diff --git a/xwords4/linux/scripts/start-pair.sh b/xwords4/linux/scripts/start-pair.sh
index 68175be81..767169b6c 100755
--- a/xwords4/linux/scripts/start-pair.sh
+++ b/xwords4/linux/scripts/start-pair.sh
@@ -2,6 +2,42 @@
 
 set -e -u
 
+IN_SEQ=''
+HTTP=''
+
+usage() {
+	[ $# -gt 0 ] && echo "ERROR: $1"
+	echo "usage: $0 --in-sequence|--at-once [--use-http]"
+	cat <<EOF
+
+Starts a pair of devices meant to get into the same game. Verification
+is by looking at the relay, usually with
+./relay/scripts/showinplay.sh. Both should have an 'A' in the ACK
+column.
+EOF
+	exit 1
+}
+
+while [ $# -gt 0 ]; do
+	case $1 in
+		--in-sequence)
+			IN_SEQ=1
+		;;
+		--at-once)
+			IN_SEQ=0
+		;;
+		--use-http)
+			HTTP=--use-http
+			;;
+		*)
+			usage "unexpected param $1"
+			;;
+	esac
+	shift
+done
+
+[ -n "$IN_SEQ" ] || usage "missing required param"
+
 DB_TMPLATE=_cursesdb_
 LOG_TMPLATE=_curseslog_
 ROOM_TMPLATE=cursesRoom
@@ -15,23 +51,27 @@ rm -f ${LOG_TMPLATE}*
 PIDS=''
 for GAME in $(seq 1); do
 	ROOM=${ROOM_TMPLATE}${GAME}
-	# for N in $(seq 2); do
-	for N in $(seq 1); do
+	for N in $(seq 2); do
+	# for N in $(seq 1); do
 		DB=$DB_TMPLATE${GAME}_${N}.sqldb
 		LOG=$LOG_TMPLATE${GAME}_${N}.log
 		exec ./obj_linux_memdbg/xwords --server --curses --remote-player --name Player \
-			 --room $ROOM --game-dict dict.xwd \
+			 --room $ROOM --game-dict dict.xwd $HTTP\
 			 --skip-confirm --db $DB --close-stdin --server \
 			 >/dev/null 2>>$LOG &
-		PIDS="$PIDS $!"
+		PID=$!
+		echo "launched $PID"
+		if [ $IN_SEQ -eq 1 ]; then
+			sleep 9
+			kill $PID
+			sleep 1
+		elif [ $IN_SEQ -eq 0 ]; then
+			PIDS="$PIDS $PID"
+		fi
 	done
 done
-echo "launched $PIDS"
-
-#			 --use-http \
-
-sleep 10
 
+[ -n "${PIDS}" ] && sleep 10
 for PID in $PIDS; do
 	kill $PID
 done