Objective of the Game
Shut the Box is a traditional dice game where the goal is to close all numbered tiles on the game board by utilizing the correct combination of dice rolls. The winner is the player with the fewest points represented by the sum of the open tiles at the end.
Number of Players
The game can be played by 1 to any number of players, with at least 1 player needed.
Materials
- A Shut the Box game board typically with tiles numbered from 1 to 9.
- Two six-sided dice.
Game Rules
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Start of the Game: Players decide the order in which they play at the beginning.
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Player's Turn:
- The player rolls both dice.
- The sum of the dice is calculated.
- The player must close a combination of open tiles that adds up to the rolled sum. For example, if a player rolls an 8, they can close tiles with numbers 8 or 5 and 3 or 6 and 2 or 1, 2, and 5 as long as these tiles are still open.
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The player has the freedom to choose which combination to use, but the chosen numbers must exactly match the dice sum.
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Ending a Turn:
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If a player cannot close any tiles, their turn ends, and they score penalty points equal to the sum of the open tiles.
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Round End:
- The game can be played over multiple rounds. After a predetermined number of rounds or a player-determined win condition, the player with the fewest penalty points wins.
Strategic Tips
- Minimize Penalty Points: Aim to eliminate higher numbers early, as they contribute the most to penalty scores.
- Flexibility in Choosing Combinations: Be adaptable in deciding which tiles to close. Always keep multiple combination options open to handle future dice rolls effectively.
Variants: - Some players employ additional tiles up to 12 or more. - There are versions where rolling with one die is allowed if the sum of open tiles is less than 6.
Enjoy playing Shut the Box!
