"Shut the Box" is a traditional dice game that has been enjoyed for centuries, originating from 12th century Normandy. It is a simple yet engaging game that combines elements of luck and strategy, making it suitable for players of all ages. The objective is to "shut" or flip down all the numbered tiles on the board by rolling dice and using basic arithmetic skills.
Setup:
The game board consists of a series of numbered tiles, typically ranging from 1 to 9, arranged in a row.
Players roll two six-sided dice to determine the numbers they can "shut" or flip down on their turn. If they have flipped down 7,8, and 9, then they can choose to only roll one die if they wish.
Player's Turn:
At the beginning of each turn, the player rolls the dice.
The player then adds the numbers rolled to determine the total (sum of the dice).
Using this total, the player must select one or more tiles that sum to the dice total and flip them down. For example, if a player rolls a 3 and a 5, they can flip down the tiles numbered 8, or any combination of tiles that add up to 8 (such as 7 and 1, 6 and 2, etc.).
If a player cannot flip down any combination of tiles that add up to the dice total, their turn ends.
The goal is to flip down all the tiles, achieving a "Shut the Box." If a player successfully shuts the box, they win the game and score zero points.
The score is calculated based on the sum of the remaining tiles that have not been flipped down. A lower score is better.