Shut the Box

Norman-French pub game — roll two dice, close numbered tiles that sum to the roll; 'shut the box' with all closed.

🌤indoor

What is Shut the Box?

Shut the Box (French: Fermez la Boîte) is a traditional Norman French pub dice game where a wooden box holds nine or twelve hinged numbered tiles. On each turn a player rolls two dice and closes tile(s) that sum to the roll. The turn ends when no combination of open tiles can match the roll; the total of the tiles still open scores against them. Close every tile in a single turn to 'shut the box' — an outright win.

Quick facts

Category

Dice Games

Type

Individual

Players

2–4

Where played

indoor

Country of origin

🇫🇷 France

Estimated origin

Traditional Norman French pub game (12th century)

Olympic

No

Popularity

regional

Sources & provenance

Last verified 2026-08-24.verified