TallynightHow to keep score in Shut the Box
In Shut the Box you roll two dice and shut tiles that add up to the roll, until a roll can't be used. Your score is the tiles still open, added up, and shutting all nine scores 0. Play a few rounds, and the lowest total wins.
- Players
- 1 or more, one turn each a round
- Who wins
- Lowest total
- Tiles
- 1 to 9, all open at the start
- Dice
- Two, or one once the 7, 8 and 9 are shut
How a turn is scored
When no open tiles can make your roll, your turn ends. Add up the tiles that are still open: that's your score for the round.
| Tiles left open | Score | Digital score |
|---|---|---|
| None: you shut the box | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | 9 | 9 |
| 1 and 2 | 3 | 12 |
| 2, 3 and 4 | 9 | 234 |
| 1, 5 and 7 | 13 | 157 |
| 4, 6 and 8 | 18 | 468 |
Most tables add the tiles up. In digital scoring, the open tiles are read from left to right as one number, so 2, 3 and 4 is 234, not 9. That changes the tactics: a lone 9 left open scores 9, but 1 and 2 score 12.
Rolling and shutting tiles
Roll both dice and add them up. Shut any open tiles that make that total: a roll of 8 can shut the 8, or 7 and 1, or 6 and 2, or 5 and 3, or 5, 2 and 1, or 4, 3 and 1. Keep rolling until a roll can't be made from the open tiles.
Once the 7, 8 and 9 are all shut, you may roll one die instead of two. Some tables only let you shut the two numbers on the dice or their total, not any combination, so agree before you start.
Shutting the box
Shut all nine tiles in one turn and you've shut the box. You score 0 for the round, and in many homes you win the whole game on the spot.
Rounds and the winner
A round is one turn each. Write everyone's score after each round and keep a running total. After the rounds you agreed, five is common, the lowest total wins.
- 45 out: play on until someone's total reaches 45 or more. They're out, and the last player left wins.
- Count the tiles: score the number of tiles left open, not what's on them.
- Digital: read the open tiles as one number, as in the table above.
A scoring example
Ana, Ben and Cleo play three rounds, adding up the tiles left open. This table doesn't play the instant win for shutting the box.
| Round | Ana | Ben | Cleo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | 12 | 4 |
| 2 | 0 | 9 | 15 |
| 3 | 11 | 3 | 6 |
| Total | 18 | 24 | 25 |
Round 1: Ana was left with the 3 and 4 open, Ben with the 1, 2 and 9, and Cleo with the 4 alone. In round 2, Ana shut the box for 0. Ana wins with the lowest total, 18.
With digital scoring, round 1 would have been 34 for Ana, 129 for Ben and 4 for Cleo.
Keep score for Shut the Box in Tallynight
Shut the Box isn't one of Tallynight's built-in games yet, but it takes a minute to set up. Choose Something else, then Rounds, with the lowest score winning. After each round, type everyone's tiles left on one keypad, with 0 for a shut box.
Leave the target off and tap End game after the last round. Add it to your favourites, digital scoring or not, and it's ready next time.
- Everyone's round on one keypad, 0 for a shut box
- The table keeps the totals, with the lowest in front
- Tap any round to fix it
- A winner card with a podium at the end
A Shut the Box score sheet to print
Playing on paper tonight? Print a free Shut the Box score sheet, or save it as a PDF.
Questions
How do you score Shut the Box?
Add up the tiles still open when your turn ends. If 2, 5 and 9 are open, you score 16. Shut every tile and you score 0. The lowest score wins.
What is digital scoring in Shut the Box?
Instead of adding the open tiles, you read them from left to right as one number. With 2, 5 and 9 open, you score 259, not 16.
When can you roll one die in Shut the Box?
Once the 7, 8 and 9 are all shut. Until then, roll both dice.
What happens if you shut the box?
You score 0 for the round. In many homes, shutting the box wins the whole game straight away.
How many rounds are in Shut the Box?
As many as you agree. Five is common, with the lowest total winning. In 45 out, you play on until players reach 45 and drop out.
Should you shut the high tiles first?
Usually. The 7, 8 and 9 need big rolls, which get harder to use as the turn goes on, and once they're shut you can roll one die.