Shut the Box
How to play Shut the Box
Shut the Box is a classic pub and sailors' dice game played with a wooden box of numbered tiles and two dice. It takes a minute to learn and a lifetime to stop playing "just one more".
Rules
- All tiles start open (up). Roll two dice.
- Add the dice together and shut any open tiles that add up to that total. Rolling 8, you could shut the 8, or 5 and 3, or 1, 2 and 5.
- Roll again and keep going.
- Once the 7, 8 and 9 are all shut, you may choose to roll only one die.
- Your turn ends when you can't make the total with the open tiles. Your score is the sum of the tiles still open.
If you shut every tile, you've shut the box and score zero, an instant win in most pubs.
Playing with others
Each player takes one turn with the box. The lowest score wins the round. A popular way to keep score over a night is to add each round's score and knock out anyone who passes 45 points.
Strategy
- Shut high tiles first. 7, 8 and 9 need big rolls. The 1 and 2 can be shut almost any time.
- Prefer fewer tiles. Rolling 9 and shutting the 9 alone keeps more options open than shutting 4 and 5.
- Roll one die late in the game when only small tiles remain: a single die can't overshoot a 1, 2 or 3 as easily.
Questions
What are the odds of shutting the box?
With nine tiles and perfect play, you shut the box roughly one game in ten. Most good players finish with a handful of points left.
When can you roll just one die?
In most rules you may roll a single die once the 7, 8 and 9 are all shut, because one die can't make those numbers anyway. You can turn this rule off above the game.
Is it better to flip one tile or two?
Usually flip the high tiles first. High numbers are hard to hit later, while small tiles give you flexibility near the end. The Hint button shows the best choice.
How do you score Shut the Box?
When you can't make your roll, add up the tiles still open. That's your score, and the lowest score wins. Shutting every tile scores zero.