Shut The Box

OBJECT OF THE GAME:

To Shut the box, i.e. Closing all the numbers in the box.

If anyone succeeds in shutting the box, their score starts at 0 again.

The first person to pass a score of 100 is the loser!

THE PLAY:

Each player takes turns to try and Shut The Box, i.e. Closing all the numbers in the box. Each turn consists of a player repeatedly throwing the dice until he or she can no longer continue.

Each throw of the dice is taken as follows: The player throws the die or dice into the box and adds up the dice. The player must then close available numbers that add up to the total thrown.

For example, if the total is 8, the player may choose one of the following options and close those numbers.

7 & 1 or 6 & 2 or 5 & 3 or 5 & 2 & 1 or 4 & 3 & 1

If 7, 8 and 9 are all down, the player can decide whether to throw one die or two.

If any of these 3 numbers are still up, the player must use both dice.

If none of the options are available because at least one number is already closed in each case, then the player's turn finishes, and the player scores the sum of the numbers that are still open.

For example, if numbers 1, 5 and 9 are open and the player throws a 4, options are 4 or 3 & 1, neither of which are available - so the turn finishes and the player's score is 15.

GOING OUT:

The first person to pass a score of 100 is the loser.

HOW TO KEEP SCORE:

An alternative way of calculating the score whereby the numbers read directly (Instead of added) from the available digits on the box is the score for the player.

E.g. if the numbers 1, 5 and 9 are open, the score would be 159. In this instance, the end score would change to 1'000 and the first person to reach this score would lose.

ANOTHER TAKE ON SHUT THE BOX (FOR THE MASTERS)

Another popular variant is called the 'long game'. The player who goes first attempts to shut the box exactly as above. When the turn ends, the other player takes over the board as it is and attempts to uncover all the covered numbers using precisely the same rules.

Rule: When a double is thrown, the player gets an extra turn.

The player who shuts the box first wins.