Push the credit button the first time once, four credits are deducted and a four player game begins. After that 4 player game is over, press the credit button again one time, and you get a one player game. Goes back and forth like that. Credits do have to be on the credit unit. If there are only three credits, it will only start a three person game, etc.
Problem was the MATCH UNIT. The plastic pawl that engages the gear to turn the match unit was broken, so the unit never moves. I changed the pin setting to "Match Off", and my problems were solved! One push of the credit button, one player game, two pushes, two player game, etc. Yippee!
I have the schematics but I can't tell you why the match unit being broken caused this behaviour. Can someone else enlighten me?