James Bond Card Game (Rules and How to play)

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?

James Bond Card Game Info Image

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 toSpoonsTonkSpit

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.

James Bond card game rules 1 image

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.

James Bond card game rules 2 image

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.

James Bond card game rules 3 image

Step 4

Whenever players match an entire pile, they turn it face-up for the opponent to see.

James Bond card game rules 4 image

Step 5

Whoever completes all 6 piles first shouts “James Bond!” and wins the round.

James Bond card game rules 5 image

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:

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