James Bond has always had a certain relationship with casinos, particularly with the one in Montecarlo. However, he is also associated with certain casino games. In Casino Royale, he is shown to be extremely lucky at poker, during a game with colossal stakes, but it is baccarat that Bond is most often seen playing, notably in Dr. No and in Goldeneye.
The first appearance of James Bond at baccarat
The very first appearance of James Bond in a casino is undoubtedly the most legendary. It occurs at Les Ambassadeurs casino in London during the introduction scene of Dr. No. It features Sean Connery in the role of the famous British secret agent, playing Chemin de Fer, a variant of baccarat, against Sylvia Trench.
In the excerpt, Bond enjoys incredible luck, winning every hand against Miss Trench. It’s important to note that Chemin de Fer, like baccarat, relies heavily on luck.
At the end of their last hand, she introduces herself by stating: “Trench… Sylvia Trench,” prompting the secret agent to use his trademark for the first time: “Bond… James Bond,” a classic. Needless to say, the exchange will not leave the player indifferent, and as an irresistible seducer, James Bond will meet her a little later in his room.
Sexual tension at its peak between James Bond and Xenia Onatopp
In Goldeneye, James Bond finds himself in the Montecarlo casino after a wild car chase on a mountain road in the French Riviera. There, he encounters Xenia Onatopp in a baccarat scene filled with sexual tension.
Only two hands are played between the protagonists, but the second – and more expensive – is won by Bond. Bond’s winning hand is a king and a queen followed by a six. In the rules of baccarat, face cards are worth 0 while cards lower than or equal to 10 have their nominal values. This means Bond’s combination is 0 0 6, which is exactly the code number of his colleague Alec Trevelyan, lost during a mission a few years prior, who becomes the villain in Goldeneye.
This particularly clever nod ends the brief confrontation between James Bond and Xenia Onatopp, leaving the secret agent victorious once again, a feat that few can claim in a casino.
