UK Poker Player Reviews Bond’s Poker Play

Friday, 24 November 2006

Victoria Coren, the winner of the 2006 European Poker Tour leg in London, has spoken out about the new James Bond film, Casino Royale, in which the famous secret agent has to play a high stakes game of poker – attempting to beat the villainous Le Chi

Victoria Coren, the winner of the 2006 European Poker Tour leg in London, has spoken out about the new James Bond film, Casino Royale, in which the famous secret agent has to play a high stakes game of poker – attempting to beat the villainous Le Chiffre.
In an article written for the UK quality newspaper The Guardian, Coren’s opinion of the film falls somewhere between a thumbs up and a thumbs down. “As a poker film, Casino Royale is better than Rounders, miles better than Maverick, but not as good as The Cincinnati Kid,” Coren said. “Nothing is as good as The Cincinnati Kid.”
In Ian Fleming's novel, Mr Bond plays baccarat in an attempt to bankrupt Le Chiffre. In keeping with modern times, the film adaptation chose the poker table for the crucial scene. “But the characters are still dressed for baccarat, in tailored dinner jackets,” noted Coren. “If only poker players really wore those clothes, instead of old tracksuits covered in soup.”
Outfits aside, Coren also takes issue with Bond’s poker play. “Bond doesn't seem to play a brilliant game,” she said. “There aren't many borderline decisions. He gets lucky in a couple of situations where the hands are so big they play themselves, and he puts $10m into one pot where he must be losing.”
Casino Royale was released in cinemas across Europe earlier this week.



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