How to play Shut the Box
- Press Roll the dice.
- Click one or more numbers that add up to the total, for example 3 and 4 for a 7.
- Press Shut chosen numbers.
- Keep rolling until you cannot make the total. Add up the open numbers: that is your score.
Maths skills this game builds
- Addition facts and number bonds to 12
- Finding different ways to make a total
- Probability: which totals come up most often?
- Strategic thinking: shut the high numbers first
Tips for parents and carers
- Ask “Which totals are most likely with two dice?” and test your ideas over several games.
- Challenge a family member and compare scores.
- Play with real dice, a piece of paper with the numbers 1 to 9, and a pencil.
Using Shut the Box with a group or class
- Play as a whole group: children suggest which numbers to shut and explain why.
- Keep a score on the whiteboard and play two or three rounds, to see whether strategies improve.
- Children write 1 to 9 on paper and cross numbers out as you shut them on screen.
Frequently asked questions
What is Shut the Box?
A traditional dice game where you use the total of two dice to shut numbered tiles. The lower your score at the end, the better.
Is it better to shut high or low numbers first?
Usually high numbers, because they are harder to make later.
Is it a game of luck or skill?
Both. The dice decide the totals, but choosing which numbers to shut is a strategy.