Shut the box: Difference between revisions
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The player then rolls the dice again, aiming to shut out more numbers. This continues until the player cannot shut any available numbers, at which point they score one point per number covered. If the player manages to cover all the numbers in the game, they have "Shut the Box". Otherwise play passes to the next player, and after everyone takes a set number of turns the highest score wins. |
The player then rolls the dice again, aiming to shut out more numbers. This continues until the player cannot shut any available numbers, at which point they score one point per number covered. If the player manages to cover all the numbers in the game, they have "Shut the Box". Otherwise play passes to the next player, and after everyone takes a set number of turns the highest score wins. |
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== Game Variants == |
== Game Variants == |
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In recent years, variations of the game have developed due to its growing popularity. |
In recent years, variations of the game have developed due to its growing popularity. |
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Revision as of 21:33, 13 May 2012
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| Genres | Dice-rolling, Solitaire |
|---|---|
| Players | 1 (Solitaire) or more |
| Setup time | 1 minute |
| Playing time | 15 minutes per player |
| Chance | High (Dice rolling) |
| Age range | 6 and up |
| Skills | Risk management, Arithmetic |
Shut the Box, also called Tric-Trac, Canoga, Klackers, Zoltan Box, Batten Down the Hatches, 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.
Play
At the start of the game all levers or tiles are cleared, showing all the numerals 1 through 9. On a player's turn, they roll the pair of dice and then cover or "shut" certain numbers that equal the total of their dice roll. For example, a roll totaling 5 allows the player to shut either 1 and 4, 2 and 3, or just 5.
The player then rolls the dice again, aiming to shut out more numbers. This continues until the player cannot shut any available numbers, at which point they score one point per number covered. If the player manages to cover all the numbers in the game, they have "Shut the Box". Otherwise play passes to the next player, and after everyone takes a set number of turns the highest score wins.
Game Variants
In recent years, variations of the game have developed due to its growing popularity.
The following are examples of known variations in play, setup, and scoring:
- "Missionary" - The standard game with numbers 1 to 9 up
- "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)
- "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.
- "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.
- "Thai style" - 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 and 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 gameshow Catchphrase.
History
The origin is not known but there exist references from at least as long ago as the 12th century to the game being played in Normandy (northern France) or the Channel Islands (English Channel, United Kingdom).[citation needed] Others also mention fur trappers from the Hudson's Bay Company.[citation needed] The game grew popular among sailors and fishermen.[citation needed]
Evidence of the game exists in England from the middle of the 20th century, but it is possible that it did not originate there.[citation needed] Timothy Finn writes in Pub Games of England that it came from the Channel Islands in 1958 with a Mr. 'Chalky' Towbridge. It is said that versions have also been played in Barotseland (Zambia, central Africa). The game is also popular in the beer bars of Thailand using special rules.
Shut the Box is also the basis of the popular TV quiz show High Rollers, which ran from 1974–76 and 1978-80 on NBC with Alex Trebek as the host. The show resurfaced from 1987 to 1988, this time hosted by Wink Martindale.