When you need a quick game that you can play with 2 players, the James Bond card game is an ideal choice. This guide explains how it’s played turn by turn.
While Agent 007 faces many intriguing challenges during his adventures, the card game that bears his name (also known as Atlantis, Chanhassen, or Lännen) is much easier.
If you know how to play Tonk or at least the rules of classic Solitaire, you certainly won’t need much time to learn the James Bond card game either.
It’s a classic matching-type card game that can be easily enjoyed even by kids or beginners.
Related: Best playing cards
What is James Bond The Card Game?
In the James Bond card game, players need to create 6 piles made up of cards of the same ranking. Only the quickest wins since the players use a single deck and play simultaneously.
Number of Players: 2
Ages: 6+
Difficulty: Easy
Length of Play: 5 – 15 minutes
Type of Game: Matching card game
Similar to: Spoons, Tonk, Spit
Main Objective: Be the first player to create 6 piles of 4 matching cards.
Our Take: This card game is quick and easy to play with a surprising amount of strategy involved.
What You’ll Need to Play James Bond
To play the James Bond card game, you’ll only need the following:
- Decks: 1
- Number of Cards: 52
- Cards Omitted: Jokers
James Bond Rules
Start setting up your game by removing the Jokers from your deck, leaving you with a 52-card deck. Shuffle the deck, and deal 24 cards to each player.
Players now arrange their cards in front of them in 6 piles, 4 cards each. Place the last 4 cards from the deckface-up in a line between the piles.
In James Bond, both players simultaneously make their moves, so being fast and focused is the key to succeeding.
Starting the Game
Players need to begin the game at the same time, so have 1 player count down from 3 and shout GO when it’s time to start playing.
Both players start by picking up any of the 6 piles in front of them.
How to Play James Bond
- Players must always have only 4 cards during the game, starting with their chosen initial pile.
- The goal is to get 4 cards of matching ranking in all their piles (e.g., 4 Jacks, 4 Aces, etc.), and players need to utilize the middle 4 cards.
- Players can pick up any card from the middle as long as they replace it with another card from their hand. Note that there must always be 4 cards in the middle.
- Players can also switch between their 6 piles but can only view 1 pile at a time.
- Once a player completes 1 of their 6 piles, they turn it face-up to show it to the other player.
As soon as all 6 of the player’s piles have 4 matching cards, they shout “JAMES BOND!” to signal their victory.
James Bond Scoring
This is the standard scoring scheme for the James Bond card game:
- A player earns 1 point for every victory.
- If neither player makes all 6 piles of matching cards: whoever makes the most piles earns 1 point.
- No one earns points if it’s a tie and the game restarts.
Play as many rounds as you like. Declare the winner based on the total scores.
James Bond Rules in Pictures
Step 1
Shuffle the deck, and deal 24 cards to each player. Players arrange them in 6 piles, 4 cards each. Place the last 4 cards from the deck face-up between the opposing lines of piles.
Step 2
Players start simultaneously by picking up one of their 6 piles. They can only look at one pile at a time, but they’re free to pick and return them in random order.
Step 3
Now the players try to match all four cards in a pile in ranking by swapping cards in their hand with the central line and their other piles.
Step 4
Whenever players match an entire pile, they turn it face-up for the opponent to see.
Step 5
Whoever completes all 6 piles first shouts “James Bond!” and wins the round.
How to Play James Bond – Video Tutorial
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you play the James Bond card game with more than 2 players?
It is possible to play James Bond with 3 players, but the players will get 4 piles instead of 6. The first player who completes 4 matching piles wins the round.
How to gamble in the James Bond card game?
James Bond is not a betting game, but you can theoretically bid on winning or losing if you want to. Remember, though, that any game involving gambling is not suitable for kids.
How many cards do you need to play James Bond?
James Bond is played with a single deck of poker-style playing cards. Sort all the Jokers out, and you’ll get 52 cards to play.
Other Similar Games to James Bond
If you enjoy James Bond but would also like to try some more similar games, take a look at some of our instructional guides below:
