How to Play Shut the Box
Shut the Box is the pub game with a wooden box, nine hinged tiles and two dice. Every roll is a small arithmetic puzzle.
The box
Nine tiles numbered 1 to 9, all open at the start.
Your turn
- Roll two dice.
- Shut tiles that add up to the roll. For a total of 8 you could shut the 8, or 1 and 7, or 3 and 5, or 1, 3 and 4. Shut tiles stay shut.
- Roll again and repeat.
- Once 7, 8 and 9 are shut, you may roll one die instead of two.
- When no open tiles can make the total, your turn is over. The open tiles add up to your score.
Shut every tile and you've shut the box: a score of 0, and the best you can do.
Two players
On kawu you and the computer take one turn each; the lower score wins. In the solo game you simply chase the lowest score, and the daily roll gives everyone the same dice.
Playing on kawu
- Click tiles to select them (or press their numbers); the Shut button lights up when they add up to the roll. Press R to roll.
- Hint asks the computer, which plays the exact odds.
- Stats are kept separately for solo and two-player games.
Next, read the Shut the Box strategy guide. For a longer dice game, try Yacht Dice.
Frequently asked questions
When can I roll one die?
Once tiles 7, 8 and 9 are all shut. With only 1 to 6 open, one die is usually the better choice because two dice can't make the small totals.
Can I shut just one of several tiles that fit?
You shut one set of tiles that adds up to the whole roll: for a 7 that's 7, or 1+6, or 2+5, or 3+4, or 1+2+4. You can't shut a 3 on its own and ignore the rest.
What's a good score?
The open tiles add up to your score, so lower is better. Under 10 is good, single digits regularly is strong, and 0 means you shut the box.
Last updated 2026-10-20