Shut the Box

Stage: 1 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:1

Here's a game that combines random numbers from throwing two dice with using addition, subtraction and maybe even multiplication. This picture shows a version that you used to be able to buy, but you don't need a nice wooden box to play - just two dice and twelve cards with 1, 2, 3, . . . 12 on them. (Here are some digit cards which you could print out and cut up if you don't already have some.) You could also play using the interactivity - scroll down the page for more information.

To play the game, start with the cards all facing up:
pic3

You gradually turn the cards over according to these rules:

- The first player rolls the two dice.
- He or she can turn over the cards which are the same as the numbers rolled. For example, if a 4 and a 5 is rolled, he or she would turn over the 4 and 5 cards. Player 1 can roll the dice again until he or she can't turn over any more cards.
- The dice are then passed to the next player who turns the cards the right way up again and then rolls the dice in the same way as player one.
- If a double is thrown, the turn finishes.
- The winner is the person with the lower score.

Here are two alternative ways of scoring: Suppose you were left with the 1, 3 and 4 still face-up, then you could:

  • score 1 + 3 + 4 = 8 ... or
  • ... you could read them off as a number 134, one hundred and thirty four.
In both cases the lower total wins.

Try playing the game with a friend or friends. Is it a good game? Why or why not?

What happens if you change the rules for the game? Here are some ideas:


1. You can choose to turn over the numbers you've rolled, or add them together, or subtract one from the other. For example, if you were to roll a 5 and 4 you could choose to turn the 4 and the 5 over OR you could choose to add or subtract so that you could turn either the 9 or the 1 over.

2. When you came to a stop because you were unable to turn over new numbers, then those two dice numbers pass to the next player who can use them rather than rolling the dice again.

3. You can choose to turn over any set of cards that has the same total as the dice numbers you have thrown. For example, if you throw a 4 and 5, you could choose to turn over:
4 & 5
or 9
or 1 & 8
or 2 & 7
or 3 & 6
or 1 & 2 & 6
or 1 & 3 & 5
or 2 & 3 & 4

4. You could multiply the two numbers on the dice together and then turn over any set of numbers which has that total. For example, if you throw 4 and 5, as well as the above, you could also choose to turn over:
8 & 12
9 & 11
4 & 6 & 10
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 10
etc.

So, try these different versions of the game and different ways of scoring, and tell us what you think works best and why.

Here is an interactive version of the game:

Full screen version
This text is usually replaced by the Flash movie.


In variation 1, you turn over the numbers shown on one or both dice.

In variation 2, you turn over the value of both dice, or their sum, or their difference.

In variation 3, you turn over a combination of numbers that add up to the sum of the dice.

In variation 4, you turn over a combination of numbers that add up to the product of the dice.

Published June 2008,October 2008.