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White Elephant dice game

All gifts start on a pile. Take turns rolling one die and do what the number says: swap with a neighbor, pass everything along, or take a new gift from the pile with a 6. When the timer rings, everyone keeps what they're holding. Tap the die below to roll.

Printable rules (PDF, 1 page)

Cut paper collage: a big die next to a lopsided wrapped gift

Classic rule set

Roll the die

Put your phone in the middle, or pass it around. Tap the die, and the move appears underneath.

Tap the die to roll.

What each number means

This is the Classic rule set, the one most groups know. Read it out loud once before the first roll.

Roll	What happens
	Choose two people. They swap gifts.
	Swap with the person on your right.
	Swap with the person on your left.
	Everyone passes their gift one seat clockwise.
	Swap with anyone you like.
	Take a gift from the pile and unwrap it. Pile empty? Swap with anyone you like.

How a round goes

Gifts on the pile. Everyone sits in a circle. All wrapped gifts go in the middle. At the start, nobody holds anything.
Set the time. Agree on a length and who goes first, for example whoever had the most recent birthday. Fifteen minutes is about right for ten people.
Roll and do it. On your turn, roll and do the move right away. Then the die goes to your left.
The pile empties. Only a 6 brings a new gift into play. If your move has nobody to swap with yet, just pass the die.
Stop. When the timer rings, the game is over, even in the middle of a swap. Everyone keeps what they have. Now unwrap whatever is still wrapped and show it off.

How long to play, and the final minute

Most groups play in two phases without planning it. In the first, you roll until the pile is empty. That takes a while, because only the 6 brings in a gift. In the second phase, every roll moves gifts, and the timer runs.

Try a final minute: when one minute is left, someone says "Final minute," and from then on the die moves without a pause. It speeds up the end, and nobody gets comfortable with their favorite gift.

Two house rules that save a lot of arguing. If a roll says you swap, you swap, no saying no. And a gift you just received can't be swapped straight back.

What you need

One wrapped gift per person. Agree on a price limit in the invitation, so every gift plays on the same level.
One die, or this page on a phone. With more than 15 people, use two dice that start on opposite sides of the circle.
A timer. Any phone or kitchen timer works. Start it when the last gift leaves the pile, or right at the beginning if you want a fixed end.
A circle. Chairs, a couch, the floor. Everyone needs to reach their neighbors on both sides.

Tips for a smooth game

Say the move out loud. Whoever rolls reads the move to the group. Everyone knows what happens, and nobody swaps in the wrong direction.
Keep the die moving. If a move can't be done, don't discuss it. Pass the die.
Shaking is fine, peeking is not. Wrapped gifts may be shaken and weighed, but they stay wrapped until they come off the pile with a 6.
Kids play too. The dice version needs no strategy, so children can roll along. Let them hold the timer for the countdown.

Printable rules

The PDF fits on one page: the table with all six numbers, the round in five steps, the house rules and a QR code to the app. Put it next to the die, and nobody has to ask what a 4 means.

Download the PDF

Other ways to roll

The Classic set fits almost every group. In the GameClique app, Plus adds more rule sets and lets you write your own move for each number. One of them is the US Steal set: most numbers let you steal a gift, and after three steals a gift is locked and stays put.

Prefer the version with numbers and no die? The White Elephant rules page explains the classic game with steals, the steal limit and the final swap.

Questions people ask

What happens if you roll a 6 and the pile is empty?

Then you swap with anyone you like. That rule is on the printable sheet, too. Some groups let the player roll again instead. Both work, as long as you agree on it before the first roll, so nobody can change the rule when they want a certain gift.

What if my neighbor has no gift yet?

Then there's nothing to swap, and the die simply moves on. That happens a lot in the first minutes, while most gifts are still on the pile. It's normal. Once the pile is empty, every roll moves something, and that's when the game gets loud.

How many people do you need for the dice game?

Three people are enough to play, and it gets really fun from about six. With more than 15, use two dice that start on opposite sides of the circle. That keeps the waiting short, and more gifts move at the same time, which is exactly what you want.

Is the die on this page fair?

Yes. It uses the random number generator built into your browser, and every number has the same chance. Nothing is stored or sent anywhere. The page shows your last five rolls, so everyone can see that the 6 really does come up now and then.

App for iPhone and Android

Play it with GameClique

The app rolls, calls the move and stops when time is up.

Tap or shake to roll. The move shows up big and in plain words.
Timer with 5, 10 or 15 minutes, or none. The final minute starts with a signal.
Classic rule set free. More sets, your own rules per number and the US Steal set with Plus.
A certificate for the best junk of the night, as an image to share.

Coming soon

Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play

The tools are free and ad-free. Everyone plays with the free app. One person pays, everyone plays.

Scan with your phone to get the app