Distributional Values

To exemplify the power of distribution in relation to the number of values held in certain card combinations, we need only to turn to Agent 007, otherwise known as James Bond. The bridge deal was in the published book Moonraker by Mr. Ian Fleming, where James Bond played a hand of bridge against the arch-villain Hugo Drax.

Note: It is important to remember that no bridge game was played between these two gentlemen in the film version. The description of the bridge game is only in the published book. No reason has been provided as to why the bridge game was not included in the film. The hand has been for the sake of history since card players, known as card sharks or card hustlers purportedly rigged this deal for the sone of George III, who at the time was the King of England. The game was an act of thievery and the perpetrators allegedly removed 20,000 English pounds from him. The prepared deal became known as the Duke of Cumberland.

Cast of the Film Version

Roger Moore:	James Bond
Lois Chiles:	Dr. Holly Goodhead
Michael Lonsdale:	Hugo Drax
Richard Kiel:	Jaws

Pictures from the Film Version

Roger Moore as Agent 007 Lois Chiles as Dr. Holly Goodhead

Michael Lonsdale as Hugo Drax

Richard Kiel as Jaws

Production and Film Release

The film was produced by Mr. Albert R. Broccoli, Mr. Michael G. Wilson, and Mr. William P. Cartidge. The film was directed by Mr.Lewis Gilbert, Mr. John Glen, Mr. Ernest Day. The movie was filmed on location in Venice, Rio DeJaneiro, and France.

The film was released in the United States on June 29, 1979. Source. (Note: other release dates are quoted.)

The mission of James Bond and the CIA Operative Holly Goodhead was to stop a modern day Armageddon. Hugo Drax was obsessed with the conquest of outer space, in order to destroy the planet Earth, and then to create a race of beautiful people living in the heavens, worshipping him.

James Bond challenges Hugo Drax to a game of bridge (Note: not in the film version), which was to symbolically illustrate the power of distributional values in relation to possessed values. Of course, James Bond devised a manner to stack the deck before the cards were dealt, and properly placed Hugo Drax, so that he was sitting West of James Bond, who sat South.

The Prepared and Rigged Deal

	James Bond Q8765432 AQ1084
Drax AKQJ AKQJ AK KJ9		Meyer 65432 109872 J109
	M. 10987 6543 76532
North-South: Vulnerable

North	East	South	West	Meaning
Bond	Meyer	M.	Drax
7				Knowing in advance that the grand slam of 7 Clubs makes, James Bond bids it.
	Pass	Pass	Double	Holding 31 points Drax believes that the grand slam cannot make.
Redouble				Knowing that 7 Clubs does make, James Bond makes the game more interesting by redoubling.
	Pass	Pass	Pass

As the cards lie, East has to lead, and it does not matter what East leads, the contract of 7 Clubs redoubled can not be defeated. Even through James Bond only has 8 points in his hand, by finessing Drax's Club tenances and promoting his long Diamond suit he establishes a whopping 13 tricks, and writes down plus 2660 on the scorepad.

Note: The bridge student can readily recognize the board as a double dummy, seeing the hustle, and come to the conclusion that Drax can save a minus 2660 score by doubling instead of passing, thereby forcing East, Meyer, to bid 7 Hearts. This action would, however, only be per partnership agreement. The student can plan the play by ruffing the three losing Clubs first, pull the remaining trump, and claim.