About Shut the Box
Shut the Box is a dice game played with a row of numbered tiles, usually one through nine. You roll the dice, then flip down tiles that add up to your roll, and you keep going until no combination of open tiles matches what you rolled. The tiles left standing are your score, and lower is better.
Sailors and pub-goers have played it for centuries, often for drinks, and its charm is a mix of luck and quiet arithmetic. Each roll usually offers a few ways to flip tiles, and choosing the right combination is what keeps you rolling longer. Managing to shut every tile for a perfect zero is rare enough to feel special every time.
You can play Shut the Box free in your browser with no download. The rules are simple to pick up, and the little sums you do each turn keep your brain gently engaged. It is a relaxed, satisfying game whether you are chasing a low score or hunting for that flawless clean sweep.
Controls
You play by rolling and flipping tiles. Tap to roll the dice, then tap the open tiles you want to flip down, as long as they add up exactly to your roll.
The heart of the game is choosing which tiles to close:
- Flipping tiles means closing any set of open tiles that sums to your dice roll. A roll of nine could close the 9 alone, or the 6 and 3, or the 5 and 4, and you pick which.
- Rolling on continues your turn after each valid flip. You keep rolling and flipping until no open tiles can match your roll, at which point the turn ends.
Your score is the total of the tiles still standing when you can no longer flip, so lower is better.
Shutting every tile is the perfect result. The difficulty rises across eight levels for a steadily tougher challenge.
Tips
- Close the high tiles first. The big tiles like 7, 8, and 9 are the hardest to get rid of late in a turn, so flipping them early keeps you from being stuck with a large score.
- When a roll offers choices, keep your options open. A roll like nine can be closed several ways, so pick the combination that leaves the remaining tiles easiest to match on future rolls.
- Think about which tiles are left. Before flipping, glance at what would remain, since leaving a spread of numbers you can still hit beats leaving one awkward high tile stranded.
- Avoid stranding a single big number. Ending a turn needing to roll exactly an 8 or 9 is a common way to get stuck, so clear those tiles while you still have the flexibility to do it.
- Chase the clean sweep only when it's realistic. Shutting every tile is a great goal, but if the tiles left don't line up, taking a safe low score beats gambling the whole turn on a perfect finish.
- Do the small sums carefully. Because each flip must match the roll exactly, a quick miscount can cost you a legal move, so it pays to check the combinations before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shut the Box free to play?
Yes. You can play as much as you want with no download and no account.
How do you play Shut the Box?
You roll the dice, then flip down any open numbered tiles that add up exactly to your roll. You keep rolling and flipping until no tiles can match your roll. The numbers still standing are your score.
How do you win?
The goal is the lowest score, which is the sum of the tiles left open when you can no longer play. Shutting every tile gives a perfect score of zero, the best possible result.
Can I choose which tiles to flip?
Yes, whenever a roll can be made several ways. A roll of nine, for example, could close the 9, or the 6 and 3, or the 5 and 4, and choosing well is the main skill in the game.
Can I play Shut the Box on my phone?
Yes. It runs in any modern mobile browser with tap controls, so it works well on phones and tablets.
How do I get a lower score?
Close the high-numbered tiles early, choose flips that leave you flexible numbers to match, and avoid getting stranded needing one big roll. Careful choices, not just lucky dice, are what keep your score low.