Rules · 2026

Yankee swap rules

Yankee swap is what New England calls white elephant, and New Englanders will politely correct you if you call it anything else. Everyone brings a wrapped gift, draws a number, and on their turn can open a new gift or take one someone else already opened.

How to play a Yankee swap

  1. Everyone brings one wrapped gift at the agreed budget (usually $20 to $25) and puts it in the pile.
  2. Draw numbers to set the order.
  3. Player 1 opens a gift. After that, each player can either open a new gift or steal one that's already been opened.
  4. If your gift is stolen, you go next: open a new one or steal a different gift. You can't take back the one that was just taken from you.
  5. A gift is frozen after its third steal, and whoever holds it then keeps it.
  6. After the last gift is opened, player 1 gets one final turn to swap with anyone. Then the game is over.
Your turn, in one pictureFlowchart. When your number is called you either open a gift from the pile, which ends your turn, or steal an opened gift that isn't frozen. If you steal, the person you stole from goes next and can open or steal, but not take back the gift you just took. The chain stops when someone opens a gift.Your turn, in one pictureYour number is calledOPENa gift from the pileSTEALan opened gift(if it isn't frozen)Your turn is over.Next number goes.The person youstole from goes nextThey open or steal too,but not the gift you just took.The chain stops when someone opens a gift.
Every turn comes down to two choices, whatever your region calls the game. Save image

The "swap" version

Some groups play this a little differently: on your turn you always open a new gift first. Then you can keep it or trade it for any gift that's already been opened. The person you traded with keeps your gift and play moves on. Nobody goes again, so there are no chains and the game runs faster.

Tips

FAQ

What is a Yankee swap?

Yankee swap is the New England name for white elephant: a gift swap where players can open a new gift or steal one that's already been opened.

What's the difference between a Yankee swap and white elephant?

Usually just the name. Some Yankee swap groups play that you swap rather than steal: on your turn you open a gift and can then trade it for any gift already opened. In practice it plays almost the same.

Does the first person get to swap at the end?

Yes, in most Yankee swaps player 1 gets a last chance to trade with anyone, since they had no choice at the start.