Yankee Swap Rules
- Participants bring one wrapped gift (typically within a predetermined
price range) and places the gift in a pile/central location.
- Participants draw numbers to determine the order in which they go.
- The person who drew #1 goes first and must open a gift from the pile.
- The person who drew #2 goes next and has the choice of taking the gift
opened by #1 or opening another gift. If #1's gift is taken player #1 must
open another gift from the pile.
- The person who drew #3 goes next and can either take #1's gift or #2's gift
or open a gift. If player #3 takes an opened gift from player #1 or #2 then
that player who is now giftless has the option of taking the other gift
that was opened or opening a wrapped gift (they cannot take player #3's
gift -- see rule 8).
- Play continues as such with players either taking/swapping a gift or opening
one.
- When a gift is opened the round is over (you can't decide you don't like
what you opened and decide to swap for something else).
- Any single gift can only be swapped once per round.
- Once the round for the highest number player has completed player #1 can
swap gifts with any other player (there is no futher swapping after that).
Hard core rule additions. Useful if you have a large group.
- After taking your turn you must keep your gift out where
other players can see it.
- When it’s your turn if you touch a wrapped gift you have
to open it.
- If a participant takes too much time deciding which gift top swap/open
the remaining participants can start counting aloud from ten down to zero.
If zero is reached the participant must take the wrapped gift closest to
you.