How the game works
- Everyone brings one wrapped gift to the pile, usually within a set budget.
- Number 1 opens a gift from the pile.
- Each next player opens a new gift or steals one that has already been opened.
- Anyone who loses a gift takes another turn right away: open or steal.
- No stealing back the gift that was just taken from you.
- After a set number of steals, a gift is locked with its current owner.
- Many groups give number 1 a final swap at the end, since they never got to steal.
Why draw the order online
Pulling numbers from a bowl works when everyone is in the room early. A link lets people join from the group chat beforehand, so the order is set and nobody argues about who goes first. Each person keeps their number on their phone, and everyone can see the full order.
Set the steal limit when you create the exchange. Three is the classic choice: enough drama to be fun, few enough that the game ends.
White elephant, Yankee swap or Dirty Santa?
Same game, different regional names. Some groups play with joke gifts only, others with useful gifts under a budget. Say which in the note to everyone so nobody turns up with the wrong kind.