def can_combine(element1, element2):
    """ Return True if elements e1 and e2 can be combined per the rules of the game. """
    if element1 > element2:
        element1, element2 = element2, element1
    if 1 <= element1 <= 5:
        return element1 == element2 or element2 == 5
    if  element1 == 6:
        return element2 == 7
    if element1 == 8:
        return element2 < 14
    return False