Shut the Box is also known as Canoga. Being a traditional pub game without any national governing body, variations of equipment and rules abound. Where there is doubt, locally played rules should always apply.
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Description of equipment
The 'box' is an open tray with a baize interior. A row numbers one to nine also appear along the top length. Each number has a corresponding square panel cover which can either slide or swing to cover the number. Two dice are the only other requirement, although a dice cup may be used if desired.
The Play
Shut the Box can be played by any number of players although it is most enjoyable with two, three or four. Some people even play the game solo as a pastime akin to patience. As played traditionally in English pubs, Shut the Box is a gambling pastime with each of the players paying an agreed amount into the 'pool' at the beginning and the winner collecting the pool at the end of each round. However, it isn't necessary to gamble in order to play the game.
A round of the game consists of each player taking one turn. A player's takes a turn by repeatedly throwing the dice until the player cannot continue. Each throw of the dice is taken as follows:
If 7, 8 and 9 are all covered, the player decides whether to throw one die or two. If any of these 3 numbers are still uncovered, the player must use both dice. The player throws the die or dice into the box and adds up the pips. The player must then cover up a set of unique uncovered numbers that add up to the sum thrown. So for instance, if the total pips is 8, the player may choose one of the following sets of numbers as long as all of the numbers in the set are available to be covered:
- 8
- 7 & 1
- 6 & 2
- 5 & 3
- 5 & 2 & 1
- 4 & 3 & 1
The player then does exactly the same thing with a second throw and so on.
Once a number is covered up, it stays covered so, eventually, the player will throw a total for which it is not possible to find a set of uncovered numbers. When this happens, the player scores the sum of the numbers that are still uncovered. So if the numbers 1, 5 and 9 are uncovered and the player throws a 4, with options 4 or 3 & 1, the turn finishes and the player's score is 15.
If anyone succeeds in shutting the box i.e. closing all the numbers, that player wins outright immediately and receives double the stake from all players. Otherwise, after each player has taken one turn, the winner of the round is the player with the lowest score.
Variants
A popular variant for two players is called the 'long game'. The player who goes first attempts to shut the box exactly as above. When the turn ends, the other player takes over the board as it is and attempts to uncover all the covered numbers using exactly the same rules. When a double is thrown, the player gets an extra turn. The player who shuts the box or uncovers the box first, wins.
Another way of playing is to add the number of points each round to a player's score. A player has to drop out when that player's score reaches 45 and the last player remaining wins the game.
Some people play that the single die option comes into force once the total of the remaining numbers is less than six.
An alternative way of calculating the score is occasionally used whereby the number read directly from the available digits on the box is the score for the player. E.g. if the numbers 1, 5 and 9 are uncovered, the score is 159.
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These rules are provided by Masters Traditional Games, an Internet shop selling quality traditional games, pub games and unusual games. For general information or for copying and copyright, see our Rules Information page.
Our rules are comprehensive instructions for friendly play. If in doubt, always abide by locally-played or house rules.
Copyright Masters Traditional Games © 2019. All rights reserved.
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Our seniors group plays a dice game called Frackel or Greed. It goes like this. You start with 6 dice. Someone keeps score of all the players. To start, you roll all the dice. The points go as follows.
- #1 on the dice = 100 points
- #5 on the dice = 50 points
- 3 of a kind = 100 times the dice. Example, 3- 6's, would be 600 points, 3-1's would be 100 points
- 4 of a kind = 1000 points
- 3 pairs on the first roll = 1500
- A straight, using all 6 dice on the first roll = 2000 points
- 5 of a kind = 2000 points
- 6 of a kind = 3000 points.
You can't get started keeping points, until you have at least 500 points to add to you column. After you have rolled enough to equal 500 points, you can keep as small amount as you want. Each time you roll the dice, you must have points. Example, you roll all the dice and have a 1-3-3-5-6-6. You keep the 1, since it could be 100 points. Your second roll of the 5 remaining dice, you get a 2-2-5-6-4. You have to keep the 5, for another 50 points. You may stop at any time and claim the points you have, provided you have already got your initial 500 to start.
If your next roll is a 2-2-3-4, you can't claim any points so you Frackeled, since there aren't any points, like a 1 or a 5 or 3- 3's etc, and it moves to the next player. If you throw, for example, 4-5's, you might want to stop there, with your 1000 points. (You can roll the remaining two dice, but you risk losing the 1000 points if you Frackel).
If you decide to stop there, the next player can now take the remaining 2 dice and roll them, hoping to get either a 1 or a 5. If he does, he can claim the 1000 points, also, plus what ever the dice is - 100 for a 1 and 50 for a 5. If he doesn't roll a 1 or 5, his turn is over and it goes to the next player. If that same player rolls a 1, he claims 1100 points, and since there is one dice left, the next player can roll the one dice, to have a chance at the 1100 points.
If you roll the dice and use all the dice, you add the points to your score and continue on, till you decide to quit or you Frackel.
By Grant Johnson from Ogden, UT