game by choosing Abort Game on the Game menu (or press CTRL+Q), before being able to start a new game.