Shut the Box variants and other names
The two standard boards are 9 tiles (1–9) and 12 tiles (1–12); the nine-tile board is the traditional pub version and the twelve-tile board is longer and much harder to shut. Beyond board size, the common variations are how you score the open tiles, whether a single die is allowed, and how many combinations you may shut per roll.
9 tiles vs 12 tiles
The nine-tile board is the classic game and the one most sets use. The twelve-tile board adds tiles 10, 11 and 12, which cannot be cleared by any single two-dice roll below their value and are therefore much harder to shut — a perfect game goes from roughly 1 in 14 to roughly 1 in 268.
| 9-tile board | 12-tile board | |
|---|---|---|
| Tiles | 1–9 | 1–12 |
| Worst score | 45 | 78 |
| Average score, optimal play | 11.66 | 35.09 |
| Chance of shutting the box | about 1 in 14 | about 1 in 268 |
| Typical use | Pub game, classic sets | Longer games, family play |
Common house rules
- Digit scoring: read the open tiles as digits instead of summing them, so 5 and 7 left open scores 57 rather than 12. This heavily punishes leaving a high tile open.
- No single-die rule: some sets require two dice for the whole turn, which makes shutting the box significantly harder.
- Golf scoring across rounds: play a fixed number of rounds and add up the scores, lowest total wins.
- Knock-out: every player takes one turn, the highest score drops out, and you repeat until one player remains.
- Forfeit play: the first player to shut the box wins immediately and everyone else pays an agreed forfeit — the traditional pub format.
Other names for Shut the Box
The same game is sold and played under many regional names, which is why a set you grew up with may not have said Shut the Box on the lid.
| Name | Where it is used |
|---|---|
| Shut the Box | United Kingdom and United States — the standard name |
| Canoga | United States, particularly older sets |
| Klackers | Common commercial name |
| Batten Down the Hatches | Nautical-themed sets |
| Trick-Track | France and Belgium |
| Zeeslag | Netherlands |
| High Rollers | Some American sets |
Questions about variants
Should I play the 9-tile or the 12-tile version?
- Play the nine-tile board if you want the traditional game and a realistic chance of shutting the box — roughly one game in 14 with good play. Play the twelve-tile board if you want longer games and do not mind that a perfect game is a once-in-268-games event. You can switch between both on this site.
Is Canoga the same game as Shut the Box?
- Yes. Canoga is one of several regional names for the same game, alongside Klackers, Batten Down the Hatches, Trick-Track and Zeeslag. The rules are the same: roll two dice and shut tiles adding to your total.