Shut The Box

Sympkyn of the Moor

Number of players: 4(2 teams of 2)
Type of game: Dice Period: 1100+

Shut the Box is a traditional dice game that dates back several centuries and has been popular in English pubs and households. It is a simple yet engaging game of chance and strategy where players aim to “shut” (flip down) all numbered tiles by rolling dice and matching the sum to open tiles.

History of Shut the Box

  • Origins: Thought to have originated in France or England during the 12th to 18th centuries.

  • Popularity: Became a favourite pastime in English pubs from the 19th century onwards.

  • Name Meaning: The phrase “shut the box” refers to closing all the number tiles.

  • Variations: Many local and house rules have developed over time.

  • Legacy: Considered a fun gambling game, teaching addition and probability.

Traditional Equipment

  • Game Box: Rectangular wooden box with numbered tiles 1 through 9 that flip up and down.

  • Dice: Two standard six-sided dice.

  • Players: Solo or multiple players taking turns.

Objective

To flip down all the numbered tiles (1 through 9) by rolling the dice and selecting numbers that sum to the dice roll. The ideal goal is to “shut the box” by flipping all tiles down.

Basic Rules

Setup

  1. All number tiles (1 to 9) start flipped up (visible).

  2. Decide the playing order.

Gameplay

  1. The player rolls two dice.

  2. After the roll, the player flips down any combination of remaining (up) tiles that add up to the dice total. For example, if the dice total 8, you could flip down 8; or 5 and 3; or 4, 2, and 2 if those tiles are available.

  3. If the player cannot flip any combination that equals the dice total, their turn ends.

  4. The player’s score is the sum of all tiles still left face-up.

  5. The player with the lowest score after a set number of rounds or turns wins.

  6. If a player flips down all tiles, they immediately win or get a score of zero.

Optional and House Rules

1. Single Die Variant

  • When tiles 7, 8, and 9 are all flipped down, the player rolls only one die instead of two to reduce the possible totals.

2. Extended Tiles

  • Some versions use tiles numbered 1 to 12 for longer gameplay.

3. Multiplayer Tournament

  • Players take turns; the lowest score after all have played wins.

  • Can be played in rounds or best-of series.

4. Scoring Variations

  • Score can be calculated by multiplying the remaining tiles.

  • Some versions award bonus points for shutting the box early.

Summary Table

Rule Area Details
Players 1 or more (taking turns)
Equipment Box with tiles 1–9, two six-sided dice
Objective Flip down all tiles or have lowest sum of tiles left up
Turn Roll dice, flip down tiles adding up to dice total
Winning Shut the box (all tiles down) or lowest score after rounds
Play Style Simple arithmetic, chance, and strategy