What the rules sheet settles
- The budget, and whether home-made or second-hand gifts are in scope.
- The steal limit, normally two, after which a gift is locked with its owner.
- Whether a gift just stolen from you can be stolen straight back, which is usually banned.
- Whether player number one gets an extra final turn, which most groups allow.
- Whether a gift can be stolen in the same turn it was opened.
- Any theme, which is the single best way to improve the pile.
The rules that stop arguments
Three cause nearly all the trouble. Immediate steal-back, which turns the game into two people swapping one gift for ten minutes. The steal limit, which people forget halfway through unless it is written down. And whether number one gets a final turn, which matters because without it number one is the only player with no choice at all.
Settle all three before anyone opens anything. The printed sheet does that, which is most of the reason to bother printing it.
Numbered turn cards
Cards print four, eight or sixteen to a page, numbered in sequence, with a fold line. Fold them, put them in a bowl, and the draw is done. Print more than you need and discard the high numbers, since the number of people who turn up is never the number who said they would.
Pick a theme
An unthemed white elephant produces a pile with three bottles of wine and a novelty sock. A theme fixes it: under five pounds, something from a charity shop, something you already own and do not want, something edible, worst mug in the house. The theme goes on the rules sheet so it reaches everyone.
Questions
- What is the usual white elephant steal limit?
- Two steals, after which the gift is locked with whoever holds it. A limit is necessary, because without one the game can circle the most popular gift indefinitely.
- Can you steal back a gift that was just taken from you?
- Most groups ban immediate steal-backs, because two players swapping the same gift repeatedly stalls the game. The printable rules sheet has a line for this so you set it in advance.
- Does player one get another turn at the end?
- Most versions give number one a final turn, because otherwise they are the only player who never had a choice. Decide it before the first gift is opened.
- Are the numbered turn cards included?
- Yes. They print four, eight or sixteen to a page with fold lines, numbered in sequence, so the draw is ready as soon as you have cut them out.