Casino Royale

In Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale, James Bond is involved in a baccarat game that can be reduced to a battle of politics; communism and democracy. Bond and Le Chiffre are fighting for their culture, and more importantly, their way of life. Baccarat is a game of chance. This doesn’t suit the detail-oriented mentality of Bond, but his game strategy is meticulous and effective. His strategy for gambling, and seemingly life, is preparation and attention to detail. Bond demonstrates this in his baccarat duel against Le Chiffre, but in the end Bond’s fate is left to chance. Bond explains his interpretation of luck as being ‘a servant and not a master’. As Bond sees it, luck cannot be praised in victory and cannot be blamed in defeat. It must be taken for what it is, and not used as a means of game strategy. In preparation for his baccarat game against Le Chiffre, Bond overlooks no aspect of detail. His meticulous actions are what keep him alive and allow him to be competitive. As previously stated, baccarat is a game of chance. Fortunately, all ten players seated at the kidney-shaped table are playing the same game with the same amount of chance. What is different for each player are their personal stakes.

In the first part of Casino Royale, it appears that Bond and Le Chiffre are playing a symmetrical game with equal chances of success. Bond is playing to take down SMERSH. From a political standpoint, the baccarat game can be viewed as Western culture against the Soviet Union. The players include Le Chiffre who represents communism, and James Bond who represents democracy. Bond’s meticulous attention to detail and preparation allow him to have keen insight and understanding of his opponent’s mindset and strategies. Despite his accustomed way of life falling apart, Le Chiffre presents a confident and collected front. SMERSH is after Le Chiffre, and want to see him dead. Aside from his fortune dwindling, Le Chiffre is fighting for his life. Bond is also fighting for