I recently came across a great game called “Shut the Box”. Well, that isn’t exactly true. My boyfriend gave me the game for Christmas. When I opened it, I had no idea how addicting the game was. My boyfriend an I are now die hard Shut the box game addicts.
Description:
This game comes in a wooden box about six inches by eight inches with a little hasp latch. Inside the box is a pair of dice and the game, which is attached to the box. The instructions for the Shut the box game are also in the box on a little rectangular piece of paper. The version I have of the game is made by Front Porch Classics Inc.
The game of Shut the box needs no set up at all. Shut the box is ready for play as soon as the box is opened. A series of wooden tiles numbered from 1-9 on one side and a printed crest on the other, and the pair of wooden dice are the only playing pieces. The tiles run across the box in numerical order on a tiny wooden dowel.
Upon opening the Shut the box game lid, you will see this inscription on the reverse of the lid. “Shut the box, a traditional English pub game of dice and numbers. Roll the dice and lay down the matching numbered tiles. Players can challenge each other for lowest score. Lay down all the tiles and you’ve shut the box!”
Basic Instructions for Shut the box read as follows:
“To start the game, turn the tiles up so the numbers are displayed. The first player rolls the dice within the felt lined box and lays down any combination of tiles that matches his or her roll. Continue rolling and laying down tiles. When you can no longer lay down any tiles, your turn is over. If you lay down all the tiles, you have shut the box and your score is zero.”
Things you should know when playing the game of Shut the box:
*Any dice that leaves the box or leans on the side of the box must be re-rolled.
*A player’s score is determined by reading all numbers left at the end of his or her turn from left to right.
*So if the numbers left were 1,2,8 and 9, The score would be 1,289. and so on.
*If the total of the tiles left is 6 or lower, only one dice is rolled.
*Your turn ends when you have used all the numbers and have a zero score, or when the number you rolled last is higher than or cannot be formed from the numbers remaining.
*The person with the lowest score after one round of one turn each wins the game.
*A tie score means all players play the round over.
Note: There is a version of Shut the box traditionally used for gambling in pubs printed at the end of the instruction sheet.
Shut the box is a very simple game with simple rules that has provided many hours of entertainment for us since Christmas. I received about 8 games for Christmas and Shut the Box is my hands (or tiles) down favorite. I give it a 5 of 5 rating. Several versions of Shut the Box can be purchased at board game central.
