Home >> Games & Cards >> Games

Shut the Box Game Instructions

In "Shut the Box," players take turns rolling dice and attempt to knock out a set of numbers (one through nine) in the box. Players eliminate numbers by adding the total of their dice rolls and picking the digits in the box that correspond to the sum. A player wins when she removes all the numbers, shutting the box. The game can be played with any number of players but is usually enjoyed by two to four people.

Instructions

- 1
  Decide how many rounds a player must win to be victorious in the game.
- 2
  Choose a player to go first. This option rotates clockwise after each round.
- 3
  Roll both dice to start and add up the total. If the player rolls a four and three, for example, she can eliminate any of the numbers in the box that add up to seven. This can be one and six, two and five, three and four, seven or one, two and four.
- 4
  Roll the dice again to continue knocking out numbers. When the seven, eight and nine are all eliminated, the player should roll only one die. The first player stops rolling only after she rolls a number that will not allow her to eliminate any more numbers in the box. If she is able to knock out all the numbers, she wins the round immediately.
- 5
  Add up the total of any numbers remaining in the box to calculate the round score for the first player.
- 6
  Pass the dice to the player on the left to continue play. Each player will take his turn rolling and eliminating numbers. If the round ends without anyone shutting the box, the player with the lowest total wins the round. Continue play until one player wins the preset number of rounds.

Games