Casino Scene in Dr. No

One creative project I have in mind is to produce a video analyzing the diverse casino scenes throughout the James Bond franchise. I envision presenting it similarly to the video format used in Alex Honnold Provides Insight on Iconic Rock Climbing Moments I still need to figure out how to obtain digital copies of the necessary films, and I am also dealing with the legal challenges associated with displaying those clips. Nonetheless, I can prepare for this project in advance.

In several casino scenes, particularly in the earlier films, we see Bond actively participating in games. chemin de fer I have thoroughly revamped that page, incorporating comprehensive details about the procedures and a deeper evaluation of scenarios where players can choose to draw or stand. The earlier version was based on a misunderstanding that the banker could make any choice unless there was a natural present. According to 'The New Complete Guide to Gambling' by John Scarne, there are merely three situations that allow for free will:

• Player two-card total of five.
• A scenario where the banker has a two-card total of 3 while the player has drawn a 9.
• A scenario where the banker has a total of 5 and the player has drawn a 4.

That said, the remainder of this video will reference the video James Bond, Introduction - Dr. No This particular scene is quite iconic, marking the first instance in an official James Bond film where we actually hear Bond, enjoy the memorable Bond theme (aside from the opening credits), and witness Bond introduce himself with the famous line, 'Bond... James Bond.'

Hand 1 -- The initial hand appears at the 0:13 mark, where Silvia Trench places her bet on the Player Hand, and Bond bets on the Banker Hand. There are no additional players involved, with casino staff merely facilitating what is effectively a player-banked game, positioning Bond as the banker. When the banker wins, the casino takes a 5% commission from the winnings. The scene kicks off with Trench stating 'suive,' which translates to 'follow' in French, suggesting she lost the previous hand and is exercising her right to play just against Bond for this round. Although we don't see any cards during this hand, it's evident from the context that Bond emerged victorious.

Hand 2 -- At the 0:28 timestamp, Trench opts to play against Bond once more, using another 'suivi.' After reviewing her cards, she requests another draw. Bond then checks his cards and reveals a natural 8. According to baccarat rules, if either player has a natural 8 or 9, drawing additional cards is not permitted. Thus, Bond correctly refrains from giving her a third card, having already secured victory with his natural 8. Trench subsequently shows her total of 2, which is a loss.

Hand 3 -- At the 0:43 point, Trench again chooses to play against Bond alone. It appears she lacks sufficient chips and requests a credit from the casino to cover the shortfall. As with the previous hand, she asks to draw a third card, to which Bond reveals a natural 9. There’s no need to disclose Trench's cards since Bond’s 9 guarantees him the win regardless of what Trench may have drawn.

Following a now-legendary exchange, the next hand commences at 1:13. Trench requests to raise the betting limit. As the banker, Bond could have easily increased the limit without needing approval, up to double the previous amount. However, Trench, as the player, has the right to petition for this increase, and it’s up to Bond to either accept or reject the request — which, of course, he agrees to. When has Bond ever shied away from a substantial wager? I would feel the same if I appeared to win every hand as he does in the films. After placing their bets, we observe Trench achieving a natural 8, which is ultimately defeated by Bond's natural 9.

Bond is then called away on an urgent matter. During the four hands depicted, Bond successfully secured one natural eight and two natural nines. The probabilities for attaining a natural 8 or 9 stand at 18.94%. The odds of drawing three naturals consecutively stand at a mere 0.68%, translating to 1 in 147 attempts. As for acquiring two naturals nines and a single natural eight, this probability sits at 0.26%, or about 1 in 392 draws.

In the upcoming week, we will explore Bond’s gameplay of chemin de fer in the film 'Thunderball.' However, for those who are eager for more discussion, a vibrant conversation regarding Bond's casino scenes is happening over on my forum at Wizard of Vegas .

Until next week, the odds be with you.

Written by: Michael Shackleford