Rules
Yankee swap rules
Yankee swap is what much of New England calls a white elephant gift exchange. Same game: draw numbers, then open a gift or take one somebody already opened. The rule that most often comes with the name is a final swap for player #1.
How to play
- Everyone brings one wrapped gift within the price limit.
- Draw numbers to set the order.
- #1 opens a gift.
- Each next person opens a new gift or swaps, taking an opened gift from someone else. That person then opens or takes a different gift.
- Limits: most groups freeze a gift after its third take, and nobody can take back the gift just taken from them.
- Final swap: when every gift is open, #1 may swap with anyone holding an unfrozen gift. Then it's over.
Heads-up on that final swap: paired with a 3-take limit, it turns #1 into the best seat in the house: a 69% chance of ending with a top-three gift in our simulation, against 25% for pure luck. Pair it with a 1-take limit and the odds even out across every seat. The numbers.
All the house rules, and tips for running it smoothly, are on the white elephant rules page.
Questions
- What is a Yankee swap?
- A Yankee swap is the New England name for a white elephant gift exchange: everyone brings a wrapped gift, draws numbers, and each person either opens a new gift or takes (swaps for) one that's already open.
- Does the first person get to swap at the end of a Yankee swap?
- In many Yankee swaps, yes: when all gifts are open, player 1 may swap with anyone. With a 3-steal limit that makes #1 the luckiest seat, so consider a lower steal limit alongside it.