What Game That Looks Like Baccarat Does James Bond Play in Four Movies?

During the quarantine, we binge watched all the 27 James Bond movies (sorry Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan fans, but Daniel Craig played the best Bond, David Niven the worst) and of course his game is baccarat. But we couldn't figure out what game he was playing in four of the movies: Dr. No, Thunderball, For Your Eyes Only, and Goldeneye. It looks a little like bacarrat, but it's different. Can you tell us?

[Editor's Note: We turned to Michael Shackleford for a possible answer to this question. Mike is a Bond aficionado and he knows more about gambling games than almost anyone we know.]

He is playing chemin de fer, which modern-day baccarat is based on.

The rules are similar to baccarat, except rather than player against house, it's player vs. player. Both sides also have free will to take a third card or stand, as long as neither side has 8 or 9 points in the first two cards. The player to act last has a positional advantage, as in conventional baccarat. The house collects a 5% commission if the player to act last wins. The player acting last also deals the cards himself.

Chemin de fer has never made it to Las Vegas, as far as I know. Even in Europe, I believe it has become antiquated in favor baccarat, which is faster and allows more betting options.

Anyone interested in the rules, strategies, probabilities, and expected value of chemin de fer can visit the web page on the subject at WizardofOdds.com.

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Dave_Miller_DJTB Jun-22-2021

WoV Forum

I’m surprised Mike didn’t mention that he started a lively thread on his forum where he discusses Bond casino scenes. It’s here:

https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/questions-and-answers/gambling/35953-breaking-down-007-casino-scenes/

Kevin Lewis Jun-22-2021

The casino equivalent of tiddlywinks

I've always gotten a big laugh out of the Bond-versus-villain scenes where they exchange steely-eyed stares across a chemin de fer table. Meant to show the hero's skill and resolve, it's a stupidly simplistic game that a three-year-old could learn to play. Maybe that's why the superhero-plays-the-big-bad trope has mutated to poker (though the hands portrayed are always absurd).

I think if they really want to show what a gutsy stud-muffin Bond, etc. is, they should portray him dueling the Big Bad at rock-paper-scissors.

gaattc2001 Jun-22-2021

John Scarne describes Chemin de Fer in his classic "Complete Guide to Gambling" (1961).

The problem is that the house doesn't bank Chemin de Fer, they just run it. What the "player" can win depends on what the "banker" is willing to lose. They auction the bank to the highest bidder, and then auction the player position the same way.
All this is very sophisticated, but it's also time-consuming. They spend almost as much time going through all the rituals, as actually playing the game.
Also, unless you have a bunch of high rollers, it's hard to get a game going. One person can't just walk up and place a bet. 
Baccarat is better suited to U.S. casinos. The house banks it, and anybody can bet on either the player or the banker hand.
And while we're on the subject, let me recommend the Chemin de Fer game in a yet another James Bond movie: the first "Casino Royale" (1967) with Orson Welles and Peter Sellers exchanging steely-eyed stares. That's the one with David Niven--and everybody else--as James Bond. And even Woody Allen.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061452/

Jerry Patey Jun-22-2021

Bond

How in world did you pick Craig as best bond ?  What do you mean best Bond?there was DrNo. From Russia from Love and Goldfinger. Whar were the others. ??  Maybe you should watch them again. Of course lo of us are one who saw opening ( first bond) many many years back.

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