Shut the Box Rules

The game may be played by any number of players.

The dice are thrown in turn by all players into the felt-lined section of the box, the object being to cover up as many spaces corresponding with the aggregate of the numbers shown on the dice or the number of each individual die. Up to two numbers can be covered with each throw of the dice. The winner is the player who has the lowest total when the open numbers are added up after the dice fail to correspond with any numbers that are left uncovered.

The following example will show how this works. The first player throws the dice which show a 6 and a 5. As it is preferable to close up the big numbers first, the numbers are added together making 11 and the number on the box is covered. The same player throws the dice again, this time, they show a 6 and a 3, added together make 9. The player decides to cover the 9. The dice are thrown once more and show a 4 and 5, added together make 9. The player decides to cover the 7 and 2. A double 1 is thrown next, but this makes an aggregate of 2 which cannot be matched by the numbers in the box. However, the player is allowed to cover the number shown on one die, in this case the 1 would be covered.

The numbers left open are then totaled. They are 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, and 12. The players score is 48. The next player then takes the dice and proceeds in the same manner, and so on until all the players have had their turn. The player with the lowest score is the winner.

Should a tie result, it is played off. If a player succeeds in covering all the numbers, they have Shut the Box and are paid double by the losing players.