White Elephant Dice Game

How to play the white elephant dice game

1. Everyone sits in a circle holding one wrapped gift (their own, or one handed out at random).
2. Set a timer for round 1. Players take turns rolling one die and do what the number says.
3. When every gift is open, or the timer ends, start round 2 with the second table.
4. When the round 2 timer ends, everyone keeps the gift they are holding.

What the numbers mean

The tables above are the most common version. Many groups write their own: swap with the person wearing the most red, swap with the youngest, everyone passes two places. Agree on the table before the first roll.

Tip: in round 1, opening is rare on purpose. Gifts move round the circle a few times before anyone sees what is inside.

Dice game or classic white elephant?

The dice version is luck, not choice: nobody has to steal from a friend on purpose, which makes it easy for shy groups and families. The classic version is all choice: open or steal, and gifts freeze after three steals. That is the version people mean by white elephant rules, and the one our online game plays.

Dice variations

• Two dice: roll both and add them, with a table from 2 to 12 for more variety.
• Doubles rule: rolling a double lets you steal any opened gift.
• Story round: swap the timer for a story read aloud: every left or right moves the gifts.

Frequently asked questions