This summer has been all about card games over here.
We’ve been doing a lot of card game playing, and I remember doing the same when I was young. We’d go on card game binges almost–playing the same card game for days on end.
It’s part of being a kid, I think.
So I’m thrilled to have Cora over here again, guest posting for me and sharing one of our favorite card games of the summer: James Bond.
One of the kids’ babysitters taught them how to play James Bond last summer, but this summer, the kids taught my husband and me to play, and we’ve taught friends and cousins and aunts and grandparents.
It’s a great card game for families.
Here’s the skinny. . .
How to Play James Bond — Fun Card Game for Families, by Cora Mascott:
Object:
The object of this game is to be the first person to get four of one card in all of their piles of four.
How to play:
- Shuffle the cards.
- Deal 48 of the cards in piles of four evenly among all the players.
- The last four cards go face up in the middle of where you are playing.
- On the count of three say, “Go!” And all the players pick up one of their piles of four.
- The object of the game is to be the first person to get four of the same number cards in all of their piles of four.
- If there is one ace in the middle and you have three aces in your pile, you can discard the card that is not an ace and pick up the ace in the middle. Then you put the pile of four off to the side and try to get other piles of four!
Hints:
- Don’t forget that you can only pick up one pile at a time. You cannot be looking at two piles at the same time!
- Maybe you have a 7 in one pile and another 7 in a different pile. You can discard the 7 from the first pile and pick up another card from the middle. Then in the second pile you can discard and pick up the 7 that you just discarded from the first pile. Then it is easier for you to get a pile of four matching numbers!
Cora even created a video to help you better understand how to play, since this game is a little confusing at first.
Check it out:
Check out more awesome, fun activities for families on our YouTube channel.
Do you 
have any feedback? Any questions? Ideas? Have you tried this game? Let us know!
We’d love to hear what you think!
Want more about game playing ettiquette?
Huge and happy thanks to new teachmama.com contributor and overall totally awesome kid, Cora Mascott, for this thoughtful show list.
Cora is 9-years old and spends her time tumbling, cheering, swimming, and diving. Cora is an avid writer who will plans to one day teach Kindergarten and spend summers writing books and working in a candy shop.
Check out Cora’s other posts:
And check out more posts about games you can play with your family:
How many players can play this & how many decks per players? Thanks!
Hello! My caps Lock isn’t working for some reason lol! But more than 15 years ago, I taught the kids at my school how to play this game on a rainy day. As you can imagine, everyone wanted to play at once but we learned the ideal number of players for any game is 3 (with 4 piles each) or 4 (with 3 piles each). 6 (with 2 piles) works, but there’s not a lot of space for everyone to reach the middle. And 2 (with 6 piles) also works, but it’s not as fun because you are either waiting for the other person to realize they have to throw your cards out in the middle, or you’re waiting on yourself to realize that you are the keeper of the cards you need. LOL! have fun! Oh, and don’t forget that once you make a pile, you should turn it face up, and after making all of your piles, you should shout “James Bond!” because some games are REALLY close— whoever shouts “James bond” first is declared the actual winner (and this can make things more interesting… I’ve played games where someone has finished, but didn’t shout “james bond” and the rest of us have kept playing until the “true” winner shouted “James bond!”).
2, 3, 4 or 6 players can play James Bond
2 players – 6 piles of 4 cards in each pile
3 players – 4 piles of 4 cards in each pile
4 players – 3 piles of 4 cards in each pile
6 players – 2 piles of 4 cards in each pile
I like the game thanks. For more fun games check out “I’ve Got an Appointment” by Make time for kids