James Bond (card game) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
James Bond

Initial card layout for 2 players
Origin	United States
Alternative names	unknown
Type	Matching
Players	2-3
Age range	4+
Cards	52
Deck	French/standard
Play	Simultaneous
Playing time	5-10 min.
Random chance	Medium

James Bond is a fun and fast-paced card game. It's also known by other names like Lemon, Atlantis, or Chanhassen. In this game, players race to collect sets of four cards that are all the same, like four Queens or four Sevens. It's a popular game, especially among kids, and is thought to have started in the United States.

How to Deal the Cards

To start the game, you'll need a standard deck of 52 cards.

• First, place four cards face up in the middle of the playing area. These are the "middle cards."
• Next, take the rest of the cards (48 of them) and deal them out into small piles of four cards each. These piles should be face down.
• If you have two players, each player gets six of these face-down piles.
• If three people are playing, each player gets four of these face-down piles. Place your piles in front of you.

Playing the Game

The game starts when everyone is ready!

• Each player picks up one of their face-down piles. Look at the four cards in your hand.
• Players can quickly swap cards between their hand and the four cards in the middle.
• You must always have no more than four cards in your hand at any time. This means you put cards into the middle first, then pick up new ones.
• You can swap as many cards as you like, from one to all four.
• If you want, you can put your current pile face down and pick up a different pile from your own stack.
• The goal is to get four cards of the same rank in one of your piles (like four Kings or four 2s).
• When you have a set of four-of-a-kind, turn that pile face up in front of you.

Winning the Game

The game is a race to see who can get all their piles to be four-of-a-kind first.

• When all of your piles are face up and show four cards of the same rank, you win!
• To claim your victory, you must quickly shout, "James Bond!" (or whatever name you are using for the game, like "Lemon!").

Playing in Teams

You can also play James Bond with four players by forming two teams.

• Each team will have two players.
• The two players on a team share six piles of cards.
• This way, a team can look at two piles of cards at the same time, making the game even more exciting!