Shut the Box is a dice game for one or more players with a row of numbered tiles, two dice and a simple aim: flip down as many tiles as you can before the dice let you down. It is also known as Canoga and as Tric-Trac. This guide explains the rules used on this site, which tile combinations count, when a turn ends, how to score, the optional one-die rule and the 12-tile box, plus the house rules you are likely to meet at other tables.
Overview
| Players | 1 to 4 on this site (any number with a real box) |
| Time | A minute or two per turn; about 5 to 10 minutes for a group |
| Equipment | A box with tiles numbered 1 to 9 (or 1 to 12) and two dice. Here they are built in |
| Skills | Adding small numbers, comparing choices, a feel for the odds |
| Goal | Shut every tile, or leave the lowest total open |
Setting up
The box has a row of tiles numbered 1 to 9. At the start of every player’s turn all of them are open, standing up with their numbers showing. Shut tiles are flipped down, so anyone can see at a glance what is still to do.
On this site you choose the number of players, their names and whether any seat is a computer player. The setup has two options: Tiles (1–9, the classic box, or 1–12) and the one-die rule (on by default). Decide who goes first; play then moves on in seat order. A rematch passes the first turn to the next player.
Objective
Shut all the tiles. That is called shutting the box, and it wins the game on the spot. Most turns end before that happens, and then your score is the sum of the tiles you could not shut. Lower is better.
How a turn works
- Roll two dice and add them up. On this site press Roll, or the R key.
- Shut tiles that add up to the roll. Choose any combination of open tiles whose numbers make the total exactly. Tap the tiles; the sum check under the dice shows your running total, and Shut tiles confirms the choice.
- Roll again and shut more tiles from the same box.
- Repeat until you roll a total that no combination of open tiles can make. Your turn is over.
- Count your score: add up the numbers on the tiles that are still open.
You never pass or skip voluntarily: if a combination exists, you must shut one. The only decision is which combination, and that decision is where the skill lies.
Which combinations count
Any set of open tiles counts if its numbers add up to the roll. A roll of 9 with a full box gives you eight different choices:
- one tile: 9
- two tiles: 1 + 8, 2 + 7, 3 + 6, 4 + 5
- three tiles: 1 + 2 + 6, 1 + 3 + 5, 2 + 3 + 4
A few rules decide the edge cases:
- The sum must be exact. Shutting 4 and 6 on a roll of 9 is not allowed, even though 10 is “close”.
- Each tile counts once. You cannot use the 4 twice to make 8.
- Only open tiles count. A shut tile stays shut for the rest of the turn.
- The dice don’t have to match the tiles. In the modern rules used here, a roll of 6 and 3 is simply 9. It does not have to shut the 6 and the 3.
On this site the board does the arithmetic with you. Tiles that can’t be part of any combination for the current roll are muted, and Shut tiles only works once your selection adds up exactly. When there is only one combination, the box shuts it by itself after a moment, so you can see what happened.
When your turn ends
Your turn ends as soon as you roll a total that no combination of open tiles can make. For example, with only the 1, 2 and 9 open, a 7 can’t be made: 1 + 2 is 3, and 9 is too big. The board shows “No tiles add up to 7” and the turn is over.
There is no penalty beyond your score. With more players, the box on the table stays as you left it until the next player rolls, so everyone can see your final tiles.
Scoring
Your score is the sum of the tiles left open when your turn ends. With 1, 2 and 9 open, that is 12 points. Lower is better:
| Open tiles | Score |
|---|---|
| none (box shut) | 0 |
| 1 | 1 |
| 2, 3 | 5 |
| 1, 2, 9 | 12 |
| all nine | 45 |
A full box of nine tiles adds up to 45, so 45 is the worst possible score, though no real turn ends there, because the first roll always matches at least one tile.
Shutting the box
If you shut the last open tile, you have shut the box. That ends the game immediately and you win with a score of 0, even if other players have not had their turn yet. In a solo game it is the target you are playing for, and the result says so.
The one-die rule
Late in a turn the tiles left are often small. Two dice always roll at least 2 and most often something near 7, so a box with only the 1 and 2 open is hard to finish with two dice. Most tables therefore use the one-die rule:
- 9 tiles: once tiles 7, 8 and 9 are all shut, you may roll one die instead of two.
- 12 tiles: once the open tiles add up to 6 or less, you may roll one die.
The rule is a choice, not a must. On this site a Next roll: Two dice | One die switch appears under the dice when the rule applies; your choice stays for the rest of the turn until you change it. You can turn the rule off in the setup if your family plays without it. The Shut the Box strategy tutorial explains when one die is the better pick.
Winning and ties
In a group game every player takes one turn, in seat order, each with a fresh box. When the last player’s turn ends, the lowest score wins. Equal lowest scores share the win. Shutting the box ends the game early with a win for that player.
In a solo game there is no opponent: your result is your score, and the game keeps your best score on this device, separately for the 9-tile and the 12-tile box.
Playing with 12 tiles
The 12-tile box adds tiles 10, 11 and 12. A full box now adds up to 78, and the three big tiles need big rolls: the 12 can only be shut by a roll of 12, the 11 by a roll of 11 or 12 (with the 1), the 10 by 10, 11 or 12. Because those totals are rare, the 12-tile game has higher scores and shutting the box is a real event. The one-die rule waits until the open tiles add up to 6 or less.
Variants and house rules
Shut the Box has been played in homes and pubs for a long time, and tables differ. Rules you may meet elsewhere:
- Total or dice faces only. An older rule lets you shut either the tile matching the total or the two tiles matching each die, nothing else.
- Number scoring. Some tables read the open tiles as one number: 1, 2 and 9 open scores 129 instead of 12. The order of play is the same; low still wins.
- Several rounds. Players keep a running total over several rounds and drop out when they pass an agreed limit, or play a fixed number of rounds.
- A different one-die rule. Some tables use one die only when the open tiles add up to 6 or less even with nine tiles, make the switch compulsory, or never allow it.
- Ten tiles. Some boxes have tiles 1 to 10.
This site uses the modern rules: any combination, the sum of the open tiles as the score, one turn each, and an optional one-die rule. With a real box you can, of course, use any of the house rules above.
Common mistakes and rule disputes
- Shutting tiles that only come close. The tiles must add up exactly to the roll.
- Stopping early. You can’t end your turn while a combination exists, even if you like your score.
- Using a shut tile again. Once a tile is flipped down it stays down for the turn.
- Forgetting the fresh box. Every player starts their turn with all tiles open.
- Rolling one die too soon. With nine tiles the 7, 8 and 9 must all be shut first.
Glossary
- Tile: one of the numbered flaps in the box.
- Open: a tile still standing, which counts against you at the end.
- Shut: a tile flipped down.
- Combination: a set of open tiles whose numbers add up to the roll.
- Shut the box: flip down every tile; an instant win.
- One-die rule: the option to roll a single die once the high tiles are gone.
Play it now
You know the rules, so play Shut the Box solo, with friends on one device or against the computer. To keep more tiles shut, read the Shut the Box strategy tutorial, or browse more dice games and games for kids.
