Shut the Box

Shut the Box, also called Canoga, Klackers, Zoltan Box, Batten Down the Hatches, Jackpot or High Rollers, is a game of dice for one or more players, commonly played in a group of two to four for stakes. Traditionally, a counting box is used with tiles numbered 1 to 9 where each can be covered with a hinged or sliding mechanism, though the game can be played with only a pair of dice, pen, and paper. Variations exist where the box has up to 10 or 12 tiles.

Rules

At the start of the game all levers or tiles are "open" (cleared, up), showing the numerals 1 to 9.

During the game, each player plays in turn. A player begins his or her turn by throwing or rolling the die or dice into the box. If 1 is the only tile still open, the player may roll only one die. Otherwise, the player must roll both dice.

After throwing, the player adds up the dots (pips) on the dice and then "shuts" (closes, covers) one of any combination of open numbers that equals the total number of dots showing on the dice. For example, if the total number of dots is 8, the player may choose any of the following sets of numbers (as long as all of the numbers in the set are available to be covered):

• 8
• 7, 1
• 6, 2
• 5, 3
• 5, 2, 1
• 4, 3, 1

The player then rolls the dice again, aiming to shut more numbers. The player continues throwing the dice and shutting numbers until reaching a point at which, given the results produced by the dice, the player cannot shut any more numbers. At that point, the player scores the sum of the numbers that are still uncovered. For example, if the numbers 2, 3, and 5 are still open when the player throws a one, the player's score is 10 (2 + 3 + 5 = 10). Play then passes to the next player.

After every player has taken a turn, the player with the lowest score wins.

If a player succeeds in closing all of the numbers, he or she is said to have "Shut the Box" – the player wins immediately and the game is over.

Traditional pub play

In English pubs, Shut the Box is traditionally played as a gambling game. Each player deposits an agreed amount of money into a pool at the beginning of the game, and the winner of the game collects the money in pool at the end of the game.

Variants

Shut the box is a traditional game, and there are many local and traditional variations in the rules. In addition, due to the game's growing popularity, many variations of the game have developed in recent years.

The two most popular variants are:

• "Golf" – A player's score is the sum of the numbers remaining uncovered at the end of his turn. The player with the lowest score wins.
• "Missionary" – A player's score is the total number (count) of the tiles remaining uncovered at the end of his turn. For example, a player scores 3 if at the end of his turn 3 tiles remain open. The player with the lowest score wins.

The following are examples of known variations in play, setup, and scoring:

• "2 to go" – Standard game, numbers 1 to 9 up, on the first roll, the number 2 has to be dropped. If you roll 4 on your first roll, you lose.
• "3 down extreme" – numbers 1, 2 and 3 are pre dropped, leaving numbers 4 to 9 up.
• "3 to go" – The same as 2 to go but the number 3 must be dropped.
• "Lucky number 7" – The only number up is 7, and the first person to roll a 7 wins.
• "Unlucky number 7" – A standard game, when a 7 is rolled, the game stops.
• "Against all odds" – All odd numbers are up and evens down.
• "Even Stevens" – All even numbers are up and odds down.
• "Full house" – 12 numbers are up.
• "The 300" – 2 boxes and 4 dice are used, with the second box representing numbers 13 – 24. (24+23+22...2+1 = 300)
• "Thai style" (Jackpot) – Always roll two dice, but only cover one tile matching one of the dice or their sum. For example, if the dice show a 2 and a 3 you may cover one of 2, 3, or 5.
• "Digital" – A player's score at the end of the turn is the number obtained by reading the up digits as a decimal number from left to right. For example, if 1, 2, and 5 are left up the score is 125. This is also known as "Say what you see", a reference to Roy Walker's catchphrase from the TV game show Catchphrase.
• "2012" – All 12 are up, but use a 20-sided Dungeons and Dragons die rather than the pair of 6 dice: 20-sided die playing 12 numbers – 2012. This may seem a little geeky, but it adds a new level of excitement to a tired game. Protect that die as others may try to steal it.

It is also possible to play extended versions in which each game is a "round" of a longer game. Examples of such versions include:

• "Tournament" – Rounds are played with the "Golf" scoring method until a player reaches or exceeds a grand total of 100 points, at which time the player with the lowest point total is declared to be the winner.
• At the end of each round, each player's score for the round is added to his total score. When a player's score reaches 45, he must drop out of the game. The last player remaining wins the game.

History

Game at the entrance of the park to the Pagode de Chanteloup, Touraine

Unconfirmed histories of the game suggest a variety of origins, including 12th century Normandy (northern France) as well as the mid 20th century Channel Islands (Jersey and Guernsey) thanks to a man known as Mr. 'Chalky' Towbridge.^[1]

The game reportedly grew popular among sailors, fishermen, and fur trappers (notably those from the Hudson's Bay Company).

There is printed evidence of a dice game known as "shut the box" being played in Manchester pubs in the mid-1960s.^[2]

Shut the Box is also the basis of the popular TV quiz show High Rollers, which ran from 1974 to 1976 and 1978 to 1980 on NBC with Alex Trebek as the host. The show resurfaced from 1987 to 1988, this time hosted by Wink Martindale.

Versions have also been played in Barotseland (Zambia, central Africa). The game is also popular in the beer bars of Thailand using special rules.

See also

• Pub games
• Partition (number theory)

References

External links

• Shut the Box – Online HTML5/Javascript version, rules and variants explained (accessible via application menu), MIT licensed.
• The Game of Chips – A variation performed with numbered poker chips and two dice.