Rules for Paul McCombs' Birthday White Elephant Gift Exchange

Everyone brings a gift. It should be an item that's too good to throw out, and to crappy to keep. It could be anything. A game, a music CD, a figurine from Aunty Em, anything. It is unnecessary (and sometimes important) that the original owner does not identify herself.

Every one will draw a numbered slip of paper. On the first turn, person #1 chooses a gift, opens it, and it is admired by all. On the second turn, person #2 gets the choice of "stealing" any unwrapped gift (#1) or choosing a wrapped one. On the third turn, person #3 gets the choice of "stealing" any unwrapped gift (#1 or #2) or choosing a wrapped one. Game continues based on the following:

  1. If a gift is stolen from you, you can steal a gift (see steps 3 and 4 below), or open a new one.
  2. Turns proceed until everyone has a gift. A turn is ended when a gift is opened and (hopefully) admired by everyone.
  3. A gift can not be stolen more than once in a turn.
  4. The Seventh "Owner" of a gift gets to keep it - it is unavailable to be stolen again.

At the end of the last turn, person #1 (who had no informed choice at the beginning) can choose to put back his or her gift and steal any gift that is still available (see step 4 above). Then the gift "exchange" is started again (see steps 3 and 4 above) and ended when someone either chooses or is forced to take the gift given up by person #1.

Updated: 2017/12/15