Shut the Box

Of all the games involving a gambit reviewed, I see nothing on the classic Pub game "Shut the Box"
.
Object: to close out all numbers 1 to 9 rolling two (or one) dice OPTION: two or more contestants try to leave the fewest boxes open for the Win,

General Rules: These are what one calls local rules as I've found out. After several edits to get it right, I see this is non-standard.

Box has numbers 1 to 9
Roll two dice
Dice score is used to Close off either the total or the individual die combos (3-4 as 7 closes either the 3&4 BOTH: not individually, or the 7).
PAIRS are Wild: any combination of either the pip or total can be used (3-3 can close the 3, 6, 2-4, 1-5, or 1-2-3)
Any combination that causes the Contestant to have the fewest possible remainders equal or less than two remainders,
including a perfect score, must be taken.
When the 7-8-9 are closed, only one die is rolled
...IF your roll closes the 7-8-9 AND one of the die matches an open box, that die is a mulligan, and you roll the other die.
...If you fail to close a box, the mulligan box is closed, and the mulligan die tries to close the remaining box(es)
...It is possible for example, that having only the 4-9 open to win by rolling a 4-5 (close the 9 with mulligan 4 winning)
This game has a different strategy than the usual game. Closing 7 is about 21%: 8/9 only is running about 10%, win is about 3-4%.

**EDIT#2** I see this rule set must be "House" or "Local", and not covered by Durango Bill's excelent pages.

Question removed... and thanks for the links. I consider this case closed, and will leave these local rules here for curioisity.
I updated this to fully explain the variant... in fact I made a word Processor file, so I don't forget.

3/14/12 18:25 EDT
3/17/2012 05:20 EDT

When do you "lose"? After 10 throws? After no box can be closed?

Quote: s2dbaker

When do you "lose"? After 10 throws? After no box can be closed?

When no box can be closed - including the case when 2 through 9 have been closed but 1 is still open.
(This assumes that the "one die" rule is not used - I have never seen it played that way. If you are familiar with the old TV game show High Rollers, the "Big Numbers" bonus round, minus the "insurance markers" you get for doubles, is usually how the game is played.)

I don't know if a "strategy" has been developed for this, but one thing is certain; all winning sets of rolls add up to 45.
(Note that not all sets of rolls that add up to 45 are winners; for example, if you roll 3 15 times, you cannot win, as you cannot close any boxes after the second roll.)
You need at least four rolls (since three rolls of 12 < 45; 12 (9-2-1), 12 (8-4), 12 (7-5), and 9 (6-3) is a 4-roll win), one of which must be 9 or higher, a second 8 or higher, a third 7 or higher, and a fourth 6 or higher; also, you have to rule out the impossible sets of low rolls (e.g. 2-2, 3-3-3, 2-3-3, 3-4-4).

Some info here:
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/gaming-business/game-inventors/6409-shut-the-box-as-a-casino-game/

Quote: ThatDonGuy

I don't know if a "strategy" has been developed for this, but one thing is certain; all winning sets of rolls add up to 45.
(Note that not all sets of rolls that add up to 45 are winners; for example, if you roll 3 15 times, you cannot win, as you cannot close any boxes after the second roll.)
You need at least four rolls (since three rolls of 12 < 45; 12 (9-2-1), 12 (8-4), 12 (7-5), and 9 (6-3) is a 4-roll win), one of which must be 9 or higher, a second 8 or higher, a third 7 or higher, and a fourth 6 or higher; also, you have to rule out the impossible sets of low rolls (e.g. 2-2, 3-3-3, 2-3-3, 3-4-4).

Hmmm... evidently, there are a LOT of local rules/nonstandardized rules. Perhaps thats why nothing really at WoO. It was played locally that only the die-face combinations could be used in terms of closing a box(es).

In Thailand they play this game at the bars using the same rules that 98clubs stated. So if you rolled a 3,5 then you could either close the 3, 5 or 8. It was slightly easier to finish as you didn't need an exact number to complete the game - if you were left with '4' to close then you could roll 1,3 or 2,2 or 4,1 4,2 4,3 4,4 4,5 4,6

I saw that at wiki... after about 5 phonecalls to old and steady friends, I forgot the pairs rule, and the one-die rule if 789 closed. The majority stated those two, and I had to edit the OP. It sux gettin old... LOL.

** EDITED to remove this trial, there was an error in rules. Fixed with EDIT 3 in next post... sigh.

Roll #1 Strategy this is correct and prevents an 8-box open.

1-1 1, 1-2 1-2, 1-3 1-3, 1-4 1-4, 1-5 1-5, 1-6 7
2-2 2, 2-3 2-3, 2-4 2-4, 2-5 7, 2-6 8
3-3 3, 3-4 7, 3-5 8, 3-6 9
4-4 8, 4-5 9, 4-6 4-6
5-5 1-9, 5-6 5-6, 6-6 1-2-9

There are several BAD starting rolls like 4-6, 5-6, total of 6, and 1-4. Scores of 2 or 3 are possible.
Any 7, 8, 9, 4-4, 5-5, or 6-6 is a good start.
Closing 7-8-9 on the first 3 rolls needs more study... you get the mulligan, but 7+ is not certain.
Closing 7-8-9 on the 4th roll or later is a good strategy if you get the mulligan.
Remember, certain cominations are forced if it causes 2 or less boxes to remain open.
It seems that delaying the closure of the 4 and 6 is a good idea. Thus if the 3-3 comes up on the 2nd roll.
you should take the 1-2-3 if possible. Same with 5-5 taking the 1-2-3-4, and 6-6 taking 1-2-3-6 or 1-2-9.

GOOD GAME and GOOD LUCK

**EDIT#3** Short-term trial of 1008 (7x144) games live-action: two hi-quality die and an octagonal dice tray with cup.

Link to my published Rules
Link to my published Live-Action Trial


2 boxes open 164 (1 to 1) {16.270%}
1 box open 93 (2 to 1) {9.226%}
WINNER 26 (4 to 1) {2.579%}
7 boxes open 57 (3 to 1) {5.655%}
Vigorish of short-run with (payouts) shown is 4.3%. (WIN = 5.6 to 1 is "fair odds" of -0.14%)
The Chance of Occurance of this mini trial is in { }.

Without the 7-box payment as a straight game
2 boxes open 1 to 1
1 box open 3 to 1
WINNER 9 to 1
Vigorish 4.76% (10.8 to 1 WINNER is "fair odds" of -0.12%)

The game is much more difficult than I originally thought with a winner 1 in 39 +/- 1.