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