White Elephant
White Elephant dice rules from 1 to 6
Six numbers, six moves and a timer that rings at some point: this is how the joke presents travel round the table until everyone goes home with something odd.
- The rules from 1 to 6, ready to print
- Two rounds: first collect, then swap
- No die to hand? Wichtlify rolls for you
The swap round from 1 to 6
In the swap round you roll in turn. Every number has exactly one move.
| Number | Move |
|---|---|
| 1 | Everyone holding a present passes one to the left. |
| 2 | Everyone holding a present passes one to the right. |
| 3 | Swap one of your presents for any other present. |
| 4 | Take a present from anyone you choose. |
| 5 | Give one of your presents to anyone you choose. |
| 6 | Lucky you: nothing happens, the die moves on. |
How the game runs
White Elephant dice rules: collect, swap, unwrap
Before the game, all presents lie wrapped in the middle. One person sets a timer for 10 to 15 minutes and puts it where nobody can see the time.
In the collecting round you roll in turn, and only a 6 counts: whoever rolls it takes a present from the middle. Once the middle is empty, the timer starts and the swap round begins, with the table for every number.
When the timer rings, the game stops at once, even mid-move. Everyone unwraps at the same time. Anyone holding several presents hands one to someone without, until everyone has exactly one. Unlike a Yankee Swap, where players pick and steal in turn, here the die decides who moves. Put these rules in your White Elephant invitation, so nobody hears them for the first time at the table.
To keep it fair
- Wrapped stays wrapped until the timer rings
- Nobody turns a present down
- No present in hand? Sit out on a 3 or 5
Who brings what
Draw in secret who each joke present is for
The dice game works with a pile of anonymous presents. It gets funnier when each person picks their joke present for one particular person. For that you organise the White Elephant draw in secret first: you create the group in Wichtlify, and each person sees through their personal link only who they are choosing for.
Then you skip the collecting round. Everyone starts with the present chosen for them, and the swap round begins at once. The fun is whether it survives until the timer rings.
If you do a normal Secret Santa anyway, Wichtlify draws both in one go: one person for the normal present and one for the joke present. The rolling and swapping happen at your table.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How long does a dice round take?
Allow about one minute per person for the collecting round, plus the 10 to 15 minutes of the swap round. From twelve people on, two dice go round at the same time, on opposite sides of the table.
Can you open a present before the timer rings?
No. Anyone who knew what was inside would only chase the good parcels. Everyone unwraps together when the timer rings.
Next steps
Explore Wichtlify
Organise a White Elephant
Create the group, set the gift rules, draw in secret.
Draw first, then roll
Draw who looks for a joke present for whom. Take the dice rules to the table.
Create a White Elephant group