Also known as Canoga or "Batten down the Hatches", this is the old gambling game for as many players as you like. Players throw the dice and choose to shut either the numbers thrown or the sum of the numbers thrown. Each player tries to close all the numbers and thus shut the box!
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Also called by a bewildering variety of alternative names such as “close the doors”, it isn’t known where this old game originated. Most theories point to a source in Northern France; some specify Normandy and the Channel Islands as the specific location and claim that it has been played there for at least two hundred years. There is only evidence for it within England from the middle of the twentieth century, it having reputedly been brought to the South of England from the Channel Islands in 1958 by a Mr. ‘Chalky’ Towbridge.. The game is apparently also popular in Zambia!
An old pub gambling favourite, Shut the Box uses two dice and a special wooden playing tray. In the most common version, the tray features the numbers 1 – 9 in a row, each of which has a hinged cover and a turn involves repeatedly throwing the dice and shutting or covering a number or pair of numbers each throw. The turn ends when no numbers can be covered upon the throw of the dice at which point the player’s total is calculated. The ultimate aim is to completely cover all numbers or “shut the box” which results in the best possible score of zero.
For more information, see the Online Guide to Traditional Games page on Shut the Box.
The most common version of Shut the Box features one row of numbers. Participants take individual turns in an attempt to close the box.
Shut The Box – 12 numbers
This is a 12 number variant of this classic pub game. Typically, Shut the Box boards feature 9 numbers so this is a slight variation on the norm. This is a nicely made, wooden Shut the Box game that is constructed from 100% FSC certified Beech wood.
Front Porch Classics Circa Shut-the-Box
This game is presented in a sturdy wooden box with a lock and convenient carry handle, making it easy to store or take on the go. The dice and tiles are handcrafted, give it a traditional, high-quality feel that make this game not only fun to play but also great to display.
In our range you will find a 2 player Shut The Box game that allows both players to play simultaneously. The double sided board makes for an interesting variation and enhances the competition.
2 Player Shut the Box – 12 numbers
This is a good quality, 2 player variation of this classic pub game. The board measures 31cm x 23cm and features a with a a felted playing area, allowing for smooth dice rolling. It is a 12 number variant of the game, making it more interesting.
Approx. Dimensions: Board (approx.): 31cm x 23cm
Another popular variant of the game is for 4 players. These boards are slightly larger and allow each person to have their own row of numbers.
Longfield Games 4 Player Shut The Box
This is an enormously fun four player version of Shut The Box. Now you can get the whole family involved in your favourite dice game. This good-quality set is presented in a Pine Wood box with a green felt playing surface, which allows the dice to roll smoothly. The set comes with 2 dice, meaning each person rolls at one time, thus avoiding confusion and helping prevent cheating…
A 6 player edition adds even more excitement and competition to the game.
6 Player Shut the Box – 10 numbers
The Shut The Box is made from a combination of Pine, Plywood and Schima Wood with a felt inlay lining the playing surface. It includes 2 dice and a row of numbers for each player. This allows for all the family to get involved!