What you need to play Shut the Box
To play Shut the Box you need a box with nine tiles numbered 1 to 9 and two ordinary six-sided dice. Each tile flips, slides or swings down to cover its number. If you have no box, write the numbers 1 to 9 on paper and cross them out instead, or use our printable Shut the Box board.
How to play Shut the Box, step by step
A turn of Shut the Box takes six steps, and it lasts until you cannot shut any more tiles:
- Start with all nine tiles open, showing 1 to 9.
- Roll both dice and add them up.
- Shut any open tiles that add up to that total. For a roll of 9 you could shut the 9, or the 4 and 5, or the 1, 3 and 5.
- Roll again and shut more tiles.
- Keep going until no open tiles add up to your roll. Your turn ends there.
- Add up the tiles still open. That is your score.
Which tiles can you shut?
You can shut any group of open tiles whose numbers add up to your roll, using one tile or several. A roll of 8 gives you six choices: the 8; 7 and 1; 6 and 2; 5 and 3; 5, 2 and 1; or 4, 3 and 1. You can shut three or more tiles in one go, as long as they add up to the roll exactly. You cannot shut a tile that is already down, and you cannot split a roll across two goes.
Which choice you make matters more than it looks. The Shut the Box strategy guide shows which tiles to shut first.
When can you roll one die?
You can roll one die instead of two once the 7, 8 and 9 tiles are all shut. While any of those three is still open, you must roll both dice. Rolling one die is a choice, not a rule you have to follow. It helps when only small tiles are left, because one die gives totals from 1 to 6.
How do you score Shut the Box?
Your Shut the Box score is the sum of the tiles still open when your turn ends. If the 2, 3 and 5 are open, you score 10. Shutting every tile scores 0. The worst possible score is 43, because your first roll can always shut at least one tile. See how Shut the Box scoring works for other ways to score and a free score sheet.
How do you win Shut the Box?
You win Shut the Box by having the lowest score once every player has had a turn. In most rules, a player who shuts the box wins straight away and the round ends.
Playing Shut the Box with friends
Any number of people can play Shut the Box, one after another with the same box. Each player opens all nine tiles, takes a full turn and writes down their score. The rules for 2, 4 or more players explain turns, four-player boxes and playing several rounds to a points limit.
Can you play Shut the Box on your own?
Yes, Shut the Box works well on your own. Play to get the lowest score you can, or try to beat your own best. Our daily game gives everyone the same dice each day, so you can play alone and still compare your score with friends.
What happens if you roll a double?
Nothing special happens when you roll a double in the standard Shut the Box rules. A double of 3 is simply a roll of 6. Some house rules change this: in one version a double ends your turn, and in another a double earns an extra roll. Agree on doubles before you start if anyone plays it differently.
Why the rules change from box to box
Shut the Box has no official rulebook or governing body, so pubs, families and box makers play it slightly differently. Boxes with 12 numbers or 10 numbers are common, and the one-die rule, doubles and scoring all vary. When people disagree, the rules of the place you are playing usually win. Our list of Shut the Box variations covers the most common ones.