Shut the Box
Roll two dice, close tiles summing to the roll. Without the one-die rule the box literally cannot be shut — two dice can never make 1.
Without the one-die rule the box cannot be shut
Two dice can never total less than two, so a lone 1 could never be closed and the game would be unwinnable from a position that looks nearly finished. The rule that once 7, 8 and 9 are all down you may roll a single die is what makes shutting the box possible at all — and any version played without it is very nearly a losing game by construction.
The real skill is which tiles to close, not whether. A roll of 7 can take the single 7, or 3+4, or 1+2+4 — and the choice changes everything afterwards. Closing the big tile early keeps the small ones, which combine into far more future totals; spending 1, 2 and 4 to cover one roll of 7 usually strands you a few rolls later. The suggestion button picks whichever option leaves the most totals still reachable.
How to use
- Roll two dice, then close any open tiles summing to the total.
- Keep rolling until no combination matches.
- Once 7, 8 and 9 are shut you may roll a single die.
- Your score is the sum of what is left — lower is better.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play Shut the Box?
Roll two dice and close any combination of open tiles adding up to the total — a roll of 7 can take the 7, or 3 and 4, or 1, 2 and 4. Keep rolling until no combination of the remaining tiles matches your roll. Your score is the sum of the tiles still standing, and lower is better.
What is the one-die rule?
Once tiles 7, 8 and 9 are all closed, you may choose to roll a single die instead of two. It exists because two dice can never total less than two, so a lone 1 could never be closed — without the rule, shutting the box would be impossible from positions that look nearly won.
Can you really shut the box?
Yes, but rarely. It requires both good rolls and good choices throughout, and the one-die rule is essential to it. Most games end with something between five and twenty points still showing, which is why the game is usually scored across several rounds rather than won outright.
Which tiles should I close first?
Generally the largest single tile that covers the roll, rather than spending several small ones. Small tiles combine into far more future totals — 1, 2 and 3 can make almost anything between them — so spending them to cover one roll of 7 tends to strand you a few rolls later.
Is there a best strategy?
The game is small enough to analyse exactly, and optimal play is known. The practical version of it is to keep the number of reachable totals high: after each choice, ask how many of the sums two to twelve you could still make, and prefer the option that leaves the most. That is what the suggestion button does here.
What is a good score?
Anything under ten is respectable and under five is very good, since the tiles left are what count against you. A game ending on the 9 alone scores nine, while one ending on 1, 2 and 3 scores six despite having three tiles up — so which tiles remain matters more than how many.
Why do I so often get stuck near the end?
Because the remaining tiles are large and the totals you can roll are limited. With only 8 and 9 left, most rolls miss entirely, and there is no way back. The way to avoid it is to think about the endgame from the middle of the round rather than taking the easiest option each time.
How many variants are there?
Many. Some boards have twelve tiles rather than nine, some allow closing only a single tile per roll, some let you roll one die whenever the remaining tiles total six or less, and some score by the digits of the remaining tiles read as a number rather than their sum. Agreeing the rules first avoids arguments.
Is it a game of skill or luck?
Both, in a measurable way. The rolls are pure luck, but the choice of which tiles to close is a genuine decision with a right answer, and a good player will beat a careless one consistently over several rounds. The gap is not enormous, which is part of why it works as a pub game.
Where does the game come from?
It is traditionally associated with Normandy and with British and French pub culture, where wooden boxed sets have been common for well over a century. It has also been used as a teaching aid for addition, since the whole game is short sums under mild pressure.
Can more than one person play?
Traditionally yes — each player takes a round and the lowest score wins, or players are eliminated as they exceed an agreed total. This version is a single-player round, which is how the game is usually practised, but keeping score across rounds is straightforward on paper.
Does the game save my progress?
No. Everything runs in your browser, nothing is stored or uploaded, and closing the tab loses the current board.
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